Festival Centre, Island Global Yachting to host Dubai Boating Festival this weekend

A celebration of Dubai's strong maritime heritage, the Festival offers an action-packed two day schedule to entertain all ages.

There will be a range of spectacles to watch and enjoy including dragon boats; traditional boat-building demonstrations; and kite-surfing, yacht and trailer boat displays. For families there will be model boat building and fire-fighting vessel displays. In addition, there will be a large variety of kids activities scheduled all weekend.

From the water to the air; if its adrenaline you crave why not try the bungee jump in front of the Intercontinental Hotel Dubai Festival City or take a chartered helicopter trip? The best ways to experience the Festival from up above.

The Dubai Boating Festival is hosting two unique boat races which should not be missed. On Friday at 15:00 there is the second annual Floating Wheelchair Race held in Festival Centre's Canal, aimed at raising awareness for children with special needs. And on Saturday from 14:00 qualifying heats for the 'Whatever Floats Your Boat' bottle boat race take place to raise awareness of the importance of recycling. Teams of four will compete against each other to build and then race a boat, sturdy enough to take their weight and made entirely out of empty plastic water bottles and other recycled materials (which will be recycled after the race).

For those interested in purchasing a more seaworthy and conventional vessel, there will be a range of over 30 boats and yachts on display, from 18-100 feet in length, including Rigid inflatable boats, day boats, sports fishing yachts and luxury yachts. A variety of charter yachts are also available for viewing, for anyone interested in a special venue for business meetings, corporate team-building or friends' outings.

Activities take place between 13:00-19:00 on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October.