Al Gaffal Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (60ft)
Al Gaffal Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (60ft) takes place Oct 23, 2026 (35th edition) in Dubai, UAE. The dress code is Light, breathable and modest; sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential on the exposed waterfront. Free to attend; budget up to 250 EUR per person for hospitality and extras.
A single-day race for 60-foot wooden dhows from Sir Bu Nair island back to Dubai, retracing the return leg the old pearl-diving fleets sailed. Dozens of traditional boats crewed by Emirati families compete for one of the region's most prestigious heritage prizes, sailing engineless under enormous lateen rigs. It is the largest traditional sailing race in the world and almost entirely unknown to visitors.
- When
- Oct 23, 2026 (35th edition)
- Where
- Dubai, UAE
- Dress code
- Light, breathable and modest; sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential on the exposed waterfront
- Cost
- Free to attend; budget up to 250 EUR per person for hospitality and extras.
- Weather
- 30 - 35C, hot, dry and sunny with a light offshore breeze
- When to book
- No booking needed to watch; confirm the date on dimc.ae a week ahead as this race has been rescheduled before
- Getting there
- DXB (Dubai), about 35 min to Dubai Harbour and the Mina Seyahi shoreline
- Where to stay
- Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Rove Dubai Marina
- Official site
- https://dimc.ae/
How to attend
Entirely free and open - no ticket exists. The finish is off the Dubai coast near Dubai Harbour and Mina Seyahi, so you simply turn up on the public shoreline or at the Dubai International Marine Club. Confirm the exact date on dimc.ae before committing, because the schedule has shifted between spring and autumn in recent years.
The Dubai International Marine Club lists the race as free, and you watch from the public shoreline, so no ticket exists.
Insider tip
Get to the beach by mid-morning - the leaders arrive off Dubai far earlier than most people expect, and the sight of sixty-foot wooden dhows under full sail lasts only minutes.
Get inside Al Gaffal Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (60ft)
Booking matters here: no booking needed to watch; confirm the date on dimc.ae a week ahead as this race has been rescheduled before. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.