What a dramatic finish to Al Gaffal! ⛵️ Dhow No. 25 Zilzal, skippered by Marwan Abdullah Al Marzouqi, chased down the leader, No. 279 Al-Aryam, helmed by Ahmed Salem Al Hammadi, to win the annual long-distance sailing race of 60ft traditional wooden boats to Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab hotel. 🇦🇪

Al-Aryam led for most of the 51-nautical mile race from Sir Bu Nuayr Island, but the slightly faster Zilzal steadily chipped away at its advantage, finally catching up with around 14 miles to go. The two dhows then sailed side-by-side, shedding ballast in an effort to gain the edge, before Zilzal pulled ahead to finish in 4 hours, 51 minutes and 14 seconds — an average speed of around 10.5 knots. No. 9 Al-Taf, skippered by Yousef Ahmed Al Hammadi, finished third.

Now in its 34th edition, the race across the warm waters of the Gulf commemorates the return of pearling dhows in the olden days, when they would gather at the island after months at sea. Around 118 dhows — each with up to 30 sailors aboard — took part in this year’s race, a sharp rise from the 53 that competed in the inaugural edition in 1991. ⛵️

Al Gaffal Dhow Sailing RaceSailors aboard dhow No. 25 Zilzal, skippered by MARWAN ABDULLAH AL MARZOUQI, celebrate victory in Al Gaffal, a long-distance sailing race of 60ft traditional wooden boats to Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, the United Arab Emirates, May 2, 2025. Al Gaffal Dhow Sailing RaceDhow No. 25 Zilzal, skippered by MARWAN ABDULLAH AL MARZOUQI, sails past Burj Khalifa to win Al Gaffal, a long-distance sailing race of 60ft traditional wooden boats to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, May 2, 2025.