Surfers in the region gathered at Umm Suqeim Beach on Saturday for the ESSA Sunset Open. Our photographers captured all the best images from the day, including surf action, winners, wipeouts and other activities. 

Sunset Opens have been held in Dubai since 2009, but this is the first time the event has been organised by ESSA, or Emirates Sup and Surf Committee – the UAE’s first surfing committee. There are four categories in the competition – men, women, ‘groms’ (that’s surfer slang for kids under 16) and ‘super groms’ (a new category for this year’s event aimed at youngsters between five and ten years old).

Competition judges scored on surfing skills, including speed and technique.

Pictures by Ajith Narendra