The World Match Racing Tour will stage its Finals in Saudi Arabia for the first time in November 2026, with AMAALA Yacht Club confirmed as host for both the open and women's tours in a landmark move for the sport.
For the first time, the Women's World Match Racing Tour Final will run back-to-back with the Open WMRT Final, with both events sharing equal billing on the calendar and equal prize money.
Each event carries a $200,000 prize purse, making the women's event the largest prize ever offered for an all-female sailing event.
The venue itself is new to top-level match racing. AMAALA sits on Saudi Arabia's northwestern Red Sea coast, an area organisers say offers pristine waters and reliable trade winds, conditions expected to suit close-quarters racing well.
The Women's WMRT Final runs Monday 2 to Saturday 7 November, followed immediately by the WMRT Final from Monday 9 to Saturday 14 November. Winners of both events will be crowned 2026 Match Racing World Champions by World Sailing.
James Pleasance, Executive Director of the World Match Racing Tour, called it a milestone year for the circuit.
"This is a milestone year for the World Match Racing Tour," he said. "Not only is it the first time both world match racing tours will be hosted together, but I am particularly proud of our shared vision and achievement with AMAALA in announcing the first-ever 100% equal prize money across the open and women's world tours."
Adrian Peet, General Manager of AMAALA Yacht Club, was equally pleased to be welcoming the fleet.
"We're excited to welcome the World Match Racing Tour to Saudi Arabia for the first time this November," he said. "Hosting the Finals is an important milestone for AMAALA Yacht Club. Not only does it demonstrate the club's commitment to the sport, but it is also evidence of our ambition to support the growth of sailing in the region and establish the Red Sea as the leading destination for yachting."
He added: "Bringing the Finals together for the first time makes the occasion even more significant. We look forward to welcoming the world's best match racers to AMAALA and showcasing everything this extraordinary destination has to offer."
Launched in 2022, the Women's WMRT remains the only professional match racing series in the world dedicated solely to women. With equal prize money now locked in alongside the open tour, it marks a significant step in the pathway for female sailors chasing a world title.
