Sharjah and Sardinia, two of the longest-standing hosts on the UIM F1H2O World Championship calendar, used the World Travel Market in London to strengthen ties between their tourism industries, with powerboat racing at the centre of the discussion.
H.E. Khalid Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, met with Franco Cuccureddu, Sardinia's Regional Councillor for Tourism, in a meeting organised by H2O Racing. Representatives from the Government of Sharjah, local businesses and the Sardinian regional administration were also present.
The talks focused on how sport and tourism can work together, with both parties keen to explore areas of cooperation and find new synergies between their respective tourism sectors. Major sporting events, both sides agreed, play an increasingly important role in promoting destinations on the world stage.
Sharjah and Sardinia both have deep roots in the championship. Sardinia hosted the opening Grand Prix of the 2026 season, while Sharjah will again host the season finale in December, as it does every year. This year marks Sharjah's 25th F1H2O Grand Prix, while Sardinia has been hosting races in the championship since 1994.
That shared history shows what sport can do for tourism: raising international visibility, drawing visitors, supporting local economies and building lasting links between communities.
Discussions between the two destinations centred on closer collaboration going forward, the future direction of the sport, and ways to connect Sharjah and Sardinia through tourism, business and major sporting events.
Both sides agreed that sport's ability to cross borders and bring people, cultures and institutions together gives it real value beyond competition alone. For Sharjah and Sardinia, international sporting platforms are increasingly seen as strategic tools for destination promotion as much as sporting contests in their own right.
Raimondo Di San Germano, CEO of H2O Racing, and Paolo Di San Germano, General Manager of H2O Racing, also attended the meeting.
