Bicycle boat ! business
They say the best way to explain anything is to start at the beginning. So I will start by showing you a letter I sent to the United Arab Emirate Ministry of Information & Culture which explains what inspires me to turn a hobby into a business and argues that the palms is the best place to start the business because it has a natural niche there like camels in a desert.
By the end of the letter (2 minute read) you will know what a waterbike looks like
And have a outline plan of how I will try to commercial the waterbike into a upscale or downscaled successful business and the main skills and knowledge I have to do it with.
The final section after the letter explains the contacts that I have already identified and those that I propose to contact and why.
What I don’t have is local knowledge and that is what I am searching for and the reason why I am explaining and posting my plans to the Dubia forum.
So here it is: my letter to the United Arab Emirate Ministry of Information & Culture:
My reference: Watercycling The Palm Islands
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am inspired by the resent television programme about the Princes vision for The Palm Islands to contact you.
Watching the grand vision of islands emerging from the sea captured my imagination of a place for relaxation, play, entertainment and fun adventure that as a water cyclist seems ideal for me.
As you can see from the picture of my waterbike below, it is an ordinary bicycle that you can pedal on water using attachments that all fit into a 13kg backpack and assembles in the 10 to15 minutes time it takes to inflate the floats by simply pedalling the bicycle.
(Picture of waterbike, If I was unable to post a picture of a waterbike below please
visit http://www.shuttlebike.it for a novel and interesting look see.)
The waterbike has crossed the English Channel and regularly comes in the first three of the World Human Powered Boat race Championships; which attracts University teams from around the world.
My hobby is all the fun things you can do with the waterbike like cycling in and around paradise islands and landing at some favourite Oasis.
When I saw The Palm Islands of Deira, Jabel Ali and Jumeirah and the world, I saw it as a natural home for the waterbike not just as a popular fun toy that most children and a lot of adults like to try, but as a practical keep fit mode of inter frond island transport and Ship to shore shuttle as well.
I would very much like to get involved in helping to introduce the waterbike to the Palm Islands and develop it as a popular, fun children and families activity that people of all cultures like.
Wherever the waterbike goes in England, its novelty attracts the attention of people’s phone cameras and so the children that ride it feels like the star of the show with a uniquely different experience that they can show their friends and guarantee they have never seen anything like it before.
I have used the waterbike for 5 years and found they have a flexible, effective, and relaxed efficiency as a fun toy, a therapy tool and fund raising advertisement. Which I want to develop, promote and exploit commercially.
As an amateur author I sometimes write about fun Watercycling adventures and publish them to the Internet. Please Google jack kybird and/or visit
http://www.coventryweb.co.uk/editorials ... onsor.html
for a story example.
I get a lot of fun, pleasure and happy feelings watching children explore the possibilities of the water bike for example.
Its fun watching children trying to get more people on the waterbike then the one person it was designed for. I have seen six with a lot of acrobatics and balance involved J
Racing the waterbikes and playing waterbike games like polo provide fun photo and film worthy activities that could be seen between the island fronds. Providing experiences that the water cyclist and spectators will want to show or talk about.
Providing talk about fun factors of experiences for people on holiday would promotes the islands and attracts other people to come as well.
I belief one of the islands will have or has a water sport centre where potentially waterbike races and waterbike polo games could take place. With the world Islands one could even have round the world races as well. I would like to extend the concept further by making some of the hired waterbikes look like camels, horses and other animals for the entertainment of those viewing them from shore or sea. It is very easy to make the waterbike look like almost anything. A galleon, Viking longboat or whatever.
The Two 8 foot floats on Hired waterbikes could display advertisements for restaurants, island attractions, radio stations, taxi companies, product brand names, local newspapers or Internet websites.
These are Effectively floating advertisements powered by people who hire the waterbike who pay to have fun doing it.
An ideal adventure island for the waterbike would be to have a network of interesting floating Theme islands that primarily children and young people would want to go to and explore For example: palm tree islands, lighthouse, castle, pagoda and treasure islands, the possibilities are endless.
The Princes vision engineered and constructing into reality seemed to me to offer a place for dreams, community, homes and estates and seems to me to be a very creative place to be.
Whatever, I hope you can see the mutual benefit and the natural niche the waterbike concept might have in The Palms.
I could try and start a sales/hire/promotion business in the palms or work for an already established palm island company and hope as the palm development company I can obtain your support in making contact with interested parties.
What I am looking for are Palm island contact addresses to local media and potential waterbike float advertisers and knowledge of where the best Palm places to hire waterbikes for fun and transport are?
