Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season Showcases Traditional Rowing with Strong Gulf Participation

Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season Reaches Traditional Rowing Stage with GCC Participation The eighth and largest edition of the Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season has reached a major milestone as it enters the eagerly anticipated traditional rowing races stage — a crucial qualifier leading up to the distinguished His Majesty the King’s Cup. Central to the event are three prestigious races: the His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, the His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, and the Heritage Cup. This year’s competitions have drawn remarkable regional attention, with approximately 300 competitors representing 19 teams, including three from Oman and one from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Their presence in the upcoming Heritage Cup race, scheduled for Friday, underscores the Gulf-wide significance of the event and showcases the enduring enthusiasm among GCC nationals to honor their maritime heritage. The race for the Heritage Cup will challenge participants over a 3,000-metre course, beginning near Khalifa bin Salman Park in Al Hidd and concluding in waters adjacent to the Bahrain National Museum in Manama. Among the season’s many events, the traditional rowing races stand out for their historical and cultural symbolism, celebrating the deep-rooted bond between Bahrainis and the sea. These contests are a living tribute to the seafaring spirit, cooperation, and resilience of their ancestors, who relied on maritime occupations for generations. The Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season, spearheaded by the Bahraini Committee for Inherited Traditional Sports, highlights Bahrain’s unwavering dedication to reviving its maritime heritage and its pivotal role as a regional center for pearl diving traditions. This edition of the season features an expansive lineup of heritage-rich events, including: The Heritage Swimmer open-water swimming competition in multiple age brackets, The Al Hayer (oyster extraction) contests, The Haddaq (fishing) race, The Katem al-Nafas (breath-holding) challenge, which showcases traditional diving abilities, and notably, the introduction of the Nahham competition, an open invitation platform for participants across the Gulf to present authentic maritime songs, hosted in cooperation with the Ministry of Information. With this multisport celebration, Bahrain continues to solidify its role as a beacon of marine heritage in the Gulf, nurturing regional unity and cultural pride through traditional sports that honor the past while engaging the present. Team V.DIR-EM-UAE