Dubai says Ahoy! Yacht races to sunset cruises, why the sea sets UAE residents free

Yachting.

It means breathing in the blue.

It’s what comes to Josko Kucic’s mind, when he thinks about just being away at sea. Away from the world. Everything is just beautiful, says the director of Dubai’s Octanta Maritime Academy. “You start breathing differently. Sometimes, it’s about a reset. And sometimes, it’s just about silence, the sun and the water.”

Divya Kumar, a Dubai-based homemaker soaks in the same sentiment. “Sometimes, it’s all you need. You just go out there on that yacht, and have nothing but that azure silence. You just breathe, and forget everything that’s plaguing you back on land.”

It’s a rhythm of life.

Zeljan Banovac, the co-founder of Octanta Maritime Academy explains it isn’t just leisure. "The Gulf demands respect. It looks calm, but is alive. And for me, being at sea in the UAE is a way to stay sharp. Stay present. You don’t just relax. You observe, adapt, and learn every time you leave the marina.”

And so, while the reasons vary, from solitude to adrenaline, it’s this shared reverence for the sea that unites Dubai’s yachting community. Some go to disconnect. Some go to just be with their friends. Others know it as a notable business opportunity. And there are those who neatly fit into all categories.

Behind every sail, there’s a story waiting to be told.

Finding time for the sea

The sea is full of endless possibilities. And somehow, you find time that you didn’t think that you had. And it’s this allure that keeps the yachters returning, again and again.

Kucic’s packed schedule at the Maritime Academy doesn’t stop him from carving out moments, as he says. “A few times a month, if possible. When I do make it out, it’s all about disconnecting and enjoying the peace. Something I will always make room for, no matter how hectic things get on land.”

What route does he take when he does get away? “Probably, the one that starts at Dubai Harbour, passes by Bluewaters, and then goes into the open sea. Other times, for the whole day, anchoring somewhere near Moon Island.” His go-to marina? “Dubai Harbour. It’s new, convenient, everything works, no chaos. The team is great, service is top-notch. But if I’m looking for peace and quiet, I love Yas Marina, it’s calmer there.”

Kucic is poetic with his words. “Honestly, the longer I do this, the more I realise. It’s not about the route. It’s about the mood.”

For Banovac, it’s about the mood too. He goes as often as he can. “I split time between Croatia and the UAE, and honestly, both offer something different. In Croatia, it’s wild nature and hidden coves. In the UAE, it’s sleek marinas and skyline views. I don’t follow a schedule - I just go when the mood hits.”

Some, like Linda Swift, a Dubai-based businesswoman, like to slip away, quiet and unnoticed’ on weekends too. The sea is where she belongs, as she says. "And since my teenage days, I’ve just loved the idea of sailing and learning how to do it. I never got the chance to learn at the time. But then when I was in my late twenties, I started learning, what it really means to sail. All my misconceptions about muscular strength sank to the bottom of the ocean, and I felt stronger than I had ever felt in my life. Freedom didn’t only come from being at sea, it came from realising what I could do, and nothing could hold me back.”

It's this sense of blazing freedom that sweeps through the UAE. And in other corner of Dubai, another woman decided to feel the power of the sea, through racing.

Women rewriting the narrative: From dream to racer

Even though Cakil Agnew, an Associate Professor in Psychology at Heriot-Watts University, shares her story with us through an email, you can hear the joy bursting through each word. Explaining her story, “I started sailing later in life, compared to many who grew up on boats.”

Realising that sailing demands many skills at once, situational awareness, understanding the wind and tides, managing the boat and working with the crew, she thought it was too late for her to begin. “Before we had children, we went on a sailing holiday, which sparked my husband’s passion for the sport. After that, he began sailing keelboats, raced regularly, and won both the Commodore’s Cup and the Dubai to Muscat offshore race.”

And when, she watched him racing, she realised that there was nothing as 'too late.' And she decided to sail away, to her own dreams. “When our son was three and our daughter was six, I started sailing with an inspiring female skipper, Betty Camacho, who taught me most of what I know today—from sailing and rigging to safety. We raced together every Wednesday and completed a couple of offshore races.”

