Dragon Boat Challenge is a famous sport all around the globe. Dragon boat racing started thousands of years ago in China. International Dragon Boat Foundation (IBDF) governs dragon boat racing all over the world. Dragon boat festivals have been organised in the UAE since 2008 and encourage participation of different communities including men and women, both.
UAE Dragon Boat is a governing body of all the dragon boat races, events, and festivals in the UAE. It operates under the umbrella of the UAE Sailing And Rowing Federation (SARF). UAE Dragon Boat (UAE DB) collaborates with UAE SARF, Siren events, and Challenging Adventures to hold 4 to 6 events annually.
UAE SARF hosts Dragon Boat festivals and races throughout the year. Let’s have a look at Dragon Boat festivals and races in the UAE:
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVALS AND RACES IN THE UAE
Dragon boat racing is a great team sport full of strategies, techniques and sportsmanship. Teams of 10 or 20 people paddle the boat and the one that reaches the finishing line first is the winner.
Festivals are held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, including locations like Dubai Creek, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Canal. Festivals encourage different communities to team up and play this thrilling sport.
The Euro Cup Dragon Boat Championship took place in the UAE. It was held outside Europe for the first time. It was held on 10-11 December in 2021 at the Waterfront Market in Deira, Dubai. 100 teams from 12 countries competed in this championship. This shows how this sport is rapidly growing in the UAE.
DRAGON BOAT TEAMS IN THE UAE
There is a rise in popularity of dragon boat competitions in the UAE. Above 20 teams from different Emirates such as Dubai Flying Dragons, Abu Dhabi Capital Dragons, A-Team Dubai, Sharjah Drakon and many more participate in this intense and competitive sport in different festivals and races.
Dragon boating is a great group activity. There are teams allowing interested ones to join and take part in training to become professionals at this sport. There are coaches in the teams and clubs who train individuals and groups for professional dragon boat races in the UAE.
Let’s give a read on how one can join dragon boat teams in the UAE:
JOINING DRAGON BOAT TEAMS
Interested individuals and groups can take part in training for the dragon boat competitions. They can contact teams and inquire about the training fees and schedules that vary for different clubs.
The teams and clubs provide paddles and life jackets to all before training. However there are accessories that one needs to take and wear when going for dragon boat training:
- T-shirt or long sleeve shirt
- Shorts or long pants
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Flip flops or sneakers
- Water
- Sunscreens
The training fee varies depending on the clubs and teams. Its price range starts from AED 1,1000 annually. However, some teams offer one month trial sessions and others offer three training sessions for free. You have to take passports or ID cards to get registered to the teams.
All the teams and clubs follow the safety procedures outlined by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IBDF). Participants need to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) whilst on the boat. This is to ensure the safety of individuals taking part in the training and races.
This was all about dragon boating in the UAE. It is one of the challenging and team building marine sports. People can also participate in other anticipated marine sports in the Emirates. People can enjoy water sports such as skiing on rental boats and jet skis for a limited time or buy used boats in the UAE and have the advantage of speed boating and skiing at their own convenience.
Stay tuned to the top auto blog in the UAE and stay updated about the latest automotive and marine sports in this region.
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