The Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club has revealed the 2026 Abu Dhabi Marine Festival agenda, scheduled to take place from 10 to 18 January 2026, featuring five diverse marine championships that combine heritage races with modern marine competitions.
The festival is organised as part of a strategic vision aimed at strengthening the presence of marine sports and reinforcing 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 (60ft category) alongside the Hudayriyat Dhow Sailing Race (22ft category), races which represent key highlights for heritage sailing enthusiasts and reflect the deep connection of Emirati society with its maritime heritage, embodying values of challenge, skill and 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 in marine sports.
Adding further diversity, the festival will feature the Al Alya Traditional Bawaneesh Sailing Race (12-foot dhows), one of the prominent heritage races on the marine sports 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 contemporary sports front, the 2026 Abu Dhabi Marine Festival will host the UAE Formula 4 Powerboat Championship between 17 and 18 January.
Through the organisation of the annual Abu Dhabi Marine Festival, 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 strengthening Abu Dhabi’s status as a key hub for marine sports and a major attraction for large-scale marine events at both local and international levels.
