SSL Team UAE – By Sailors for Sailors

THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP... IN SAILING

ASIAN QUALIFIERS | 20-22 December 2025 | Chonburi, Thailand

FINALS | 15 NOV - 13 DEC 2026 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Events

Replay

ASIAN QUALIFIERS

G2 - Race 1

14:00

20 December 2025

THAILAND

Participants

OMA

UAE

KAZ

Results

Replay

ASIAN QUALIFIERS

G2 - Race 2

15:00

20 December 2025

THAILAND

Participants

OMA

UAE

KAZ

Results

Replay

ASIAN QUALIFIERS

G2 - Race 3

11:00

21 December 2025

THAILAND

Participants

OMA

UAE

KAZ

Results

Replay

ASIAN QUALIFIERS

G2 - Race 4

12:30

21 December 2025

THAILAND

Participants

OMA

UAE

KAZ

Results

Replay

ASIAN QUALIFIERS

G2 - Race 5

14:00

22 December 2025

THAILAND

Participants

OMA

UAE

KAZ

Results

Replay

ASIAN QUALIFIERS

G2 - Race 6

15:30

22 December 2025

THAILAND

Participants

OMA

UAE

KAZ

Results

Upcoming

1/32 FINALS

G2 - Race 1

12:30

19 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

IND

UAE

DRAW4

DRAW5

Results

Upcoming

1/32 FINALS

G2 - Race 2

14:00

20 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

IND

UAE

DRAW4

DRAW5

Results

Upcoming

1/32 FINALS

G2 - Race 3

15:30

21 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

IND

UAE

DRAW4

DRAW5

Results

Upcoming

1/32 FINALS

G2 - Race 4

11:00

22 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

IND

UAE

DRAW4

DRAW5

Results

See All Races

News

90 DAYS TO GO: THE COUNTDOWN TO RIO CONTINUES

90 days TO GO! The countdown to the SSL Gold Cup Final Series is getting shorter, and after months of training, qualifications and preparation, Rio de Janeiro is now firmly…

Date21.08.2026

PASSING THE EXPERIENCE ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION

Sailing on the SSL47 boats is about much more than preparing established teams for the next competition one and another. It is also a moment where experienced sailors can share…

Date18.08.2026

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TEAMWORK

In sailing, individual talent can take you far, but in team racing, it is the connection between sailors that can make all the difference. That is why teams from around…

Date13.08.2026

The Falcons

We have to work for today as if we are living forever, and work for our hereafter as if we die tomorrow.

The United Arab Emirates has transformed from a nation rooted in traditional dhow sailing to a competitive force on the international stage. With more than 1,300 km of coastline, year-round sailing conditions, and rapidly expanding maritime facilities, the UAE has invested heavily in building a new generation of high-performance athletes. Over the past decade, Emirati sailors have appeared in multiple World Championships, Asian Games podiums, and Olympic qualifier events, steadily raising the country’s global ranking across classes such as Optimist, ILCA, 49er, and iQFOiL.

Nationwide youth programs train over 500 young sailors annually, supported by advanced academies in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah. Local events attract large participation numbers, with more than 250 Optimists competing each season and growing interest in offshore racing. The UAE has proven itself as a world-class host as well, delivering major international sailing events including 3 Volvo Ocean Race stopovers, SailGP in Abu Dhabi, the Al Wasl dhow regattas, and multiple international championships across Olympic and traditional classes.

For the UAE sailors entering the SSL Gold Cup, this moment reflects years of discipline, national pride, and a deep connection to the sea. Their motivation comes from the country’s maritime legacy and its ambition to stand among the sport’s strongest nations. With determination, technical skill, and a clear focus on excellence, the Emirati athletes aim to deliver their best performance and secure a new milestone for sailing in the UAE.