She got the addictive taste for racing, more than cruising. The tides had turned. “This year, we did the biggest offshore race in the Middle East, the Dubai to Muscat. with an all-female crew: Betty Camacho, Sally Fleming, Clare Robson, and Ellie Mae. It was an amazing experience, sailing with women from different age groups and backgrounds.”

It was a milestone in her life, and a reminder of the extent to which women contribute to offshore sailing. “Although I still enjoy keelboat racing and love learning from other sailors, after this race, I wanted to try smaller boats like SB20s, Catamarans, and Wetas, where you really feel the adrenaline when the wind picks up,” she says.

Apart from racing thrills, Agnew enjoys sailing with her family, too. “My daughter Liv is now nine and races, it’s wonderful to see how much she improved in just one year. And our six-year-old son, River, has started sailing Optimists too. My husband sails Nacra F18s and keelboats, so we really do share the love for the sport.”

For others, the appeal of yachting goes beyond recreation and becomes an entrepreneurial opportunity.

A business venture

For Pushkar Thakkar, co-founder and managing director of Delmont Fire and Safety LLC, and his wife, yachting began as a personal investment. The idea took root after a visit to the Marina, where they saw others enjoying time on yachts. Inspired, they wanted to offer the same experience to their parents.

What started as a gesture soon evolved into a business. They entered a partnership and began taking bookings — often for birthdays, celebrations, and even surprise parties for friends. Over time, their yacht has also hosted more formal occasions and ceremonies.

“As a business opportunity, we saw real potential,” they explain. “People here genuinely enjoy yachting, and we knew there was a market for it.”

And now, the face of yachting itself is changing—who it's for, how people access it, and what it means.

What yachting looks like now

There used to be something distant around the idea of yachts. For most, it just belonged to the films. It felt deeply exclusive, recalls Kucic. “Now, everything feels different. People view yachting in a different way, not as a status symbol, but as a way to live different families. Young professionals are getting into it. And that’s great. There’s more infrastructure, more accessible options, renting, shared ownership. Everything is moving forward.”

Nita Chatterjee, a Dubai-based sales professional, recalls the days when she would associate yachts with only the rich and famous. “Being on a yacht? You’re practically a film star,” she chuckles. “I would never have dreamed of relaxing and spending weekends out with friends on yachts. I thought it was far out of our reach. But even though I have no idea how to sail one, I love being on it. It’s cathartic. The world really feels like your oyster.”

Banovac adds, “10 years ago, it was about big yachts, and bigger parties. Today, people look at performance, sustainability, and training. More locals are getting certified. Crews are trained better and owners are more involved. That’s real progress.”

Now everyone wants to buy a yacht, laughs Chatterjee. But as both Kucic and Banovac point out, buying a yacht is not as simple as you might wish to believe.

After all, you’re at sea. And if you don’t know how to be at sea, you’ll be at sea literally.

What every aspiring yachter should know

For starters, choose with clarity, not just excitement. “Consider how you plan to use the yacht, what kind of crew and maintenance it requires, and whether it truly fits your lifestyle. The right yacht brings freedom and joy - but only when it aligns with your needs and pace of life,” says Kucic.

Don’t chase size or bling. “A good, simple boat is better than a flashy, finicky one. Think ahead. Who’s going to service it? Where will you keep it? What are the costs?”

As he explains, a yacht isn’t just a boat. “It’s your home on the move. And if you choose right, it’ll be more than a toy, it’ll be your companion. And there’s a quiet joy in that - just moving forward, over the water, without rushing. Watching the shore from the other side. And feeling that you’re truly living.”

The yacht itself, is just the beginning, explains Banovac. “You’re basically becoming a project manager overnight - logistics, repairs, regulations, crew. all of it becomes your job. And also: you’ll spend more time maintaining it than actually sailing, unless you build the right team around it.”

Moreover, keep in mind, the maintenance. “Be consistent, says Banovac. “The heat, humidity, salt, dust - it’s a brutal combination. You can’t delay service, or skip checks. One loose wire or neglected filter, and you’ve got a major issue. I always say: Your yacht is only as safe as your last inspection.”