Mohammed Abdullah Hareb, a member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai International Marine Sports Club and Executive Director supervising the Al Qaffal Racing Festival, confirmed that the historic heritage race witnesses an annual increase of between 5 and 10% in the number of participants in this heritage event.
The race, dedicated to local 60-foot sailing ships, will be held in its 33rd edition during the period from May 11 to 19 next, over more than 50 nautical miles in the distance between Sir Bu Nair Island, through Comoros Island, to the shores of Dubai.
Hareb explained that the number of those registered in last year’s 2023 edition of the race reached 126 ships, of which 125 ships participated, i.e. a percentage of close to 100% of those registered.
He added that registration is scheduled to open next Wednesday, and it is expected that, in light of the expected increase in each version, the number will reach 130 ships or more.
He stressed that the organizing committee faces a challenge in each edition, which is to safely transport between 4,000 and 5,000 people from the beaches of the Emirates in general, to Sir Bu Nair Island, and then their return to the beaches of Dubai at the conclusion of the festival.
He said that the movement of this large number to an island 52 nautical miles away represents a great challenge, and the safe arrival of all these people to the shores of Dubai represents an achievement in itself.
He added that throughout the 32 years of the race, the great cooperation between the organizing committee and all partners and competitors was the main support for the success of this great heritage festival, and enabled it to overcome any challenge or difficulties.
He stressed that success in the sporting aspect of the race has become one of the constants in organizing this event, and that what the organizing committee is keen on is developing new initiatives to achieve more success at the promotional level for the heritage slogan of the race linked to one of the ancestral sports.
He said: “Every year, we are keen to hold many accompanying events, in cooperation with partners in the Emirates of Sharjah and Dubai, most notably the heritage village on Sir Bu Nair Island, and the arrival station on the beaches of Dubai, to attract the interest of all segments of society.”
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