DUBAI: As Dubai is much popular for delivering luxury for travelers, but amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a new mode of travel has become popular – yachts.
Dozens of white yachts are seen every day zipping through the emirate’s bays, canals, and islands, while others are docked along the coast in Gulf waters overlooking the skyline of high-rise towers.
Unlike so many parts of the world, Dubai opened its doors wide open to tourists just a few months after the coronavirus pandemic took hold last year.
For those who can afford the price tag, yachts are seen as a safer bet, as of now, yachts are allowed to operate at 70 percent capacity.
Charter companies said they have seen an increased interest in yachting after coronavirus measures eased, especially among those who want to spend time with friends and family.
Cheaper yachts to hire include the company’s 90-foot “Big Daddy” – capable of normally carrying 65 people, at US$1,225 for three hours – down to smaller boats.
Some in Dubai said that when the price was split between a group, the cost was not as steep as it seemed at first.
And while some groups have been busted by authorities flouting the rules and slapped with hefty fines, most excursions run smoothly.
Dubai, known for its skyscrapers and mega-projects, boasts the most diverse economy in the oil-reliant Gulf region and has built a reputation as a financial, commercial, and tourism hub.
Tourism, which drew about 16 million visitors a year before the coronavirus hit, took a severe downturn in the first few months of the pandemic.
But a flood of arrivals since the beginning of the year has regenerated the industry and helped many business activities recover.
