Dubai: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Sports Council, was honoured at a glittering awards ceremony held by the world powerboating body, Union Internationale Mononautique UIM, last weekend.
President of the UIM, Raffaele Chiulli awarded Shaikh Hamdan with a special trophy at the fifth UIM World Champions Awards Giving Gala at the prestigious Salle des Etoiles, Monaco in recognition of his incredible contribution to powerboating.
Accepting the award on his behalf were Dr Saif Al Ketbi, President of the Dubai-based World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA); Dr Khalid Al Zahed, vice-president, WPPA; Saeed Hareb, president, UAE Marine Sports Federation; along with powerboating world champions, Mohammad Al Marri and Arif Al Zaffain.
“This award is a reflection of the massive part that Shaikh Hamdan and also the city of Dubai have played in the development and promotion of powerboating in recent years and it is a great honour to be recognised in this way,” said Al Ketbi.
The WPPA signed a partnership agreement with the UIM at the end of 2012 and since then has been working tirelessly in its role as a strategic partner of the world governing body.
“As one of the central hubs for the sport, we are constantly seeking to develop and further promote powerboating, witnessed by the expansion of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series in the last two years.
“We will continue to work hard in this role as we further promote our wonderful sport, from our base in Dubai, reaching out around the world,” he added.
