Dubai - Next Big Sailing Destination

by Sail-World Cruising on 12 Mar 2006 Dubai might make you think of extravagant buildings, lots of desert, fabulous shopping and good airlines - but does it make you think sailing?

If you answered 'no', then soon you might have to think again. It was one of the most successful helmsmen in America’s Cup History Russell Coutts that said recently that Dubai is ‘on course to become one of the world’s leading sailing venues’.

Of course, he was talking about racing, not cruising.
But the next thing he said will affect all types of sailing in the future. The country is putting a high emphasis on youth sailing, to help the sport’s growth. Recently the Dubai Government has facilitated heavy investment into sailing - youth sailing, boat shows, competitive events and marinas, in the hope of making it a truly world competitive sailing nation.

This is all good news for the cruising sailor. More and more cruisers are taking a little time to make a detour when they are crossing the Arabian Sea to visit this rapidly changing country - and even more rapidly changing sailing scene.

Russell himself will be in Dubai next month for the Dubai Match Race Challenge, when he will compete with Danish sailing star Jes Gram-Hansen, but if he’s wise, he’ll take a little time off to do some leisure cruising as well.

While Dubai must be one of the most fascinating modern cities in the world today, with its extraordinary buildings and developments, the waters around Dubai have made it a natural for the development of sailing, and the experience is a very different one.

For the cruising sailor, there are many natural attractions within the Persian Gulf itself. You can visit Dubai creek, Abu Dhabi islands and Mumza Park, all of which make interesting stops, and the facilities in the area are excellent. Then there are the man-made destinations. ‘The World’ is a collection of man-made islands in the shape of the world – a real estate development. It is four miles off the coast at Jumeirah. At Jumeirah, ‘The Palm’ is the largest marina in the world, and also sports man made islands.

These are wonders hard to find anywhere else in the world, and unusual experiences. However, they can never rival nature, and a trip to the Musandam Peninsula is a must. It’s at the top of the Gulf, with a magnificent fjord like coastline.

Musandam Peninsula has an abundance of sheltered fjords, some only connected to the mainland by narrow cliffs. Fjords, or khors, created by fragmented rock stretching claw-like into the sea and massive overshadowing cliffs towering above are magnificently reflected in the water below.

The coast juts into the Strait of Hormuz and extends some 600 kilometres. These spectacular fjords have given the area a second name “The Norway of Arabia” The Strait of Hormuz is only 60km wide and does not exceed 60m
With a season that runs from September to May and wind speeds between 15 to 18 knots, conditions for sailing in the Gulf are ideal.

In fact, Dubai has been so successful at promoting itself as a future sailing destination that sailing-mad countries like Australia for the first time included the Dubai International Boat Show in their itineraries for promoting their products in 2006. A group of 11 Ozzie marine companies banded together to exhibit at the 2006 show, March, 14-18.

There are a series of international events planned for Dubai right through 2006 - starting with The Dubai Match Race Challenge at the Dubai International Marine Club on March 16 and 17. For the full calendar of events in the next few months go to the Calendar of Events website.

There are several sailing clubs in Dubai, the Jebel Ali Sailing Club, which has a great competitive sailing programme, particularly with catamarans and dinghies and the very ambitious Dubai International Marine Club which tends to run the big events.


But it seems to be the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, which is the ideal club for the holidaying or visiting cruiser.


If you want to charter a sailing boat in Dubai, here are some Dusail, Aqua Marina Yachts, Yacht Solutions


For sailors who are also keen divers, there are good opportunities, and there’s a Diving Facility operating.

While many people fly to the Mediterranean to experience the plush life, Dubai with its luxury developments and superb climate is attracting people to stay and experience the local scene. If you’re intending to cruise the Indian Ocean, it’s a great inclusion, and it’s also worthwhile considering for your next sailing holiday