Dubai International Marine Club is preparing to organize the 28th edition of the Al Maktoum Cup Traditional Rowing Race on Saturday, marking the final round of the 2024-2025 Dubai Traditional Rowing Race Championship.

The prestigious Al Maktoum Cup was established in May 1996 and made its debut in the 1996-1997 season as part of the Dubai Championship. This was followed by the introduction of the elite race for the Al Maktoum Cup in the 1997-1998 season, which marked the launch of its first edition.

The much-anticipated race will take place on Saturday along the usual track at the Al Jaddaf , near the entrance to Dubai Creek and adjacent to the Dubai Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, opposite the Swiss International Scientific School with a race distance of 2.3 km. 

The event will feature 30 boats with up to 300 sailors, representing the top champions in this category based on results from the first and second rounds of the Dubai Championship, which concluded last Saturday. Among these, 20 boats will compete in the local category, while the open category will see 10 boats participating.

In the local category, notable participants include 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, Fujairah 47, Wadi Ham 88, Wadi Ham (2) 99, Thawban 10, Al Sharjah 32, and Ras Al Khaimah 50.

In the open category, introduced during the 2021-2022 season and open to boats from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and teams from government and national departments, 10 boats will compete. These include Belarab 44, F3 (89), Murbek 34, Dubai Police 3, Dubai Police 30, Al Zaabi 8, KHK 54, Victorious 53, Al Wasl 9, and Avon Center 31.