Dubai International Marine Club

The following year in 1988 Dubai International Marine Club was established using a fairly basic military ‘portacabin’ camp on the beach at Mina Seyahi as control with Lieutenant General Saif Al Shafar and Colonel Saeed Harib in command.

Mina Seyahi had been designated, as a leisure area in the late ‘70’s by His Highness the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum due to its location and proximity to the industrial and residential centres of Dubai. A breakwater had been built to create a safe and sheltered harbour and in 1977 land was granted for Jebel Ali Sailing Club (JASC) a mainly expatriate members club, which became a flourishing sailing club and great logistical ally to DIMC.

A technical committee of powerboat professionals was formed in 1990, which included HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Lieutenant General Saif Al Shafar and Colonel Saeed Hareb and an application was made to join the Union International Motonautique (UIM).

In 1991 HH Shiekh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum asked the DIMC Committee to organise a long distance traditional dhow race in an effort to maintain the traditional culture of the Emirate. The first Al Gaffal Sur Bu Na’air long distance race was held, it was 49 nautical miles and raced by various types of dhows but the start of the traditional races.

The UAE received full membership of the UIM in March 1992 after proving eligibility and Saeed Harib was asked to organise the Class One World Powerboat Race final in Dubai later in the same year. The race s