A fleet of luxurious yachts bobbing in the harbour are among the many five-star choices as Dubai pulls out all of the stops for well-heeled soccer fans who wish to watch the World Cup in model.
Those with out tickets however with hundreds of {dollars} to spare can view video games on a giant display screen from the highest deck of a $20 000-a-night yacht, in opposition to a backdrop of the Gulf monetary hub’s skyline.
With greater than a touch of Dubai’s trademark bling, the three-storey, 140-foot (43 metres) vessel has a giant display screen, jacuzzi, bar and a swanky lounge with L-shaped couches and a glittering crystal leopard statue.
The United Arab Emirates metropolis, an hour’s flight from World Cup host Qatar, is among the many Gulf locations anticipating to money in on a spillover of fans looking for extra lodging choices and simpler entry to alcohol.
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“This one is for $20 000 for an overnight charter,” Xclusive Yachts advertising supervisor Jainney Thakker informed AFP, stating the boat’s options.
“We have a chef on board who offers gourmet cuisine from all over the world,” Thakker added, in addition to “free-flowing champagne”.
The boat, which may accommodate as much as 125 individuals, is amongst quite a lot of pristine white yachts at Dubai’s Marina Harbour, docked and prepared for the inflow of fans as soon as the match kicks off on Sunday.
In one in all its rooms, a big eating desk flanked by upholstered chairs and bouquets of white roses is about with glass plates and silver cutlery.
An outside jacuzzi presents uninterrupted views from the strict. And for anybody who needs to sail to Qatar through the World Cup, the identical firm presents a separate package deal for a cool $100 000 for a roughly six-day journey.
‘Dubai Bling’
Thakker mentioned her firm has acquired greater than 15 nightly bookings thus far, largely for teams of two to a few individuals.
“The people who are booking with us are definitely the real VIPs… you know owners of super-cars, some of the really creme (de la creme) crowd,”
she mentioned.
On shore, Dubai is gearing up with fan zones at parks, seashores and in the monetary centre, whereas inns are providing particular packages.
Entrance to at least one fan zone in Dubai Harbour, with 330-square-metre screens, is $21 for a standing house.
But a lounge desk for eight individuals prices greater than $920, whereas a premium suite for 15 is promoting for $3,676, together with limitless booze.
The high-end choices reinforce Dubai’s well-cultivated fame as a luxurious vacation spot, a picture burnished by a collection of actuality TV exhibits together with Netflix’s “Dubai Bling”, a global hit.
World cup visas
The present, following a solid described as millionaires, has topped the platform’s viewing lists throughout the Middle East, though some object to the depiction of a metropolis that can also be house to swathes of low-skilled migrant staff.
To coax World Cup fans, the UAE is providing multiple-entry visas on the nominal payment of 100 dirhams ($27) to visiting supporters.
Budget airline flydubai will run not less than 30 return flights a day to Doha, a part of a every day airlift of 160 shuttle providers from Gulf cities laid on for the World Cup.
“Dubai’s and to some extent Abu Dhabi’s luxury market is probably best placed among the other Gulf economies, excluding Qatar, to benefit from the World Cup,”
mentioned James Swanston of Capital Economics.
“A more liberal atmosphere relative to other Gulf counterparts … makes it conducive for tourists to visit,”
he added.
One Dubai resort, on the man-made, frond-shaped Palm island, will probably be given over totally to soccer fans.
But it’s not all champagne soccer for fans in Dubai. As a worldwide inflation disaster sends costs hovering, many residents say they may forego World Cup festivities to save lots of on prices.
“I’ll subscribe (to World Cup games on TV)… and watch it at home,”
mentioned Tony, a 36-year-old Lebanese father of 1.
© Agence France-Presse
