Match racing will break new ground this November, with AMAALA Yacht Club confirmed as the first venue in Saudi Arabia to host the World Match Racing Tour Finals, staged alongside the Women's World Match Racing Tour Final Event for the first time.
The venue sits on the Red Sea coast in the country's northwest. Organisers point to reliable trade winds and clear water as ideal for tight, tactical racing, and the club has ambitions well beyond just one regatta.
What makes this edition different is the format. For the first time, the Women's WMRT final, running since its 2022 launch, will be staged back-to-back with the Open Tour final rather than as a separate standalone event. Both carry a $200,000 prize purse, and organisers say the women's event now represents the largest prize fund ever offered for an all-female sailing event.
The dates are locked in. The Women's World Match Racing Tour Final runs from Monday 2 to Saturday 7 November, followed immediately by the Open Tour Final from Monday 9 to Saturday 14 November. Winners of each will be crowned 2026 Match Racing World Champions by World Sailing, the sport's governing body.
James Pleasance, Executive Director of the World Match Racing Tour, called it a milestone year. "This is a milestone year for the World Match Racing Tour. 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, echoed that sentiment. "We're excited to welcome the World Match Racing Tour to Saudi Arabia for the first time this November. Hosting the Finals is an important milestone for AMAALA Yacht Club."
He added that combining both finals raises the stakes further. "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."
The club itself is still taking shape. Its 119-berth marina, capable of berthing superyachts over 100 metres, is due to open in autumn 2026, just months before the Finals arrive.
