Selling or Upgrading at the Dubai International Boat Show 2026? Prepare Your Yacht Now
The Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) returns on 25–29 November 2026 at Dubai Harbour, its first edition on the new November dates. The organisers moved the show so that it lines up with the start of the Middle East boating season, and it will stay in November from now on. They expect more than 32,000 visitors, more than 1,000 brands and over 200 boats and watercraft on display.
For owners, the show is the busiest buying moment of the year. Buyers come with budgets, brokers are active, and many owners use the week to trade up. If you plan to sell, upgrade or simply present your yacht at its best, the work should start now. There are about ten weeks to go.
Key show facts
Dates | 25–29 November 2026 |
Venue | Dubai Harbour |
Organiser | Dubai World Trade Centre |
Opening hours | Wed–Thu & Sun 15:00–20:00 · Fri–Sat 15:00–21:00 |
Scale (expected) | 32,000+ visitors · 1,000+ brands · 200+ boats · 60+ launches |
Weeks 10–8: Get an independent survey
Serious buyers will ask for a condition survey, so it pays to know what it will say before they do. A pre-sale survey shows you any hull, machinery or electrical problems while there is still time to fix them. It also gives buyers a document they can trust, and that makes the price easier to defend.
Weeks 8–6: Haul out and sort the hull
Fouling, a worn antifouling coat or a dull hull loses value in the first minute of a viewing. Haul out, clean and repair the underwater areas and renew the antifouling if it's due. At EYS we sand to the gelcoat and apply primer, sealer and antifouling, two coats of each, so the finish holds up to a buyer's inspection and to a survey haul-out.
Weeks 6–4: Fix what buyers notice
Gelcoat & paint: compound and polish oxidised areas, and repair chips and stress cracks.
Teak deck: re-caulk lifted seams, sand and seal. A clean deck changes how the whole boat feels.
Engines: complete the scheduled service and keep the invoices. A full service history reassures buyers.
AC & electrics: make sure every system works on the day of a viewing.
Weeks 4–2: Get the paperwork ready
Put the registration, ownership documents, service records, equipment manuals and survey reports in one folder. If the yacht may change flag or owner after the show, check the requirements early. Our management and yacht agency team handles registration, ownership transfers and documentation for owners.
Final 2 weeks: Detail and present
Give the yacht a full interior and exterior detail, clear out personal items and photograph it properly for listings. If you are moving the boat to a new berth or into storage around the show, plan the transport early. November is a busy month for yards and marinas.
Buying at the show? Budget for what comes after
Whether you are a new or an upgrading owner, include survey, haul-out and first-season maintenance in your budget. Our guide How Much Does Yacht Maintenance Cost in Dubai? gives realistic figures.
Plan your boat show preparation with EYS
From our shipyard in Dubai Maritime City, Emirates Yachting Services handles surveys, lifting and transport, hull and antifouling work, painting, teak, engine servicing and yacht agency, so your pre-sale preparation can be done by one team. Contact us to book a slot before the November rush.
Source: Dubai International Boat Show (boatshowdubai.com); Marine Industry News, 12 March 2026.
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