Dubai will welcome many of the world's most incredible triathletes this weekend, but among the thousands of competitors taking to the start line at the Dubai T100 will be one local athlete with a particularly special connection to the city.
Emirati sporting star Ahmad Al Fahim will fly the UAE flag at Al Mamzar on Sunday (15 November), tackling the gruelling 100km triathlon for the third time
And while the world's elite triathletes will be chasing international glory, Al Fahim's participation represents something equally important: the continued, growing strength of the UAE's homegrown sporting talent.
A familiar face in international powerboat racing, Al Fahim is a driver for Dubai's iconic Victory Team, competing in the F1H2O World Championship – the Formula 1 of powerboat racing.
But away from the high-speed world of powerboats, he has developed another sporting passion that requires an entirely different type of endurance.
This weekend, Al Fahim will swap the cockpit for a 2km swim, 80km cycle and 18km run across his home city.
And for the proud Emirati, the opportunity to represent his country on home soil means far more than whatever finishing time he'll clock this weekend.
"For me, taking part is not just about achieving a result. It is about continuing to challenge myself and improve my performance," Al Fahim said.
"Most importantly, it is an opportunity to represent the UAE with pride at a major international sporting event."
From world-class powerboat racer to triathlon comeback
Al Fahim's sporting journey is anything but ordinary.
He joined Victory Team in 2018, having already established himself as a promising powerboat racer, and went on to make his F1H2O World Championship debut in 2023.
His triathlon credentials are equally impressive.
After taking up the sport in 2015, he qualified for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship just two years later and represented the UAE at the 2018 Asian Games.
But his journey back to competitive triathlon has been far from straightforward.
A fractured hip in 2020 left him unable to run, while a subsequent broken shoulder prevented him from swimming.
The setbacks forced him to rethink his training and sporting ambitions.
He initially turned his attention to competitive cycling, before recognising that the risks of crashing could jeopardise his powerboat racing career.
"I’m racing for Victory in Formula One and there is no room for mistakes, so I can’t risk it," he explained.
"I went back to triathlon because it’s safer when it comes to racing. I started slowly and now I’m picking it up more. This is my third year back."
Having competed in the Sprint distance at the inaugural Dubai T100 in 2024, Al Fahim stepped up to the full 100km challenge last year.
Now he is back for more.
A local sporting role model
What makes Al Fahim's story particularly compelling is that his sporting achievements are only part of his life.
Alongside competing internationally with Victory Team, he serves as Head of Strategy and Talent Development at Dubai Sports Council, helping shape the future of sport in the Emirate.
Despite those demanding commitments, he continues to train almost every day.
His weekly routine includes one to two hours of swimming, cycling or running, with longer endurance sessions of up to four hours at weekends.
"Sport is no longer just a hobby or something I do to compete in championships. It has become a way of life that I cannot imagine being without," he said.
And with the Dubai T100 taking place during the 10th anniversary of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, Al Fahim hopes his participation will encourage more people across the UAE to embrace an active lifestyle.
"The message I always want to share is that sport is for everyone. Work commitments and everyday responsibilities should never become barriers to staying active," he said.
"Not everyone needs to compete in long-distance races, but what matters is finding an activity that suits them, getting started and making movement and exercise part of their daily routine."
It's a message that resonates particularly strongly in a city increasingly recognised for its major international sporting events, but also its growing grassroots fitness community.
Dubai takes centre stage
Al Fahim will be among more than 3,000 registered athletes representing 50 nationalities at the third Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend, taking place from 13–15 November.
The professional races on Saturday will feature some of the biggest names in triathlon, including reigning T100 World Champion and double Olympic medallist Hayden Wilde, alongside defending Dubai women's champion Julie Derron.
But Sunday belongs to the amateur competitors, with Al Fahim setting off at 6.45am for his 100km challenge.
The spectacular course will take athletes through some of Dubai's most recognisable locations, with the cycling route passing Dubai Islands, the Infinity Bridge and Port Rashid before competitors complete their run around Al Mamzar Park.
For Al Fahim, it is another opportunity to demonstrate the versatility, determination and ambition of Emirati athletes on an international stage.
And whether he's racing across the water at extraordinary speeds or pushing his body through 100km of swimming, cycling and running, one thing remains constant.
He's representing Dubai, and he's doing it with pride.
Spectators can watch the Dubai T100 free of charge throughout the weekend at Al Mamzar.
For more information, visit t100triathlon.com/dubai.
