Dubai Boating Festival

Get a taste of what Dubai’s waterfront has to offer at the inaugural Dubai Boating Festival to be held at the Festival Marina, Dubai Festival City, on October 24 and 25.

The event, organised by the Festival Centre in association with Island Global Yachting, offers a variety of fun activities for people of all ages. While experienced sailors will enjoy the sailing competition and yacht and boat displays, families and children can participate in the model boat race and enjoy the dragon boats, fire-fighting vessel and helicopter rescue displays, dhow races and boat building demonstrations. A treasure hunt for children and strolling performers are also part of the entertainment for the fun weekend.

A highlight of the event is the ‘Whatever Floats Your Boat’ bottle boat race, where teams of four will compete to build and then race a boat made entirely out of empty plastic water bottles and other recycled materials. This event is hosted by InterContinental Dubai Festival City to raise awareness of recycling.

The Festival will also include the second annual floating wheelchair race held in the Festival Centre canal to raise money for children with special needs.

“This festival celebrates the country’s fabulous coastline and rich maritime history. We want to encourage people who may not have visited the marina or experienced the adrenaline rush of a jet boat to come down and join in the fun. We hope that this will become an annual event and put Dubai on the map with the international boating community,” said Phil Blake, Marina Manager of Festival Marina.

Teams and individuals interested in participating in the Bottle Boat, floating wheelchair and other races should contact the organisers at IGY@fourcommunications.com