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Welcome to UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation

The national governing body for sailing and rowing in the United Arab Emirates since 2009.

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Developing marine sports, and the national talent to represent them.

We work to promote and develop marine sports in all their forms, and to identify and prepare national talent capable of representing the United Arab Emirates at regional, continental and international championships, and above all at the Olympic Games.

2009

Founded by the General Authority of Youth and Sport to set the rules and regulations for the practice of sailing and rowing. Since then our champions have established a strong presence at international competitions, and those results now drive a new generation of young Emirati talent.

  • 7Emirates within the Federation's national remit, from Al Dhafra to Ras Al Khaimah
  • Grade ANational Championship series under the Racing Rules of Sailing
  • 5Young sailors enrolled in the national talent pathway in 2026

The only organisation in the UAE affiliated to both World Sailing and World Rowing.

World SailingWorld Rowing
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan

President, UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan serves as President of the Federation and, since 2024, as Chairman of Council Group I at World Sailing, sitting on its Board of Directors for the 2025 to 2028 Olympic cycle.

He founded the first UAE national team for water board sports and led it at tournaments overseas, helping to popularise kitesurfing in the Emirates. Through sailing and other water sports he has promoted awareness of the importance of preserving the marine environment.

Under his presidency the Federation has continued its work to empower women in sailing and rowing, and to widen participation for young Emirati athletes and for People of Determination.

Sailing

The Federation governs dinghy and keelboat racing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and wing foiling across the country. The competitive pathway runs from the Optimist through to the ILCA classes raced by the national squad.

  • Dinghy racing
  • Keelboat racing
  • Windsurfing
  • Kitesurfing
  • Wing foiling

Rowing

The Federation governs coastal rowing, beach sprint and indoor rowing. National squads are selected from domestic competition for continental and international regattas.

  • Coastal rowing
  • Beach sprint
  • Indoor rowing

UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation

A UAE rower with his medal at the 2025 Asian Rowing Indoor Championships
Officials on the viewing platform at a SailGP event, with the F50s racing behind
A UAE rower at station 10 in the single 2000 metres at an indoor rowing championship
Guests shown round a SailGP F50 in the technical base
Two of the UAE team with the national flag at the 2025 Asian Rowing Indoor Championships
A television interview with Dubai Sports
See latest news
An ILCA 4 racing dinghy, the class sailed by the UAE national squad, with its hull, rig, foils and control lines labelled below.

Learn about the ILCA 4

  1. Step 1 of 4

    The Hull

    A hull does two jobs at once. It carries your weight, and its shape decides how much of your speed is lost dragging water along with it.

    4.20Length overall, metres

  2. Step 2 of 4

    The Sail

    Air moving across a curved sail is bent, and bending air makes lift. That is why a boat can sail towards the wind rather than only away from it.

    4.7Sail area, square metres

  3. Step 3 of 4

    The Foils

    The centreboard resists sideways motion so the sail’s force becomes forward motion. The rudder steers. Together they are why sailing works.

    0.79Centreboard depth, metres

  4. Step 4 of 4

    The Controls

    Mainsheet, vang and traveller set the angle and depth of the sail. Adjusting them constantly is the difference between sailing and going fast.

    1.39Beam, metres

Explore the federation

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