Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi’s big motorsport week is being given an extra dimension by a three-day show on water starting on Wednesday when the 2015 UIM XCAT World Series marks UAE National Sports Day.

Altogether 100 events have been planned in the capital, which also includes the world’s biggest martial arts class, featuring jiu-jitsu, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The catamarans contesting Friday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the X-Cat championship, will line up at 3.30pm for the Abu Dhabi Match Race over a 1-km course between the Corniche and breakwater.

Bringing the excitement of offshore powerboat racing closer to the public than ever before, organisers say this dramatic head-to-head, drag-race-style knockout contest is helping grow the XCAT World Series into a major attraction for motorsport fans worldwide.

While it will have no bearing on this year’s world title race — to be decided by Friday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — it will give spectators a close-up view of how XCAT racing matches the power and thrills of Formula One.

The powerboat series has reached the UAE capital with just a single point separating XDubai and Team Abu Dhabi crews now facing a tense championship showdown.

“This is a spectacular motorsport series on the water, with the boats reaching speeds of up to 120mph,” said Salem Al Rumaithi, Assistant Director General of Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, hosts of the season’s final grand prix.

“Working with the UIM and the World Professional Powerboating Association, we’ve created a great stage here in Abu Dhabi to show the public just how competitive and compelling XCAT racing has become.

“We’re staging the Abu Dhabi Match Race as an additional event to mark UAE National Sports Day, and spectators can look forward to some fantastic, high-speed action.”

A second drag race knockout event, the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run, sets off at 3.30pm on Thursday, and this time bonus points contributing to the championship standings will be at stake.

The world’s largest martial arts class featuring jiu-jitsu will be conducted in Abu Dhabi from 1pm on Wednesday to coincide with the UAE National Sports Day.

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre event is being organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) in partnership with Palms Sport.

It will be attended by the Guinness World Records committee and will witness the participation of 3,500 jiu-jitsu pupils from Abu Dhabi schools.

Jiu-jitsu, a Japanese martial art, is one of the most popular sports in Abu Dhabi schools, organisers claim.