Qatar’s Years of Culture Partners with LGCT in Rabat, Featuring Season Champion Abdel Saïd of Wathnan Jumping Team
Wathnan Rider Abdel Saïd Arrives as 2026 Champion as World’s Elite Riders Battle for Final Podium Positions and Last Verona Golden Ticket
Mdmar – Rabat
The Moroccan capital of Rabat is preparing to welcome the world’s elite show jumping riders and horses for the final stage of the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and Global Champions League (GCL), taking place from 30 October to 1 November.
The prestigious event, officially titled the *Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat founded by Qatar’s Years of Culture*, marks the conclusion of the Tour’s landmark 20th anniversary season and promises three days of top-level international equestrian competition.
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Supported by Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative, the event reflects the strong cultural and sporting ties between Qatar and Morocco while reinforcing Rabat’s growing reputation as a leading destination for international equestrian sport.
Although both the individual and team championship titles were secured during the penultimate stage in Cairo, Rabat remains a decisive destination for the final standings, the prestigious Grand Prix title and the last qualification opportunity for the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Verona.
Abdel Saïd Arrives in Rabat as 2026 Champion
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Belgian rider Abdel Saïd, representing Wathnan, heads to Morocco having already secured the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship following a remarkable season of consistency, determination and outstanding performances.
Saïd officially sealed the title at the historic Cairo leg, staged against the magnificent backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza
Riding Wathnan Bonne Amie, he finished 13th in the Cairo Grand Prix, collecting 24 championship points and taking his season tally to an unbeatable 245 points.
His closest rival, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, stands second on 224 points, ensuring that Saïd cannot be overtaken in the final round.
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The championship triumph represents a major achievement for Saïd and Wathnan, highlighting a season that included a memorable Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix victory in Rome.
While the overall championship has been decided, the competition for the remaining podium positions continues, with Christian Ahlmann, Max Kühner, Olivier Philippaerts and Simon Delestre among the leading contenders.
Riesenbeck International Crowned GCL Champions
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The Global Champions League team championship was also decided in Cairo, where Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym produced an outstanding performance to secure the 2026 title with one stage remaining.
Represented by Maximilian Weishaupt and Marco Kutscher, the German team delivered four flawless rounds to win the inaugural GCL of Cairo and extend its championship tally to 297 points.
Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team, featuring Abdel Saïd, occupy second place on 247 points, followed by New York Empire on 221 points.
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Although Riesenbeck International has already secured the championship, the battle for the remaining team positions will continue in Rabat, where Istanbul Warriors, New York Empire, Prague Lions and Basel Cosmopolitans will seek to strengthen their final standings.
The Moroccan finale also offers valuable competitive preparation ahead of the GCL Super Cup in Verona.
More Than €1 Million in Prize Money
The Rabat meeting features international CSI5* and CSI2* competitions, with total prize money of approximately €1.1 million according to the International Equestrian Federation’s published schedule.
The highlight of the three-day programme will be the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rabat on Sunday, 1 November.
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The prestigious CSI5* Grand Prix will feature obstacles reaching 1.60 metres and a prize fund of €612,100, attracting international attention as the final Grand Prix of the regular championship season.
Friday, 30 October, will feature the concluding GCL team competitions, while Saturday’s programme includes a CSI5* 1.50-metre class offering €164,700 in prize money.
The Grand Prix on Sunday is expected to deliver another thrilling conclusion to a season defined by exceptional performances and dramatic championship battles.
Final Golden Ticket to Verona
One of the most significant sporting incentives in Rabat will be the opportunity to secure the final qualification place for the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix.
The competition forms part of the GC Playoffs, scheduled to take place in Verona, Italy, from 19 to 22 November.
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The Super Grand Prix brings together qualified riders who have earned their places through outstanding performances during the championship season.
Among those already qualified are newly crowned champion Abdel Saïd, Katrin Eckermann, Max Kühner, Victor Bettendorf and Olivier Philippaerts.
Philippaerts secured his qualification at the Cairo Grand Prix, where he finished second behind Pieter Devos.
With only one golden ticket remaining, the Rabat Grand Prix carries special significance for riders still seeking a place in the prestigious Verona competition.
The GC Playoffs will feature both the LGCT Super Grand Prix and the GCL Super Cup, with total prize money exceeding €11 million.
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Qatar’s Years of Culture Strengthens International Partnerships
Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative continues to play an important role in supporting the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat.
The partnership builds on the Qatar–Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, which celebrated the close historical, cultural and social connections between the two nations.
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Through its involvement in international equestrian events, the initiative helps connect sporting excellence with cultural exchange, showcasing the shared equestrian heritage of Qatar and Morocco.
The Rabat finale also follows the successful historic debut of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Cairo, another event founded by Qatar’s Years of Culture.
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Together, these events underline the growing role of international sport in strengthening cultural cooperation and promoting iconic destinations to global audiences.
Rabat Celebrates Its Rich Equestrian Heritage
Rabat is hosting the Longines Global Champions Tour for the third consecutive year, following its historic debut in 2024, when it became the first African city to welcome the prestigious circuit.
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The event will take place at a specially designed 5.5-hectare equestrian village in the heart of the Moroccan capital, strategically located between the iconic Hassan Tower, the Royal Theatre of Rabat and the Mohammed VI Tower.
This exceptional setting combines international sporting excellence with the architectural and cultural identity of Morocco.
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Beyond the competitions, visitors will be able to experience a programme featuring cultural activities, artistic performances and equestrian displays.
Morocco’s longstanding equestrian traditions, including the celebrated art of Tbourida, provide a distinctive cultural dimension to the international event.
A Historic Conclusion to the 20th Anniversary Season
The 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour season has marked two decades of international sporting excellence since the circuit was founded by former Olympic champion Jan Tops in 2006.
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The season has taken the world’s leading riders to iconic international destinations, including Doha, Miami Beach, Shanghai, Madrid, Paris, Monaco, Rome and the historic Pyramids of Giza.
Meanwhile, the Global Champions League is celebrating its tenth anniversary, reflecting the continuing growth of team competition at the highest level of show jumping.
With Abdel Saïd already crowned individual champion and Riesenbeck International confirmed as team champions, Rabat will provide the final opportunity to secure Grand Prix glory, determine the remaining championship positions and award the last golden ticket to Verona.
*“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.
