RIP CURL SUNSET OPEN 2024 WITH OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER BREITLING 

And just like that the Rip Curl Sunset Open is right around the corner once again.
We’ve had a slightly late start to the winter surf season but there’s been a good amount of swell filling in since the start of 2024 and we’ve got some more on the way soon! This has us stoked for the promising peak season months of Feb and March, right in the middle of our event waiting period.

As we’ve kept up since the very beginning, each year returns with an evolved and bigger event. More prizes, more action, and a community that’s bigger every single year! Can’t wait to call the event on once we’ve seen the forecast line up and we make our way down to the epic stretch of beach that is the Umm Al Quwain Kite Beach Center. We’ve got all 7 division back for another year and look forward to a packed out weekend of competition! We'll keep you posted with all event updates on all our usual online channels. Follow us @surfhousedubai
 
——

The history of the Sunset Open began in 2010. A surfing event held once a year with 3 reasons in mind:
 
 1.⁠ ⁠To showcase local Emirati and expatriate surfing talent from the region.
 2.⁠ ⁠To bring together the world class ocean and beach communities in the UAE.
 3.⁠ ⁠To celebrate the sport of surfing (in multiple forms of wave riding) and bring more awareness to the beaches and ocean environment of the UAE.
 
It has always been held during the UAE’s most wave rich calendar months of February to March with a 5 week waiting period to give us the chance of picking the best weekend of swell in that time frame.  Falling in the back half of the winter seasons also allows surfers to have the first portion of winter to shake off summer cobwebs and refine their surfing.
 
The very first Sunset Open was unsurprisingly held on Dubai’s Sunset Beach. Half a dozen picnic gazebos, a dozen outdoor garden chairs and 20 community volunteers helped put on the events first iteration and instantly became a calendar highlight of the year. It is an event that embodies the spirit of the UAE’s surf culture. Fun waves, good vibes, a close community of familiar faces and a stoke for riding waves on par with the most revered surfing hubs around the globe.
 
The event has grown leaps and bounds in its national support, production and participation since 2010 (now 100+ competitors across all divisions), and we look forward to its inaugural hosting at the Umm Al Quwain Kite Beach Centre the second time in a row for this year in 2023.

A bit of nostalgia below, showing the first ever permit to run the competition back in 2010. 

DETAILS

Waiting Period: February 9 - March 3, 2024 (extension possible until April 2024 after Ramadan)

• Surf House Dubai will be announcing the weekend, 3-5 days before, where the best forecast of swell would be suitable to run the contest. 
• Competition will be 2 1/2 days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Location: Kite Beach Center Umm Al Quwain

• Though in the past, we've done the contest at the surf spots in Dubai, we are doing it again with our partners at KBC to bring you a more organic and relaxed vibe with their venue ambience and of course tried and tested real quality waves.

Divisions: 7 Divisions

• Men's Shortboard | (Grand Prize: Breitling Watch | Mens)
• Women's Shortboard | (Grand Prize: Bretling Watch | Womens)
• Men's Longboard | (Grand Prize: Breitling Watch | Mens)
• Women's Longboard | (Grand Prize: Breitling Watch | Womens)
• SUPsurf Mixed | (Grand Prize: Breitling Watch)
• Groms Division (12-16 years old) | (MF Softboard Surfboard)
• Supergroms Division (7-11 years old) | (Grand Prize: MF Softboard Surfboard)

 

REGISTRATION

Registration is now open for competitors and spectators. Kindly see links below as competitors and spectators have different ways of registering:

Competitors - those who will be joining the competition will have to register with the below link. Registration includes your slot in the initial heats drawn, goody bag from sponsors, event t-shirt, wrist band for entrance to venue and 1 food & beverage stub to be used in the weekend. 

Link for Competitors*

Spectators - those who will be coming as a spectator will have to register in advance as entrance slots are limited to a maximum of 300 pax. For registration and more information click the link below.

Link for Spectators*

 *Deadline for Registration will be on 5th Ferbruary 2024

This event could not have happened without the support of Rip Curl Middle East, Breitling Middle East, Oakley, Hydro Flask, Inox Arabia, Red Bull UAE, Cariuma, RAW Distribution, Threefold Foundation, Loud Mood, Mikoko Umm Al Quwain, El Sol DXB, Now Way, Bailey & Jools and Single Fin Dubai.

Many thanks to our partners and venue sponsor Kite Beach Center UAQ. 

None of our efforts would come to fruition if it wasn't for the Surf Community in the UAE that has exponentially grown throughout the years ever since we started Surf House Dubai, to all of you, our sincerest appreciation and thanks. See you in the water!!!

 Camping and Overnight Options

You may directly inquire to Kite Beach Center UAQ for camping or overnight alternatives. 

Kite Beach Center UAQ

 UPDATES ON SCHEDULE AND HEAT DRAWS WILL BE REFLECTED BELOW ONCE AVAILABLE

 

The 11th Paddle Around the World Islands is finally here and happening! The UAE's Largest Paddle event is back for the 11th time running. With over 80 paddlers earlier this year for the Ripples of Hope, we managed to raise a substantial amount of funds for SOS Children's Villages and hit the target of AED10,000+. Though we've already reached our targets for the fund, we mean to double it with this upcoming and most anticipated event by the SUP community. A total of 32 kilometres of open ocean paddling with the opportunity to get close and personal with the Nakheel World Islands. This event is not a race, meaning you can go at your own pace, but it is a challenge. This is NOT a paddle for Beginners. We require a confident level of Paddling. Click here for registration. 

