Al Shaqab League Season 4: Building Champions and Creating Pathways to the International Stage
Mdmar – Doha
Doha, Qatar – October 2026: Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, continues its commitment to developing the next generation of equestrian champions through the fourth season of the Al Shaqab League, providing riders with a structured competitive pathway to develop their skills, gain valuable experience, and progress towards competing at higher levels, including international competitions.
Developing champions is at the heart of Al Shaqab’s mission. Through its training programmes and competitive platforms, Al Shaqab is committed to identifying promising riders, nurturing their talent, and providing them with opportunities to progress throughout their equestrian journey. The Al Shaqab League plays an important role in this approach, creating an environment where riders can build confidence, strengthen their competitive abilities, and advance progressively from introductory levels to higher and more demanding classes.
By investing in rider development and providing consistent opportunities for competition, Al Shaqab also contributes to the continued growth of equestrian sport in Qatar. The League supports the development of a strong pipeline of riders equipped with the skills and competitive experience required to represent Qatar at higher levels and pursue opportunities on the international stage.
“Mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
The fourth season of the Al Shaqab League will begin with Al Shaqab League 1, taking place on 16–17 October 2026 at the Longines Indoor Arena. As a national league, the competition will bring together riders across a comprehensive range of categories designed to support different age groups and levels of experience.
Season 4 will take place across five rounds, providing riders with continuous opportunities to compete, develop their performance, and progress throughout the season. Round 1 will take place on 16-17 October, round 2 will take place on 13–14 November 2026, followed by Round 3 on 11–12 December 2026. Round 4 will be held on 30 April–1 May 2027, before the season concludes with the Final Round on 14–15 May 2027.
The competition programme begins with three introductory classes: Introductory 1 at 40 cm for riders up to 12 years old, Introductory 2 at 60 cm for riders up to 18 years old, and Introductory 3 at 80 cm for riders up to 21 years old.
The League then provides a clear progression into more advanced levels, including the Amateur 100–110 cm class for amateur riders, Future Champions 110–120 cm for riders up to 16 years old, Junior Champions 120–130 cm for riders up to 18 years old, and Youth Champions 130–140 cm for riders up to 25 years old. At the highest level of the League, the Al Shaqab Champions 135–145 cm class is open to eligible competitors and provides riders with the opportunity to compete at a more advanced level.
“Mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
Season 4 will also introduce an important development to the team competition. The Al Shaqab Champions category will replace the Amateur category from the previous season, further strengthening the competitive level of the team format.
Each team will consist of riders representing four categories: Al Shaqab Champion, Youth Champion, Junior Champion, and Future Champion, with the Al Shaqab Champion serving as the Chef d’Équipe. A total of 12 teams are currently set to compete this season.
“Mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
The team format is designed to encourage collaboration between riders at different stages of their competitive development, while allowing younger and developing athletes to benefit from competing alongside more experienced riders. This approach reflects Al Shaqab’s focus on creating an environment in which experience, knowledge, and competitive ambition can be shared across generations of riders.
Through the Al Shaqab League, Al Shaqab continues to strengthen the foundations of equestrian sport in Qatar by creating meaningful opportunities for riders to compete, progress, and pursue greater ambitions. Season 4 represents another step in this long-term commitment: developing capable riders, building future champions, and supporting Qatar’s continued presence and achievements in equestrian sport.
“Mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
