News

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 5 January 2026 : The Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club has announced the launch of the Abu Dhabi Marine Festival, scheduled to take place from 10 to 18 January, spanning nearly ten days and featuring five diverse marine championships. The festival brings together time-honoured heritage races and modern marine competitions, as part of a strategic vision aimed at strengthening the presence of marine sports and consolidating Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading regional and international destination for hosting major marine events.

The festival programme includes the Abu Al Abyad Dhow Sailing Race (60-foot class), alongside the Hudayriyat Dhow Sailing Race (22-foot class). Both events represent key highlights for heritage racing enthusiasts, reflecting the deep-rooted connection between Emirati society and its authentic maritime heritage, and embodying values of challenge, skill, and seafaring expertise passed down through generations.

The festival will also host the Abu Dhabi Women’s Fishing Championship on 10 January, underscoring the club’s commitment to expanding community participation and supporting women’s involvement across various marine sports, within a competitive and professionally organised environment that meets the highest quality standards.

Further enriching the festival’s diversity, the Al Alyah Sailing Banoosh Race will take place as one of the significant heritage races on the marine events calendar, offering captains and sailors the opportunity to compete in an atmosphere that blends maritime skill, competitive spirit, and pride in cultural heritage.

On the modern sports front, the Abu Dhabi Marine Festival will host the UAE Formula 4 Powerboat Championship on 17 and 18 January, in addition to a Formula 4 training camp aimed at developing racers’ capabilities, refining their technical skills, and supporting the preparation of a new generation of champions in this category.

Through the organisation of the Abu Dhabi Marine Festival, the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club reaffirms its commitment to delivering an integrated programme that combines sporting competition, preservation of maritime heritage, and development of national talent—further enhancing Abu Dhabi’s status as a key hub for marine sports and a major magnet for prominent marine events at both local and international levels.