Participants registered for the Dhiraagu Malé Open 2026 can begin collecting their race kits from Tuesday, as preparations gather pace for the open water swimming competition scheduled for later this week.
Race kits will be available at the DMO Expo at Dhiraagu Head Office from August 18 to 20, between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm each day.
Each registered participant will receive the official Dhiraagu Malé Open T-shirt and a swim cap as part of the race kit.
The competition itself will take place on August 21 and 22 at Rasfannu in Malé, bringing swimmers together for two days of open water racing.
Organised by Swim Maldives, the Dhiraagu Malé Open is aimed at encouraging greater participation in open water swimming while providing both competitive and recreational swimmers with opportunities to take part in the sport.
Competitors will race across three individual distances this year, with 1km, 500m and 250m categories included in the programme.
A new 500m Team Relay has also been introduced for the 2026 edition, allowing friends, families and swimming clubs to compete together as teams.
The addition expands the competition beyond individual racing and is expected to bring a stronger community element to the event.
Alongside promoting swimming and active lifestyles, organisers are using the event to draw attention to the importance of protecting the Maldives’ marine environment.
With the country’s geography closely tied to the ocean, open water swimming events have become a platform for both competitive sport and greater engagement with the marine environment.
Dhiraagu’s involvement in the event forms part of the company’s wider support for sports and community initiatives across the Maldives.
The company has backed a range of sporting activities aimed at encouraging healthier lifestyles and increasing public participation, including major running events and other community-based programmes.
The Malé Open comes during an active period for sporting events supported by Dhiraagu. Registrations recently opened for the Dhiraagu Maldives Road Race 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Hulhumalé in November.
For the more immediate competition, attention now turns to Rasfannu, where swimmers will take to the water on Friday and Saturday across the individual and newly introduced team categories.
