Al Dhafra Water Festival will dock on Mirfa's public beach this April 20 - 29, 2017 for the nine year. While enrollment is still open for the numerous coastline and water competitions, organisers already introduced a record number of participants over 4,000 rivals of at least 20 various citizenships. Over the 9 days festival, they will all be battling the waves and the winds for a podium place and honors that go beyond AED 25 millions in total!

Organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Board - Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Cruising and Private yacht Club, Al Dhafra Water Festival will certainly include 11 watercraft races, kite searching and swimming competitions, beach volley ball and football competitions as well as a souk, heritage exhibitions, live programs and home entertainment and a children's village.

"Al Dhafra Festival is meant to preserve and restore Emirati aquatic heritage. It also enhances economic opportunities for Mirfa, via the conventional souk set up on the coastline throughout the festival, with shops run by local residents, however specifically by promoting Mirfa as a traveler destination," said Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Director of Al Dhafra Water Festival.

The festival occurs over 20,000 square meters of Mirfa's white sandy beach, appropriate beside the four-star Mirfa hotel, which is completely reserved during the festival with vacationers from throughout the UAE and beyond, coming below specifically for the watersport events.

"This year, the festival offers a number of new surprises, beginning with the name. Previously, it utilized to be called Al Gharbia Watersports Festival, which has been transformed to Al Dhafra Water Festival, complying with a new decree that was recently issued by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capability as Ruler of Abu Dhabi," worried Mr. Mazrouei. "The decree changes the names of the Eastern and Western regions of Abu Dhabi emirate. Therefore, the Eastern Region has actually been relabelled Al Ain Region and the Western Region is now called Al Dhafra Region".

"Other events consist of traditional dress and food preparation competitors, however likewise a new cruising race," he included.

The star attraction of this year's festival is the long-distance 60 feet category sailing race, organised for the very first time. The 125 kilometres race will begin with Delma island and will upright the shores of Mirfa coastline.

"We have 111 sailing dhows and over 3,000 seafarers signed up in for the race. They are all making their means to Delma island now, in advance of the solid wind revealed for this weekend break. Based on the weather report, we intend to have the race on either Sunday or Monday following week," exposed Majed Ateeq Al Muhairi, Ceo at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Luxury yacht Club.

The race is anticipated to start at 6 am, with the first boats crossing the finishing line around 2 pm. "As the sailors will be found on Delma island, we will certainly likewise organise a heritage souk there too. People may take the ferryboat from neighboring Jebel Dhana to Delma island to visit us," he pointed out.

The very first competitors of the festival, occurring this weekend, April 21 - 22, will actually benefit from strong wind - the Kite Surfing Competition, arranged with the assistance of Emirates Kiteboarding Committee. Hundreds have currently registered for the incredible kite surfing occasion, which normally presents some of the most stunning water acrobatics.

"Through all the watersport competitions and occasions, Al Dhafra Water Festival maintains and encourages our seaside heritage, specifically amongst the more youthful generations. Every year the organisers bring in ever before much more participants, and for the Kite Searching Competitors we currently have more than 600 participants. In the first edition there were just 60," stated His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman and Former of Emirates Kiteboarding Board.

According to him, there will likewise be a Stand Up Paddling competition this year. Al Dhafra Water Festival is complimentary to site visitors. Beach events will take place daily from 5 PM till 10 PM.