Photos: XCAT Racing (Abu Dhabi Grand Prix)

Xcat Abu Dhabi

The perks of working in an office alongside Corniche - you get to watch international sports events like this for free!

Xcat Abu Dhabi is certainly no stranger to sports fans. Throughout the year, the capital of the United Arab Emirates welcomes the world to an incredible assortment of international sporting events. From tennis, to Formula One to the Volvo Ocean Race – Abu Dhabi has it all. Last November, speeding boats from around the world took to the water for the final round of the UIM XCAT World Series – an exhilarating 3 days of action which the world champions were crowned. 

Victory Boat 3

Victory Team represented by Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi wins 2016 UIM XCAT World Series.


Trying their brand-new Generation 2 boat that has just been built in Jebel Ali, the team had to sit out in most of the final round following their flip on the very 2nd lap of the race. But their hard work during the initial three rounds of the game paid off as the Victory Team duo had already accumulated 129 points to secure yet another world crown to their collection.

Fujairah Team Boat 20

Dubai Boat 33

Abu Dhabi Team

Overall standings at the end of the 2016 UIM XCAT World Series that concluded with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday, November 18:

1. Victory Team (3) – Arif Saif Al Zaffain (UAE)/Nadir Bin Hendi (UAE) – 137 points
2. Dubai (33) – Salem Al Adidi (UAE)/Eisa Al Ali (UAE) – 106 points
3. Team Abu Dhabi (5) – Majed Al Mansoori (UAE)/Rashed Al Tayer (UAE) – 98 points
4. Swecat Racing (2) – Mikael Bengtsson (SWE)/Erik Stark (SWE) – 83 points
5. Gold Coast. Australia (11) – Tom Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Ross Willaton (AUS) – 82 points
6. T-Bone Station (10) – Giovanni Carpitella (ITA)/Ahmed Al Hameli (UAE) – 77 points
7. Carpisa Yamamay (22) – Alfredo Amato (ITA)/Diego Testa (ITA) – 51 points
8. The Blue Roo (8) – Brett Luhrmann (AUS)/Pal-Virik Nilsen (NOR) – 51 points
9. Lady Spain (46) – Joakim Kumlin (SWE)/Jay Price (USA) – 40 points
10. Yacht (96) – Saul Bubacco (ITA)/Francois Pinelli (FRA) – 39 points
11. Fujairah Team (20) – Serafino Barlesi (ITA)/Alessandro Barone (ITA) – 32 points
12. Six (6) – Matteo Nicolini (ITA)/Alfredo Nuzzo (ITA) – 25 points
13. Raheeb (17) – Abdullatif Al Omani (KWT)/Khaled Burabee (KWT) – 19 points
14. Team Abu Dhabi (4) – Majed Saeed Al Mansoori (UAE)/Rashed Mubarak Al Qamzi (UAE) – 8 points