Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship will take place from 10 to 12 January 2025.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), and the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, the championship coincides with the activities of the 18th edition of the Al Dhafra Festival 2025, and will commence from three main locations: Al Mirfa, Abu Dhabi Corniche, and Dalma Island.
The Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship will feature participation from professional and amateur fishermen, who are set to compete for a total cash prize of AED1,168,000, to be distributed among the top 60 places. The championship’s organising committee has also allocated prizes for the women’s category similar to those for men, in addition to daily prizes aimed at motivating participants and enhancing competition.
His Excellency Dr Ahmed Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Assistant General Secretary of ADSC said that the championship reflects the vision of Abu Dhabi in enhancing its position as a global sports and heritage destination, noting that it aims to preserve the UAE’s marine heritage and support traditional fishing sports in a way that enhances the nation's values of authenticity, sustainability and environmental protection.
He said: “The support of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for all events and this event in particular reflects the keenness of the wise leadership to consolidate the UAE's national identity and preserve its rich marine heritage, in addition to enhancing sports and cultural tourism in the Al Dhafra region.”
Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Acting Executive Director of Festivals and Events at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, praised the role of the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship as a key initiative in promoting and preserving marine heritage for future generations. The championship also serves as a platform to promote the values of centuries-old Emirati traditions and the importance of the human connection to the sea as an essential part of the UAE's identity.
He said: “We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, for his great support for the championship and initiatives to preserve Emirati heritage, as this support reflects the keenness of the wise leadership to promote heritage events that highlight the national identity and enhance community interaction with the components of heritage.”
He also praised the efforts made by the championship’s organising committee and all participants who are contributing to the success of the event.
Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Competitions Committee at the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, emphasised that the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship is one of the most prominent sports and entertainment events included in the agenda of marine activities in Abu Dhabi. He praised the support from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for marine sports, which has contributed significantly to the development and organisation of distinguished events that have attracted sports enthusiasts from inside and outside the country.
He emphasised that the continuous support has contributed to highlighting the Al Dhafra region as one of the most prominent centres for marine sports activities, stressing the importance of the role played by these events in enhancing the region’s position locally and internationally, not only as a sports destination, but as an area that carries a rich cultural and heritage legacy that reflects the UAE's national identity.
Al Suwaidi said: “We, at the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, are committed to organising quality events that enhance the UAE’s marine heritage and support traditional sports that form part of our cultural identity. Our goal is to continue to provide events that contribute to highlighting our sports and organisational capabilities, in addition to supporting local talents and engaging the community in these unique activities.”
In addition to the large cash prizes, the Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship is part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Kingfish Championships series in which the season’s champion and the champion who achieves the highest total points across the four championships, will each receive a car. The owners of the heaviest Kingfish weight in the men’s and women’s categories will also win a fishing boat.
The Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship aims to preserve the UAE’s rich marine heritage, encourage new generations to practice traditional fishing, promote tourism in the Al Dhafra region, support the local economy, and enhance the position of Abu Dhabi as a global sports and cultural destination.
