"Dubai Marine" The formation of the Supreme Organizing Committee for the annual Al-Qaffal Race for local 60-foot sailing ships is announced

DUBAI, 10 April / WAM / The Board of Directors of the Dubai International Marine Sports Club approved the formation of the Supreme Organizing Committee for the 35th edition of the annual Al Gaffal Race for local 60-foot sailing ships, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, and is considered one of the most prestigious and important maritime sporting events.

This came during the second regular meeting of the club’s Board of Directors for the year 2026. The Supreme Organizing Committee includes: Dr. Ahmed Saeed bin Mushar, as Chairman, Saif Juma Al Suwaidi as Vice President, and the membership of Khalid Khamis Bin Dasmal, Khalid Ali Al Balushi, and Muhammad Abdullah Hareb, Executive Director of the Club, in addition to Muhammad Fadl Al Saadi as Rapporteur of the Committee.

Dr. Ahmed Saeed bin Meshar expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude for the continuous and great support of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for marine sports, specifically the Al Qaffal Race, which continues to move forward in the path of its founder, the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum – may God rest his soul – and it is the oldest, oldest and largest race in the Gulf and the Arab region for three decades since its launch in 1991, and which constitutes a great message. From the wise leadership to successive generations in order to revive the past of fathers and grandfathers whose lives were linked to the sea as a source of abundant livelihood and goodness, and to encourage sports competition in a prominent community forum.

The Board of Directors confirmed that the Supreme Committee will directly follow up and evaluate the necessary arrangements in light of developments in the current regional situation, in order to confirm the conditions that allow the event to take place in an optimal manner in terms of the quality of organization, and ensure the comfort of the participants. Accordingly, it was decided that the proposed period for the race will be during one of the days of the period from 16 to 31 May next and subject to continuous evaluation.

The Supreme Committee is also working on developing alternative plans to ensure the readiness of logistical and technical channels and government coordination as soon as directives are issued to do so, through continued communication with the competent authorities to secure the event in line with the highest standards of public safety.

In addition, the club confirmed that the “Al Qaffal” race, which was launched in 1991 as a message of loyalty to the heritage of our fathers and grandfathers, will remain a symbol of national identity, and that the organizing committee is working with all its energies to ensure that the 35th edition is held in a manner befitting the antiquity of the event, and to create the appropriate conditions for returning to the breadth of the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

The Al Gaffal Race has become a heritage carnival and a maritime festival that everyone awaits as an annual event that is renewed every year and brings together more than 3,000 people in the waters of the Arabian Gulf in a sporting epic in which ships travel more than 50 nautical miles, raising their white sails on the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, renewing the nation’s memory with their return trips from the diving season.

The Dubai International Marine Sports Club organized the 34th edition of the race on the second of last May, and the event achieved great success represented by the participation of more than 110 ships, as the crew of the ship “Zelzal 25” succeeded in first reaching the finish line off the Burj Al Arab, crowning the title for the fourth time in its history.

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