The eyes of heritage marine sports enthusiasts will turn to the Dubai Water Canal at 3 PM today, Saturday, as it hosts an exciting competition among elite owners, captains, and sailors for the title of the most prestigious championship of the season—the Al Maktoum Cup Traditional Rowing Race (30ft).
The event, organized by the Dubai International Marine Club since 1998, celebrates its 28th edition. It holds historical significance as the strongest and oldest championship in the Dubai Traditional Rowing Championship season, which officially began in the 1996-1997 season. This initiative reflects the vision of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who supported marine races to preserve the legacy of the forefathers and revive the traditions of the past.
The race will bring together up to 300 sailors across a total of 30 boats, divided into two categories: the Local Class (20 boats), dedicated to UAE citizens, and the Open Class (10 boats), featuring teams from government departments, national institutions, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
In the Local Class, participants include boats such as Ghazi 96 (leading the overall standings with 60 points), Men Jumeirah 4, Al Asifa 36 (title holder), Zilzal 1 (5), Mubarak Marine Team 87, Zilzal 2 (51), Al Zafer 49, Jalfar 55, Wadi Al Seeji 11, Wadi Sahm 2, Atlas 39, Ras Al Khaimah 27, Al Saroukh 7, Anad 6, Al Fujairah 47, Wadi Ham 88, Wadi Ham 2 (99), Thawban 10, Al Sharjah 32, and Ras Al Khaimah 50.
The Open Class, introduced during the 2021-2022 season, includes contenders such as Belarab 44, F3 (89), Murbek 34, Dubai Police 3, Al Zaabi 8, KHK 54, Victorious 53, Al Wasl 9, and Avon Center 31.
The race will take place on the scenic waters of the Dubai Water Canal, a unique tourist destination in the heart of Dubai. The route follows a smooth 2.3 km track along the Al Jaddaf Waterfront walkway, starting at Business Bay and heading toward Dubai Harbour Creek. The course passes near the Dubai Creek Wildlife Sanctuary and the Swiss School, offering a picturesque setting for the event.
Mohammed Al Marri, Director of the Sports Affairs Department at the Dubai International Marine Club, confirmed that all preparations have been completed to ensure the event's success. He emphasized that this major sporting event highlights Gulf heritage and noted the fierce competition and high performance displayed by teams in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Dubai Traditional Rowing Championship.
Dubai Media Incorporated, represented by Dubai Sports Channels, will broadcast the race live at exactly 3 PM (15:00).
The Dubai International Marine Club extends its sincere gratitude to the Dubai Sports Channels team, including Abdulrahman Amin (Director General), Abdulkhaliq Al Khamis (Production Manager), Mohammed Saeed Al Ketbi (Director), Abdullah bin Suwaidan (Commentator), and Mohammed Al Saadi (Reporter).
