Why go
Visit to understand a stretch of coast whose natural slipway supported boats and dhows before it was transformed into a modern marina. The area is also tied to the development of Dubai's organised marine-sports scene through the Dubai International Marine Club.
What to look for
- A coastal area whose name means Port of Travellers.
- The former natural slipway used for launching boats and dhows.
- The Dubai International Marine Club, formed in 1986.
The full story
Mina Seyahi occupies part of Jumeirah Beach and takes its name from Al Mina Al Seyahi, or Port of Travellers. Its coastal setting included a natural slipway where boats and dhows could be launched. In the 1980s, the area was developed as a marina for yacht owners and as a base for watersports. The Dubai International Marine Club was formed there in 1986 to build an organisational base for offshore powerboat racing. Its first Dubai Offshore Powerboat race took place that April. The club later became the headquarters of the UAE Marine Sports Federation, created in 1997 through a merger with the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club. That history makes Mina Seyahi more than a waterfront address: it records the shift from a working coastal launch point to a planned marina and a centre for organised marine sport.