Statistics

THE COUNTRY

Coastline Length - 1,318 km
Number of Marinas - 42 marinas
Total Berths - 7,100 yacht & boat berths
Year of Federation - 1971
Maritime Geography - 200+ islands in Abu Dhabi alone

ACHIEVEMENTS

6-Medals Mussanah Sailing Week 2025
4-Medals Arab Women's Sailing Championship
1-Gold Medal European open Championship
1-Gold & 1-Bronze Swedish Championship

SSL Ranking

SSL best ranked woman: #
SSL best ranked man: #
SSL nations ranking: #

MAIN EVENTS

Optimist Asian & Oceanian Championship 2023 - 170 sailors from 25 countries
UAE Sailing Hero Championship 2025 ~100 sailors nationwide
UAE National Sailing Championship - 70+ boats across multiple classes

1971

1971 marks the birth of the United Arab Emirates and the start of its modern maritime journey. This number represents national pride, unity, and the legacy that continues to inspire Emirati sailors to carry the nation’s story onto global waters.

The captain

Adil Khalid

Adil Khalid is one of the UAE’s most accomplished sailors, becoming the first Emirati to compete in both the Olympics and the Volvo Ocean Race. He has earned international recognition with gold medals at the European Open and Swedish Championships, cementing his status as a pioneering figure in UAE sailing.

THE LEADERS

AHMED IBN MĀJID

Ahmed ibn Mājid is one of the most iconic navigators in Arab maritime history and one of the UAE’s greatest seafaring figures. Born in Julfar (today Ras Al Khaimah), he mastered the science of the seas, developing advanced methods in navigation, wind patterns, and astronomical reading. He authored influential works such as Kitāb al-Fawā’id, which became a reference for sailors across the Indian Ocean. Known as “The Lion of the Sea,” Ibn Mājid played a central role in shaping regional maritime knowledge and connecting the Gulf to global trade routes, leaving a lasting imprint on the UAE’s rich ocean-faring heritage.

Adil Khalid

Adil Khalid is one of the UAE’s leading sailing champions and a pioneer in modern maritime sport. As the first Emirati to compete in the Olympic Games and a crew member in the Volvo Ocean Race, he elevated the UAE onto the global sailing stage. His achievements connect the nation’s deep maritime heritage with a new era of competitive ocean excellence

THE YOUTH FACTOR

With rising stars from the UAE’s expanding youth sailing programs, the Emirati squad brings fresh energy and determination to the SSL Gold Cup. Many young sailors compete across ILCA, Optimist, iQFOiL, and 49er classes, showing strong regional results and growing international presence as they push toward future Olympic qualification.

Confirmed Athletes

Ahmed Younus

Trimmer | 8

Yousuf Khalid Al Bastaki

Grinder | 4

Pitman | 3

Mid Bow | 2

Trimmer | 5

Main Trimmer | 7

Mohammed Khalifa Harib

Trimmer | 8

Adil Khalid Al Bastaki

Helm | 10

Floater | 8

Bowman | 11

Tactician | 9

Tactician |

Mid Bow |

Potential Team Position

1 BOW Saif Al Nuaimi	2 MID-BOW Ahmed Al Taher
3 PIT Ali Younus	4 GRINDER Yousuf Khalid Al Bastaki
5 TRIMMER Ahmed Al Marzooqi	6 TRIMMER Ahmed Younus
7 MAIN TRIMMER Aljazi Al Mehairbi	8 HELM Adil Khalid Al Bastaki
9 TACTICIAN Othman Al Hamadd	10 CAPTAIN
11 FLOATER Salama Al Mansoori

BOW

Saif Al Nuaimi

MID-BOW

Ahmed Al Taher

PIT

Ali Younus

GRINDER

Yousuf Khalid Al Bastaki

TRIMMER

Ahmed Al Marzooqi

TRIMMER

Ahmed Younus

MAIN TRIMMER

Aljazi Al Mehairbi

HELM

Adil Khalid Al Bastaki

TACTICIAN

Othman Al Hamadd

CAPTAIN

FLOATER

Salama Al Mansoori

SQUAD

Yousuf Khalid Albastaki	Ahmed Altaher
Aljazi Almehairbi	Adil Khalid
Saif Alnuaimi	Jamal Alsuwaidi
Nasir Alowais	Ahmed Younus
Ali Younus	Ahmed Almarzooqi
Mohammed Khalifa Harib	Salama Al Mansoori
Othman Al Hamadd

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UAE men jersey

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UAE women jersey

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UAE captain's jersey

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SSL black cap

$29

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SSL blue cap

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SSL red cap

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Neoprene pant

$49

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