World Formula 1 Powerboat champions compete on Khalid Lagoon

The event features the final round of the 24th UIM F1H2O World Championship – Road to Sharjah, organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), running until Sunday, December 21. The championship hosts 20 of the world’s top racing stars representing 10 international teams.

Emirati teams compete for the title

Several Emirati teams are competing in this year’s championship. Team Sharjah, representing the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, currently ranks second in the team standings and includes Canadian Rusty White, Estonian Stefan Arand, and Finnish driver Filip Roms. Team Abu Dhabi, representing the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, is currently ranked fifth and is represented by Rashid Al Qamzi, Mansour Al Mansouri, and Eric Stark. Team Victory, representing the Dubai International Marine Club, leads the team standings and is represented by Ahmed Al Fahim, Alec Wikström, and Shaun Torrente, who tops the individual rankings this season.

Sharjah World Championship Week: A legacy of sports and tourism

His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighted the event’s role in Sharjah’s global tourism and sports presence. He emphasised that integrating sports and tourism drives sustainable economic development, supports infrastructure, nurtures local and international talent, and boosts hotel occupancy, which reached 69% in 2024, with over 1.6 million hotel guests.

Season finale: Sharjah Grand Prix

The Sharjah Grand Prix began on Friday, December 19, with free practice sessions for all participating boats on Khalid Lagoon. The competition continues on Saturday, December 20, with the traditional “Kilometer Break” time trial, which consists of three qualifying rounds to determine the six fastest boats for the final round. In the afternoon, the Sprint Races set the starting grid for Sunday’s main race. Sprint Race 1 begins at 3:05 PM with the fastest qualifiers, followed by Sprint Race 2 at 3:45 PM, determining the five fastest boats that will join the top ten for the final race on Sunday.

Environmental initiative: Planting trees for sustainability

As part of the 2025 championship week, SCTDA launched a tree-planting initiative at the Al Muntather Nature Reserve on Thursday. This initiative aligns with the UIM’s global tree-planting program, with 100 trees planted to support environmental sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. The initiative was carried out in cooperation with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) of Sharjah and the UIM F1H2O, with Sheikh Salem bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, SCTDA representatives, and participating racers attending the event.