Dinner Briefing and Raffle Giveaways for Participants (non participants are welcome to join):

December 14, 2023 | 6-8pm

Race Pack Collection:
5:30am on Sunset Beach

Timing:
Manual Timing

Start and Finish Location:
Sunset Beach main Life Guard Tower 29

Course Difficulty:
HARD

Water Stations:
Please carry plenty of water. There will be safety boats with water available but you need too make sure you have your own supply

Food:
Please pack enough food supplies to last between 6-8 hours

Support Stations:
There will be three safety boats roaming about (Hero Boat Tours) and one follow boat (The Captain's Club)

Thank you to all the sponsors for making this happen: Breitling, Badawii Beachwear, Crown Relocations, The Captain's Club, Hero Boat Tours, Sea & Sol Dubai, Loud Mood, Rapt Media and Sun Zapper UAE.

REGISTRATION HERE

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN RENTING A BOARD FOR THE EVENT PLEASE CONNECT WITH OUR WHATSAPP AT +971544647624

 

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

ABOUT THE EVENT

The Paddle Out for COP28 is a peaceful campaign for Ocean Health + Human Health.

A symbolic community gathering in the ocean, uniting surfers, SUPers, divers, ocean lovers and ocean stewards to raise awareness for ocean conservation during the biggest event for climate change in the world: COP28.

Believed to have begun as an ancient Hawaiian tradition, a paddle out is a ceremony typically used to celebrate and pay tribute to surfers who have passed away. Paddle outs have evolved beyond the concept of memorials and are now a way of honouring or paying tribute to other causes related to the ocean.

THE PADDLE

​ This Paddle Out is an activity where attendees will paddle from the beach out to the sea, following a route of 2km, where they will form a circle and pay tribute to the ocean.

Paddlers can use SUP (stand up paddle boards), surf boards, kayaks, dragon boats, or other water vessels.
We are forming a circle in the ocean where we will link together, and set our intentions for a better world, improving ocean conservation, and reflecting on how the ocean can help our mental health.

Paddlers can arrive at 7am and no later than 8am. Attendees visiting the Blue Mind Zone or spectating, can arrive anytime between 7am - 11.30am.

Paddle start time is 8.30am when we will have briefings, photos and our launch. ​

BLUE MIND ZONE ​

There are additional activities for both paddlers and non paddlers in our festival-style grass area by the beach:

• All day beach + pool access to JA The Resort
• Ice baths - Heal Hub
• Yoga - YoFit Studios
• Marine Debris Workshop - Chloe Blue Diving
• Art Workshop - Studio Passepartout
• Educational Workshop - Azraq
• Pop-Up - Psychiatry & Therapy Centre
• Pop-Up - Emirates Diving Association
• Insights, Storytelling & Networking at Climate Café - Climate Club & Colette Barr
• F&B Samples + Snacks
• Drinking Water - Liquid of Life
• Recycling by REE

And....entry into our prize draw! ​

 

PRIZES ​

All ticket holders are automatically entered into our prize draw! Prizes include: Home Water Filter by Liquid of Life Tent by WâHat Eco-Heroes books by Colette Barr Sustainable Toys by Rikbits

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

Waves of Change: How two Surfer Girls transformed a simple idea into a community movement

by: Emma Bukowski (IG: @noseridersurf | Pinterest: @noseridersurfclub

In the heart of Indonesia's diverse surf breaks, nestled in the longboarders paradise of Lombok, two passionate surfers began a movement sparked from a simple idea.

Dana (Dancelightly) has been a familiar face on these shores for many years, fully immersed in the local community. It’s from Lombok that she organizes and hosts surf retreats and it's from here with her connections to the community that she began developing ways to give back the locals that had welcomed her with open arms.

Alongside her, Emma, the creative force behind Noserider Surf Club. Another frequenter of Lombok’s glassy waves, Emma began designing eco-friendly surf suits for women in response to the plastic pollution prevalent in places like Bali.

Since Noserider’s inception, Emma has consistently sought ways to support Lombok's community, a commitment evident in the incorporation of puka shell bracelets crafted by local Lombok girls. These bracelets directly contribute to the school fees of these talented girls, symbolizing Emma's dedication to empowering the local youth to pursue education.

Together their shared love for the environment and riding waves led to giving back to the very community that helped nature their passion.

The spark that ignited this movement came from a local woman of Rebuk village. Observing Dana and Emma using reusable lunch boxes during a surf retreat, she remarked how these containers could improve the lives of the farmers in her community. This casual observation sowed the seeds for a project that would not only reduce plastic waste but also provide a cost-effective solution for the farmers.

 

The idea was surprisingly simple: selling one of a kind surf fins. The unique fins made by a local carver, each featured Batik print patterns from local sarongs and proved immensely popular with the girls collective audience. By channeling all profits and donations directly to the people of Rebuk, the girls aim to not only provide sustainable resources but also address urgent needs within the community.

In recent times, the rising cost of rice has left many families in Rebuk struggling to afford basic necessities. In response, the girls redirected some of their relief efforts, using donations to purchase large sacks of rice.

This rice became a lifeline for the village, helping feed families that would have otherwise gone without due to the economic challenges they faced. One of the distinctive features of this initiative lies in its ability to blend environmental consciousness with community support.

There are several ways to get involved with this impactful movement. Purchasing one of these decorative fins or making a donation, contributes to the purchase of essential resources for the Lombok community. As the waves continue to crash along the shores of Lombok, DanceLightly, Noserider Surf Club, and their supporters stand as a testament to the transformative power of a simple idea. Together they have created ripples of change that extend far beyond the shore.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 27 September, 2023 – Single Fin Dubai cafe today announced it has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award winner  The coveted award celebrates businesses that have consistently received great traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months, placing these winners among the 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.

Read more