For example: there may be places where people just want to cross from one palm frond to another and leave the waterbike their for someone who wants to go to the opposite frond.
I also need to obtain maps of the palms.
At the moment I do not know what laws and regulations I need to know in relation to starting a business or taking up potential palm employment offers. As you can see I am still in the early stages of researching my Watercycling business plan.
May I thank you for your time and consideration and hope you can be of assistance.
In any event may I wish yourselves and The Palms continued success and leave you with a brief review of other skills which I could bring to the palms.
For example: I have A Bachelor of science Honours Degree from the Open University. My degree is mainly in Cognitive psychology and involves memory, perception and problem solving. This knowledge can be used for, behaviour modification and general life problem solving; usually by helping people to define or redefine their problem space (business or life crisis), re-evaluating past conclusions by highlighting and challenging past assumptions and reconciling past and present feelings with present and future expectations. This process often gives rise to new aspirations and achievable objectives.
What I can offer is a methodical and analytical approach that produces the information that the client can use to find the most appropriate resolution to their own problems.
I am also a refrigeration mechanic with self employment experience and have a city and guilds 207 qualification in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning gained in 1977 at The royal school of military engineering, passing both parts (practice and theory) with distinction.
My practical experience of refrigeration has been in the repair and installation of domestic and light commercial equipment like cellar coolers, cold rooms and freezers.
My experience of self employment has given me first hand insight into business problems and combined with the methodical and analytical approach that my science degree and engineer training have given me; could enable me to offer a life and business problem consultancy service.
Yours faithfully
Mr. Jack C Kybird BSc (Hons) ADV Dip Ed Open)
Aspiring professional water cyclist, delivering family fun and happiness trough sales, hire and promotions
References
Manufacturers Reference of waterbike that I use is: SBK Engineering, Shuttle-Bike Kit 27029 Vigevano (PV) Italy- Via Pioppi 22/7
Tell 0381/20140-20003
For manufacturers website Google Shuttle Bike Kit
End of letter to Ministry of Information & Culture
My thanks and acknowledgements to
Consulate of the United Arab Emirates In The UK.
The palms development company Al Nakheel Properties Executive Chairman Mr Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
www.uaeinteract.com United Arab Emirate Ministry of Information & Culture
http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com about the palms with films and pictures
http://www.dubaiforums.com/ grassroots information on all things Dubai
http://www.shuttlebike.it/ Italian manufacturer of the brilliantly designed and engineered waterbike.
http://www.dubaided.gov.ae/main/gn/Doin ... ngBusiness Laws, rules and regulations, A to Z in the Dubai chamber of commerce website.
The final section of the post explains the contacts that I have already identified and those that I propose to contact and why. And hopefully I have highlighted what I would like or need to know but don’t.
I have posted more about my Watercycling hobby under the tread title Hobby Water cyclist in the Dubai General Chat section
http://www.dubaiforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=32187#32187
and hope to get feedback sightings from forum eyeballers if the waterbike is already used in the palms. If there are I perhaps would be better considering a little waterbike hire place in the lake district of England and tap into the children’s activity and adventure centre instead.
Since the letter I have picked up a lot more contact information and Propose future contact with the following:
Hotels in The Palm Jumeirah will contain over 25 of the top international hotel brands. including Movenpick, Antara, Fairmont, Radisson SAS, Hilton, Metropolitan, Shangri La, One and Only Royal Mirage, Starwood, Marriott, Oberoi, Chedi, Taj and Dusit Ref: Watercycling The Palm Islands, selling to, hiring from or float advertisement.
Note not yet found out the names of the hotel managers.
The Jebel Ali Palm six marinas, a 'Sea Village', a water theme park and water homes built on stilts between the fronds and the crescent. Ref: Watercycling The Palm Islands selling to, hiring from or float advertisement.
Note: I have not yet identified contactable addresses.
AMUSEMENT AND WATER PARKS
Aqua Park-Dreamland, Umm al-Qaiwain (06 7681888 www.dreamlanduae.com ) is one of the largest water parks in the world. High-speed water rides are set amongst extensive grassy areas. It also features a go-kart track, and an amusement centre, numerous food stalls and restaurants. The park is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays are for families only. Admission Dh30 for adults, children Dh20, children under 6 years are free.
The Breakwater, Abu Dhabi is a man-made resort area that can be reached by a causeway off the Abu Dhabi Corniche, just below the Hilton Hotel. The Breakwater has a wide variety of amusement centres, green areas and restaurants. Can be extremely busy on holiday evenings.
