In June 1974, a group of friends led by Colonel Guy Temple of the Dubai Defence Force decided to explore the possibility of starting an offshore sailing club. Their first thought was to use one of the three fishing harbours recently constructed on the Jumeirah coast and on 11th August 1974, HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, granted an area of land in the Umm Suqeim Harbour, at the request of his son HH Sheikh Ahmed bun Rashid al Maktoum.
The club was immediately named the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Commander in Chief of Dubai Defence Force. The first sailing races were held in October 1974 which highlighted the start of a long history of successful sailing events.
