Abu Dhabi is to host the historic Cowes Week sailing regatta, the first time in its 196-year-old history that the event will take place outside the UK.
While making sporting history, it consolidates Abu Dhabi’s position as the Middle East’s sports capital.
Last week, the emirate announced a partnership with the Argentina Football Association to host its World Cup warm-up matches.
Since 1826, Cowes Week has been a permanent fixture in the British sporting summer calendar, making it one of the oldest sporting events in the world.
The regatta is being organised by South Africa-based Z Zone Events.
Its chairman Khalid Al Mutawa said: “While Cowes Week has been around for almost 200 years, it is only recently that it has been organised by a single body and will take place outside of the UK for the first time ever in 2023.”
The international regatta hosts up to 40 daily races for around 750 boats, making it the largest of its kind in the world. More than 8,500 competitors compete in this event, including Olympic and world-class professionals.
The event attracts more than 100,000 spectators and the week-long carnival is expected to generate around 25,000 room nights in Abu Dhabi during January 2023.
The organisers are hoping to make it a permanent fixture in Abu Dhabi.
Cowes Week Regatta Director, Laurence Mead, said: “We will have eight competitive races during the Abu Dhabi event together with an eclectic mix of racing and festivities, a 196-year-old tradition that is as much about having fun with your friends as it is about hard-core racing.”
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