The sister Sultanate of Oman is witnessing the activities of the first international fishing championship in the Gulf region with the participation of ten major countries, including the UAE, Egypt, China, Kuwait and Turkey. It will continue for three days at Jebel Sifah on the northern coast of the Sultanate.
The Jebel Sifah tourist area has begun its preparations to host the Jebel Sifah International Fishing Championship, the first international event of its kind under the umbrella of the International Fishing Federation (IGFA), which is scheduled to start tomorrow, Thursday, until the closing ceremony at the marina next Saturday evening.
The Jebel Sifah International Fishing Championship includes heavy international participation, including China, Italy, Iran, South Africa, Turkey, Britain, and Egypt, in addition to a special Gulf view of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Emirates.
Jebel Sifah receives more than 70 fishermen from the ten competing countries, in the first Omani edition of the internationally accredited tournament, under the umbrella of the International Fishing Federation, which paves the way for the finals of the World Fishing Cup in Costa Rica, scheduled for the summer of next year 2025, where the teams that win the positions will qualify. The first third is automatically for the international competitions in Costa Rica.
It is noteworthy that Jebel Sifah is a coastal destination located only 40 minutes from the Omani capital, Muscat, and is characterized by the beauty of nature between the majestic Hajar Mountains and its beaches extending along the Sea of Oman, which makes it the ideal place to host international marine sports events, and many prominent international and regional events.
For his part, Engineer Wael Al Lawati, CEO of Moria Company, the developer of the Jebel Sifah region, explained: “Hosting the international fishing championship in Jebel Siffa is an opportunity to showcase the beauty of Oman as a global tourist destination. The event celebrates the rich marine environmental diversity in the waters of Jebel Siffa and shows the unique appeal of our destination, which combines “World-class facilities and natural beauty, and we look forward to welcoming fishermen and visitors from all over the world.”
The Jebel Sifah Fishing Championship is also organized by Ahmed Mitkis, a member of the International Fishing Federation, who is also responsible for organizing the World Cup Fishing Championship, which Egypt will host for the first time in 2028, with the participation of 25 countries, under the auspices of the Egyptian Fishing Federation.
Ahmed Mitkis said that choosing Jebel Siffa to host the International Fishing Championship confirms the attractiveness of the destination for both water sports enthusiasts from the Middle East and the world, as its ecologically diverse waters abound with rich species of fish such as marlin, barracuda, and tuna, making it a major fishing destination. And other marine activities, adding that the tournament is an exceptional event that hosts elite fishermen from around the world in preparation for the 2028 World Cup competitions.