Strong Finish for Fazza Freediving Championship “Al Hayari“

UAE Dominates Junior Category | Record Participation of 84 Athletes from 21 Countries |

Exclusive Emirati Category Next Year

Dubai – April 2025:

In a thrilling atmosphere filled with challenge and exceptional performances from elite divers around the world, the 18th edition of the Fazza Freediving Championship “Al Hayari” concluded at Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest swimming pool. This edition marked a record participation of 84 athletes representing 21 countries, with the event organized by the Fazza Championships Department under the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center.

In the professional category, Serbian champion Branko Petrovic successfully retained his title, holding his breath underwater for an impressive 8:41 minutes. He was followed by Mateusz Malina from Poland in second place with 8:18 minutes, and Croatia’s Goran Kolak in third with 8:15 minutes.

GCC Category Results

In the category for UAE nationals and GCC participants, Ibrahim Salem Al Sulaitni from Oman claimed first place with a time of 7:21 minutes, followed by Hassan Ali Al Sharrah from Kuwait with 6:32 minutes, and Abdullah Salem Al Mansouri from the UAE in third with 6:17 minutes.

Emirati Excellence

The junior category for UAE and GCC nationals saw a clear dominance by young Emiratis, who claimed the top three positions. Mansour Abdullah Al Yaaroubi took first place with 2:44 minutes, Ali Mohammed Al Marzouqi came second with 2:19 minutes, and Ahmed Mohammed Al Marzouqi finished third with 1:54 minutes.

Social Initiative

His Excellency Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, announced the introduction of a dedicated heat for Emirati nationals in next year’s edition of the championship.
He emphasized that this new category is a valuable addition with a strong social dimension, aimed at enhancing the connection with local heritage and cultural traditions, and encouraging Emiratis to actively engage in traditional sports that reflect the depth of our heritage and authentic values.

“At the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, we believe that preserving cultural heritage goes beyond organizing events,” said Bin Dalmook. “It is about creating real opportunities for community participation and expanding the base of traditional sports practitioners. This initiative, among other programs, supports our ongoing efforts to reinforce national identity.

He also noted that one of the most important achievements of this year’s championship was the noteworthy performance of young Emiratis, which strongly reflects the strength of the new generation of freedivers. Their success highlights the sustainability of this time-honored traditional sport, which remains a fundamental part of the UAE’s cultural fabric.

Concluding his remarks, Bin Dalmook said
We are firmly committed to investing in the youth, as it is the cornerstone for the continuity of our heritage. That is why we aim to provide an ideal environment for developing their skills through structured training programs and internationally benchmarked competitions.

Honors and Recognition

At the conclusion of the competition, Rashed Hareb Al Khasouni, Director of the Fazza Championships Department at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, and HE Hamad Ahmed Al Rahoumi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, awarded the winners. The ceremony was also attended by HE Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the Center.

Global Standing

Rashed Hareb Al Khasouni expressed his pride in the success of the 18th edition of the Fazza Freediving Championship, both in terms of organization and the growing international participation.

“This reflects the prominent position the championship has attained on the global map of traditional sports,” he said

In conclusion, Al Khasouni extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to all the entities that contributed to the success of the event, foremost among them Dubai Police, the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, and the dedicated team at Deep Dive Dubai — this iconic and world-class facility. He also acknowledged all the organizing teams, as well as the divers who delivered outstanding performances and served as true ambassadors of their countries in a championship, we proudly consider one of the most prominent heritage sporting events on a global scale.