60ft Dhow Sailing Boats Begin Seasonal Journey This Saturday

The 60ft Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing boats will return to the water with their white sails raised high at the start of the new 2024-2025 season, organized by the Dubai International Marine Club, on Saturday afternoon.

The event's organizing committee has announced the opening of registration for the race on the club's website at www.dimc.ae, with registration available daily until Friday noon, ahead of the announcement of the Entry List.

The organizing committee at the club oversees all procedures related to the event, in coordination with government departments and national institutions such as Dubai Police, the National Guard (Fourth Squadron), Dubai Maritime City Authority, Dubai Civil Defense, Dubai Media Incorporated, the Roads and Transport Authority, and Dubai Municipality.

This season's Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (60ft category) includes four rounds: the first on Saturday, the second on the 26th of this month, the third on the 9th of November, and the final round in May next year during the 34th edition of the Al Gaffal Race.

The most recent 60ft Dhow Sailing race took place during the 33rd edition of the Al Gaffal Long Distance Race from Sir Bu Na’air Island to Dubai’s shore, where boat no. 211, Namran, claimed victory.

1993

It is worth noting that the history of the 60ft Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race dates back to 1993, when the Dubai International Marine Club organized the first race, fulfilling the vision of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sixteen dhow boats participated for the first time in the third edition of the Al Gaffal Long Distance Race from Sir Bu Na’air Island to the shores of Dubai, alongside the 43ft Dhow Sailing boats. This event proved that the dhows could withstand the challenging waters of the Arabian Gulf, leading to the official adoption of the 60ft category for the Al Gaffal Race in its fourth edition—a tradition that continues to this day.