Until about 1987 watersports in Dubai were organised by various government departments, the military and volunteers. But HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police & Public Security, felt that it was time to centralise all watersports and started by organising a long distance wooden powerboat race. The race was from Umm Al Quwain to Dubai, which was hailed a great success and marked the beginning of a new era of watersports in the region.
