Saudi swimmer Mariam Saleh Bin Laden, a dentist and humanitarian activist, is set to embark on a new open-water swimming challenge in the early hours of Thursday morning, venturing through the breathtaking waters of Dubai’s World Islands. This initiative, supported and organized by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), aims to encourage women to engage in sports while raising awareness about environmental conservation and ocean cleanliness.

A New Chapter in an Impressive Career

Mariam Bin Laden has made history as the first Arab woman to swim across the Red Sea, reaching Egypt in October 2022. She is also the first Gulf female swimmer to cross the English Channel, covering a distance of 21 miles in August 2016. Her achievements include completing the Khalid Bin Hamad Challenge, swimming from Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to Salman City, Bahrain.

Returning to Dubai, a city where she previously made history in 2017, Mariam successfully swam from Dubai Creek in Shindagha—one of Dubai’s historic landmarks—through the Dubai Water Canal, covering over 24 kilometers in 9 hours and 10 minutes.

A Challenge for a Greater Cause

As part of "The Year of the Community", Mariam’s new challenge around The World Islands highlights her commitment to empowering women in sports while advocating for cleaner oceans and a sustainable marine environment. She will begin her swim at 2:00 AM on Thursday, accompanied by world-renowned open-water swimmer Andy Donaldson, known for his remarkable long-distance swimming records, alongside coach Vladimir.

DIMC’s Full Support for the Initiative

Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) has completed all necessary preparations to ensure the success of this initiative. In collaboration with Nakheel, Dubai Police, and other key government and national institutions, the event will be closely monitored from the early morning start until the expected midday finish.

Mohammed Saif Al Marri, Director of Sports Affairs and Competitor Relations at DIMC, welcomed Mariam Bin Laden back to Dubai, commending her previous achievements in long-distance swimming. He emphasized DIMC’s role as the governing body for marine sports in Dubai and its dedication to initiatives that promote environmental awareness and ocean conservation. He also expressed appreciation for the support from Dubai Police and Dubai Holding, whose contributions have been instrumental in making this challenge possible.

A Week of Exciting Marine Sports in Dubai

Al Marri highlighted that DIMC’s calendar is packed with diverse events this week, starting with Mariam Bin Laden’s challenge on Thursday, followed by the UAE Open Water Cup for juniors and seniors on Jumeirah Beach this Saturday, in collaboration with the UAE Swimming Federation.

Andy Donaldson Joins the Challenge

Accompanying Mariam in this challenge is Andy Donaldson, a world-class swimmer with a history of record-breaking achievements. His accomplishments include crossing the Cook Strait in March 2023, completing the Oceans Seven challenge in just 355 days (August 2022 – July 2023), and swimming around Manhattan Island in the United States. He also holds the record for the fastest swim across the English Channel (August 2022) and was honored with the World Open Water Swimming Association Award in 2023.

This remarkable challenge not only showcases the power of human endurance but also delivers a strong message on the importance of ocean conservation and female empowerment in sports.