The Women’s Sports Committee of Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has announced the launch of yet another initiative exclusively for women — the Hatta Women’s Kayak Challenge, which will be held on Saturday, April 27.

The first event of its kind in the region, Hatta Women’s Kayak Challenge is being sponsored by Hatta Kayak and all the proceeds from the event will go to Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative’s ‘teacHER’ campaign, which is dedicated to supporting women’s education in different countries in Asia and Africa.

Talking about the new initiative, Lamia Abdulaziz Khan, a member of DSC’s Board of Directors and President of the Women’s Sports Committee, said: “Based on the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we at DSC have been focused on organising sports events in Hatta and developing its sporting infrastructure, and raising awareness about its potential as a fresh and fantastic new sports tourism destination.

“The city of Hatta has been a point of focus for the council since 2009 and we have organised several sports events there. Now, we are really happy to organise this first ever kayak challenge exclusive to women in Hatta.

“Like the Dubai Women’s Triathlon and the Al Marmoom Women’s Cycling Challenge, this Kayak Challenge is a great opportunity for women to take part in a new and unique sports competition, in an atmosphere that confirms to the values and traditions of the UAE and the region, and without any concerns about their privacy.

“The strategic objective of the Women’s Sports Committee is to organise such events for women and create opportunities for them to experience the thrills of competition. With our wise leadership showing us the way, our focus is on empowering women in all spheres of life and encouraging them to take up sports and embrace a physically active lifestyle, which will boost their quality of life and create a healthy and happy community.”

Talking about the event’s support for the ‘teacHER’ campaign, which has already opened schools in Ethiopia and Senegal, Khan said: “The ‘teacHER’ campaign is a reflection of the humanitarian efforts of Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and her dedication to empowering girls through education in order to enhance their contribution to economic and social development.

“The generosity and charitable work of our leadership has positively impacted the lives of people across the globe and, as we celebrate 2019 as the Year of Tolerance, it is an honour for us to be a part of this noble ‘teacHER’ initiative through the Hatta Women’s Kayak Challenge, and we are thankful for this opportunity.”

The Hatta Women’s Kayak Challenge is open to women of all abilities and nationalities, aged 15 and above. Participants will be divided into two age categories — 15-29 and 29-above — and they can choose from two race distances, 700m and 1.2km of kayaking in the waters of the Hatta Dam.

“We are delighted to partner with the DSC to organise this unique event that has never been held in the country before,” said Ahmed Al Badwawi of Hatta Kayak.