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29 March 2024

Track racing dhows right from Dubai waters on Saturday

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

Fans of the Dhow Sailing Race, also known as Al Ghaffal, will be able to come closer than ever to the 60ft dhows competing in the race, with the Dubai ferry taking the audience right onto the waters.

The Dubai ferry will be available for dhow watching during this year’s event, the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed. The event will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2013.

“Through this initiative we are seeking to effectively contribute to the success of this race as it reminds us of our deeply rooted past which is closely related to marine life in the Arabian Gulf represented in fishing and pearl diving,” said Hussain Khansaheb, Director of Marine Transport.

The dhow race is an annual tradition that was initiated in 1991, to commemorate the pearl traders, who once made up the backbone of the local economy.

Around this time of year, the pearl traders would conclude the pearl diving season and celebrate this event on Sir Bu Nair Island, the very same island from where the 100-plus sailing boats start their race.

The dhow boats will compete in a 54-naval mile race that ends at Burj Al Arab, a race which usually takes the best sailors around 6 hours to complete.

In order to reserve the best spot to watch the dhows compete, fans can book a place on the Dubai ferry, which will follow the race as close as safety allows, explained Khaled Maktari, coordinator of the ferry trip. Tickets are available for Dh325 (gold class) and Dh250 (silver class).

“We have agreed on a rendezvous point; we will meet the dhows at Moon Island. From there we will follow them all the way up to Burj Al Arab.”