Dubai International Marine Club announced the overall rankings for the participating boats in the Al Maktoum Cup Traditional Rowing Race - 30ft, organized by the club within the sports season 2023-2024 after the results of the first two rounds held recently.

The anticipated race will start on Saturday at exactly three o'clock in the afternoon on the waters of the Dubai Water Canal along the promenade of Al Jaddaf area, opposite the Wildlife Sanctuary, featuring the Burj Khalifa skyline, Business Bay, until the Dubai Creek Harbour promenade for a race distance of 2.3 KM.

Up to 300 sailors will participate in the event on board 30 boats, aiming to win first places in the two rounds. The event will witness the participation of 20 boats in the local class run and 10 from the open class run, designated for boats from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the teams of government and national departments and institutions.

The sailors and captains of the top 20 ranking boats in the local class run and the top 10 in the open class run will receive the honor to participate and compete in the most expensive rowing boat championship in Dubai, the 27th edition of the Al Maktoum Cup, concluding the Traditional Rowing Championship this season.

The overall standings for the local class run were topped by boat no. 36 Al Asifa, owned by Hamdan Saeed Jaber and captained by Badr Abdul Hakim Mohammed Thani, with 4 points. The boat Atlas 39, owned by the same owner and led by Hassan Ibrahim Al Hosani, came second with 6 points and was ahead of the crew of boat no. 35 Al Kous, owned by Ali Ahmed Khamis Al Nuon, led by Humaid Fares Humaid Al Mesmari, who finished third with the same score.

In the rest of the top standings, Wadi Sahm 2 won fourth place with 7 points, Zilzal 51 fifth (10 points), Balbala 43 sixth (11 points), Zilzal 1 16 seventh (17 points), Shati Dibba 24 eighth (19 points), Wadi Ham 2- 99 ninth (22 points), and Wadi Ham 1- 88 tenth (24 points). Al-Saroukh 60 is eleventh (26 points), Ras Al-Khaimah 27 twelfth (30 points), Al-Saroukh 7 thirteenth (30 points), Al-Zaabi 8 fourteenth (31 points), Anad 1 14 fifteenth (32 points), Wadi Al-Seeji 11 sixteenth (32 points), Jalfar 55 seventeenth (33 points), and Al Zahab 65 eighteenth (33 points), Ras Al Khaimah 50 nineteenth (34 points), and Heniam 9 twentieth (38 points).

The Bahraini boat KHK 54, owned by His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and captained by Ahmed Al Busmait, also topped the ranking of boats participating in the open category round with a score of 3 points. The two Omani boats, Shabab Suihar 22 and Belarab 44, belonging to the Oman Marine Sports Committee, led by Ibrahim Al Ghaithi and Humaid Al Bahri, came in second and third place with 4 and 5 points respectively.

In the remaining positions, boat no. 87, the A25 team, finished fourth with 9 points, Tornado 84 fifth with 13 points, Avon Center 31 sixth with 13 points, Dubai Police 3 seventh with 15 points, Men Jumeirah 4 eighth with 18 points, Dubai Police 30 ninth with 21 points, and Maysour 90 tenth with 23 points.

27

The 27th edition of the Al Maktoum Cup, the premier championship for the 30ft Traditional Rowing Race in the Dubai International Marine Club's sports season, is set to take place this Saturday, continuing its legacy since its inception in the 1997-1998 season.

This prestigious race has consistently flourished, owing its success to the steadfast support of wise leadership and the dedication of officials at the Dubai International Marine Club. Their unwavering commitment has been pivotal in developing and preserving the cultural heritage associated with this event.

The rowing event has been a constant highlight on the Dubai International Marine Club's calendar, eagerly anticipated by fans of this sport in the United Arab Emirates and extending its reach across borders through the participation of GCC countries for over a decade. 

Over the course of its journey, it witnessed the crowning of 13 boats engaging in intense competition throughout its 26 seasons of existence, setting a challenging benchmark that captains, owners, and sailors strive to achieve.

In the past two seasons, the competition has expanded with the introduction of two categories for the title. This innovation includes the Open Class Category, specifically designated for teams from government departments, national institutions, and participants from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, thereby enhancing the competitive opportunities for all involved.