Dubai International Marine Club has a rich history of developing and promoting modern sailing in the UAE. The first modern sailing school in the country was established thanks to DIMC's efforts, and the first national team with great hopes and ambitions in international championships and competitions was launched in 1999. This team presented a special program, including camps and training according to the highest global standards.
These programs and initiatives have significantly contributed to discovering a distinguished generation of athletes who have succeeded in participating in major global championships. Among these notable athletes are the Olympic champion Adel Khalid, who participated in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and Youssef Bin Lahj, who won the Al Bareh Championship in Bahrain and achieved a qualifying record for the Athens Olympics in 2004.
DIMC also initiated the idea of establishing the Sea Dubai Team, which participated in the RC 44 modern sailing world championship, competing with global sailors such as New Zealanders Dean Barker and Russell Coutts, Americans James Spithill and Paul Cayard, Frenchman Sébastien Col, and Italian Francesco Bruni.
DIMC's efforts were not limited to developing modern sailing but also organising various world championships such as the Hobie Cat 16 World Championship in 1996, the Topper World Championship in 1995, the G 22 Match Race World Championship in 1999, and the RC 44 and Match Race World Championships. DIMC also hosted the Al Maktoum Modern Sailing Award.
In 2012, DIMC was chosen to host the Brazilian national sailing team's camp for the World Youth Games in Singapore. In 2016, DIMC hosted a training camp for the Extreme Sailing Series, in addition to holding the annual conference of the organising committee
Dubai International Marine Club has announced the completion of preparations for the second round of the Dubai Aquabike Race, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, 14th – 15th February at Jebel Ali Beach.
The event is generating considerable anticipation, given the number of participants who have completed the registration process. It is expected to attract several top competitors from both within and outside the UAE. The race has become a popular destination for the community due to the diverse nationalities participating in the various categories. The first round, held last month, was particularly exciting, featuring a notable performance by experienced Emirati competitors in this type of water sport.
Mohammed Harib, CEO of the Dubai International Marine Club, announced the inclusion of 13 categories in the Dubai Aquabike Race, encompassing all disciplines. These include: Ski Division GP1 and GP2; Runabout GP1, GP2, GP3, and GP4; Veterans GP4 (2-Stroke); Ski Junior GP3 3.1; Ski Junior GP3 3.2; Ski Junior GP3 3.3; and Freestyle and Hydrofly, which will be included according to competition requirements.
Harib expressed his hope that the race will continue its prominent role in water sports, serving as a gathering point for all age groups, from 8-year-olds in the Junior category to older participants in the Veterans category. This ensures that each race attracts families across various disciplines, reflecting the shared passion for this sports within the community.
The Sports Affairs Department at Dubai International Marine Club has circulated the race instructions and all relevant information. A briefing will be held before the start of the competition, and technical inspections of the jet skis will be conducted. The race route, selected according to the highest standards to ensure the safety of all participants and maximize the competitiveness, will be distributed.
It is worth noting that this race is being held in cooperation with the club's partners, most notably: Dubai Police , Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defense , Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Sports Channels, and VIP Doctor.
The second round of the Dubai Aquabike Race, organized by the Dubai International Marine Club, concluded yesterday after two days of intense competition at Jebel Ali Beach, featuring strong participation from Emirati, Kuwaiti, and Austrian riders who dominated the top ten positions across the main categories.
UAE racers delivered an outstanding performance, securing a total of six gold medals, while competitors from Kuwait and Austria claimed two gold medals each, reflecting the high competitive level of the championship.
In the Ski Division GP1 category, Austria’s Kevin Reiter claimed first place, followed by Omar Abdullah in second and Salman Al Awadhi in third. The Runabout GP3 category saw Abdullah Al Hammadi take top honors, with Saif Rashid finishing second and Salem Mohsen third.
In the Ski Junior GP3.3 category, Abdullah Al Awadhi secured first place, ahead of Russia’s Eva Telenikova in second and Hamdan Al Taher in third. In the second junior category, GP3.1, Hamdan Al-Hattawi claimed first place, followed by France’s Milo Dauliach in second and Mohammed Bin Huraiz in third.
In the Ski Division GP2 category, Saud Mahmood Al-Awadhi topped the standings, with Kuwait’s Nasser Alrujaib finishing second and Suhail Al-Tayer third. The Veterans GP2 category was won by Austria’s Markus Erlach, followed by Huraiz Al-Mur Bin Huraiz in second place and France’s Barriac Pascal in third.
The Runabout GP2 category saw Salman Al-Awadhi secure first place, with Khalid Al-Mazmi in second and Kuwaiti Rashed Al-Dawwas in third. Kuwaiti riders dominated the Runabout GP4 category, sweeping the podium with Ahmad Al Khandari in first place, Shahin Ramadhan in second, and Fawaz Fahad in third.
In the Ski GP4 category, Ali Al Ali claimed first place, followed by Saud Mahmood Al-Awadhi in second and Austria’s Markus Erlach in third. The competition concluded with the Runabout GP1 category, where Kuwait’s Yousef Abdulrazzaq took first place, Hungary’s Kasza Gyorgy finished second, and Khalifa Belaslah secured third.
Mohammed Al Marri, Director of Sports Affairs at the club, presented the awards to the winners. Mohammed Harib, Executive Director of the club, praised the high level of performance demonstrated by the participants, noting that the results reflect the continuous development of the championship year after year and the strong ambition of riders to reach the podium.
