Dubai Grand Prix — the third and final round of the XCAT World Championship — kicks off tomorrow, Friday, and continues until next Sunday, with global anticipation building as the 2026 world champions prepare to be crowned.
All participating teams have completed their preparations after training in the waters off Dubai. Friday will feature the official practice session, followed by the Pole Position Q1, then Race 1 and its podium ceremony. On Saturday, teams return for another official practice and qualifying session. The final official practice will take place on Sunday, ahead of the decisive Race 2, which will determine the season’s world champions, culminating in the closing awards ceremony.
Leading the entry list is Victory Team, represented by the duo Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali aboard boat No. 7. The pair currently tops the world championship standings and aims to steer the team toward securing its seventh world title in history.
The championship also features teams from Great Britain, Sweden, Kuwait, Norway, Italy, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Dubai.
The Organizing Committee has opened the Championship Village at Kite Beach behind Sunset Mall in Jumeirah, welcoming team representatives and fans eager to follow the action from Dubai’s shores. The event stands as one of the UAE’s and Dubai’s most prominent sporting highlights during this time of year.
Mohammed Harib, CEO of the Dubai International Marine Club, confirmed that the efforts of all working teams have successfully ensured smooth logistics for receiving local and international participants, completing all necessary arrangements to position the powerboats in their allocated areas, fully ready for competition. He added that the event site has been prepared to reflect Dubai’s global reputation for hosting major international sporting events — especially marine sports, where UAE teams, particularly Victory Team, have achieved a legacy of world-class triumphs over decades. He expressed his hope that the team will continue this success by claiming this season’s world title, especially after their strong performance in the previous round in Kuwait.