Hili Fun City& Ice Rink, Al Ain (03 7845524 funcity@enirates.net.ae ) is one of the largest amusement and leisure parks in the Gulf, with over 200 rides and games. Open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends and public holidays. Admission Dh10, Thursday and Friday Dh15, children under three years are free.
Wild Wadi Waterpark, Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah Rd, Dubai (04 3484444/ 3990000 www.jumeirah-beach.com ), located next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, offers 24 interconnected gigantic water rides on a spectacular 12-acre site. It boasts the longest (32.6 metres!) and fastest (up to 80 km/hr) water ride of the Middle East. The park is diligently patrolled by lifeguards and has several food outlets.
Adults Dh95, children Dh75, family tickets are available. Opening hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Friday.
Splashland Theme & Waterpark, in the centre of Dubai near Garhoud Bridge (04 3241222 www.godubai.com/wonderland ), is divided into three areas: Main Street, an air conditioned indoor family entertainment centre with lots of activities; a Theme Park; and Splashland which features nine water rides, and has three restaurants and a swimming pool. The entry fee (including Wonderland) adults Dh40, children Dh35.
Opening hours are weekdays from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday is Ladies day, closed on Sundays. Opening hours can vary according to the season so check before you go.
Khaleej Times online newspaper. Ref: Watercycling The Palm Islands. Ref free sales and hire publicity.
List of English Dubia on line newspapers
Gulf News www.gulfnews.com
Khaleej Times www.khaleejtimes.com
Gulf Business www.gulfbusiness.com
Gulf Today www.godubai.com/gulftoday
Al-Khaleej www.alkhaleej.co.ae
Al Bayan www.albayan.co.ae
Al Ittihad www.alittihad.co.ae
Emirates Evening Post www.emirateseveningpost.com
Seven Days www.7days.ae letters@7days.ae (letter to editor
Note: are there any other local media that I should contact
In terms of my emergency employment contingency plan I am considering contacting Trade Circle Technical Industries PO Box 5639, Dubai, UAE
And another company called Firstcool PO box 20339 Dubai http://www.firstcool.co.ae/ .
Note: Any recommended contacts to other refrigeration and air conditioning companies would be most welcome.
Yellow page directories are available for each emirate (see also www.emirates.net.ae ). These can be purchased at ETISALAT offices.
And As you can see I have registered with http://www.dubaiforums.com/ to try and get the information that fills in the gaps in my plans.
I have posted more about my Watercycling hobby under the tread title Hobby Watercyclist in the Dubai General Chat section
http://www.dubaiforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=32187#32187
and hope to get feedback sightings from forum eyeballers if the waterbike is already used in the palms.
In terms of my emergency employment contingency plan I have posted my
C.V in the Dubai Employment section under the tread title. Refrigeration + BSc(Hons) http://www.dubaiforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=32193#32193
Laws, rules and regulations, A to Z in the Dubai chamber of commerce website.
http://www.dubaided.gov.ae/main/gn/Doin ... ngBusiness
As I understand it I will have to find a UAE company or subject to take up 51% of the proposed company.
I. Nationals of Other Countries
Nationals of other Arab or foreign countries may conduct economic activities through any of the following legal forms:
• Individual establishment: may be established to practice only professional activities, and subject to the appointment of a local services agent who must be a UAE national.
• limited liability company: may be established to carry on any commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE partners whose shareholding shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.
• private shareholding company: may be established to carry on any commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE national partners whose shareholding shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.
• civil business company: two or more persons may establish a civil business company to practice a profession, provided that a local services agent, who must be a UAE national is
• appointed or included as a partner.
• Public Shareholding Company: Board of Directors takes the decision of allowing non-UAE nationals to become shareholders.
High on my list of potential partners are those in UAE refrigeration industry and have identified. Trade Circle Technical Industries as a manufacturer of thermal insulation panels (used to construct Cold rooms). The company may be interested because the waterbike floats can be filled with the expanding foam the company uses to make the panels.
Ordinarily one of the most attractive features of the waterbike is its portability in fitting in a backpack because the floats can be deflated. However for waterbikes that are permanently on a home water location such as hire centres; filling them with foam is a more convenient option. Not only would my potential partner be able to provide a float foam filling service but it could take advantage of using the floats to advertise their Technical services as well.
Well that’s it. Where I am with my business plan to date. Where I come from, where I want to go and how I propose to get there with a little help from my friends .
If you would like to help or join me, feel free to make your proposals on how you can fit in the Watercycling business plan, expand on it or add value to it.
May I thank you for your interest in reading what hopefully is an interesting business post although a necessary long one.
I don’t often say a lot but when I do it’s a lot.