Dubai will host the OCEANMAN World Final Championship from 5 to 7 December, with more than 2,800 swimmers set to race at Kite Beach. Competitors from 93 countries have registered across men’s, women’s and children’s events, including Olympic medallists and over 1,200 national champions. Most entrants are travelling from overseas.
The announcement came during a briefing at Dubai Sports Council. Issa Sharif, who oversees sports events at the Council, said Dubai is ready to stage the largest finals in the history of the series. He said previous editions in the emirate helped build interest in open-water swimming across the region.
Sharif said Dubai’s beaches and event infrastructure make it a popular stop for athletes, and that the scale of entries this year shows the confidence organisers and swimmers have in the city.
Fermín Egido, chairman of the organising committee, thanked the Council for its support. This will be the second time Dubai hosts the World Finals and the fifth time it stages an OCEANMAN qualifier. Egido said the event continues to draw strong fields and that Kite Beach remains one of the most suitable venues on the tour.
This year’s elite list includes several leading names. The women’s field features Barbara Pozzobon, Giulia Gabbrielleschi, Clémence Coccordano, Bettina Fábián, Angélica André, Georgia Makri, Rachele Bruni, Caroline Jouisse, Rebecca Mann and Brooke Travis. The men’s line-up includes Logan Fontaine, Axel Reymond, Andrea Filadelli, Domenico Acerenza, Logan Vanhuys, Ilario Giuseppe, Dario Verani, Marcel Schouten, Jean-Marie Pacôme and Bailey Armstrong.
Professional racing starts on Friday, 5th of December. Team, sprint and junior events are scheduled for Saturday. Qualifiers from around the world will compete over 10km and 5km distances.
Ukrainian Olympian Mykhailo Romanchuk, who has raced at the event for five years, said he always finds something new in Dubai and that the growing number of swimmers reflects its rise in popularity. Germany’s Leonie Beck, visiting the city for the first time, said she was impressed by the venue and expects athletes to enjoy racing along the coastline.
