1,800 Sailors in 327 Boats Create a Picturesque Scene at the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship

The Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship competitions kicked off this morning, Friday, 10 January, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club. The Championship will continue for three days until 12 January.

The Championship, which is part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Kingfish Championship series, is witnessing wide participation from 1,800 sailors commandeering 327 fishing boats. The total number of boats included 305 in the Men's category and 22 in the Women’s, all of which set sail at exactly 10:00 am, with 240 boats from Abu Dhabi, 47 from Al Mirfa, and 40 from Dalma Island.

The Championship was launched from port by His Excellency Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, and from Abu Dhabi by members of the tournament’s organising committee, Saeed Khalifa Al Muhairi, Director of the Special Sports Department at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Zayed Sari Al Mazrouei, Head of the Events Department at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, Saif Al Suwaidi, Head of the Competitions Committee at the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, a number of partners and sponsors of the event, and media representatives.

The tournament is characterised by vast diversity in the participating nationalities, with fishermen from Egypt, Comoros, Morocco, Qatar, India, Pakistan, USA, Oman, Jordan, Brazil, Macedonia, Ethiopia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, the Philippines, and the UAE competing. This reflects the diversity of the values ​​of tolerance and coexistence embodied by the United Arab Emirates, with the tournament bringing together fishermen from different cultures and backgrounds in an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect, which enhances the sporting and humanitarian spirit of the event. The oldest participant is 73 years old, while the youngest is 18.

Zayed Sari Al Mazrouei, Head of the Events Department at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and a member of the Organszing Committee of the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship, confirmed that the event organisation went smoothly, as coordination was made with all concerned parties to ensure a dazzling launch. Al Mazrouei added: “We have taken all necessary measures to ensure the comfort of the participants, while providing a competitive and safe environment for all sailors, and with the combined efforts of all the organising bodies, partners and sponsors, we are optimistic about the success of this year’s Championship, which is one of the most important sporting and heritage events in the region.”

Saeed Khalifa Al Muhairi, Director of the Special Sports Department at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and a member of the Organising Committee of the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship, said: “We at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council always strive to provide full support to championships that combine sports and heritage, as all resources are activated to ensure that the championship is a unique experience for the participants. We have worked to facilitate all logistical and technical procedures and overcome all obstacles in cooperation with the relevant authorities, and we look forward to this Championship contributing to enhancing Abu Dhabi’s position as a distinguished sports, tourism and heritage destination.”

The Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship is an exceptional opportunity for professional and amateur fishermen and women to compete for a total cash prize of AED 1,168,000, distributed among the top 60 places, in addition to daily prizes aimed at motivating participants and enhancing the challenge.

The Championship aims to preserve the UAE's rich marine heritage, promote the practice of traditional fishing among new generations, support tourism, and enhance the local economy, as well as contribute to highlighting Abu Dhabi’s status as a global sports, cultural, and environmental destination.

The Organising Committee of the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship held an informative meeting for the participants at the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, which provided them with all the details related to the Championship, including the laws and procedures to be adhered to while documenting the Kingfish fishing, as well as answered their inquiries.

The Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Marine, Meer, Delma Marine, and Al Masaood Automobiles, and supported by the National Guard Command, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and Abu Dhabi Police.

The Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Fishing Championship represents a unique platform to celebrate Emirati traditions, as it combines the heritage and sporting values ​​of marine fishing, making it an exceptional experience for fishermen and spectators.