Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan

Marine sports represent an important part of the UAE’s rich heritage and provide a strong reminder to our new generations of a time when the sea was one of the main backbones that shaped our lifestyles. I take this opportunity to reassert that the influence of the sea is not limited to the past, but that does so in the present and will continue to do so long into the future. The Abu Dhabi Government is equally supportive of all these endeavours which further advertise Abu Dhabi to the outside world, not only in terms of tourism but also in trade and commerce. Team Abu Dhabi is already a well-recognized operation in the marine sports world, with some of the members being World Champions. I am confident the team’s performances will further strengthen the presence of the sport in the country. Marine sport in the UAE has undergone radical changes and great progress has been made in both competition and administration. This has made it one of the leading countries in the sport worldwide. The UAE boasts modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art facilities, the very latest technology and advanced plans and programmes that give it an edge over other countries to play host to such competitions and sporting events. Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club plays an important role in preparing the country’s youth to face the challenges of continuing the development and progress that was founded by their ancestors. The club has also helped in promoting the UAE by hosting and organising many local and international championships in the past 13 years, including the President’s Cup for Formula 2000 and rounds of the UIM Formula One World Championship, the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and the UIM XCAT World Series.