UAE Equestrian Federation Announces 60 Endurance Races for 2026–2027 Season
Mdmar – Abu Dhabi – WAM
The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation has announced the calendar of events scheduled for the 2026–2027 season.
One of the major highlights of the new season will be the 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship over 160km, which will be hosted by the UAE on December 19 at Boudheib International Endurance Village.
The Federation revealed that 60 races will be staged across three venues over seven months, from October 2026 through April 2027.
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The season will get underway on October 24 with the Al Ain International Qualifier over 100km and 120km at Boudheib, followed by the Boudheib International Endurance Village qualifier over 40km and 80km on October 25. Dubai International Endurance City will then stage a 40km and 80km qualifying event on October 30.
Boudheib will host another 40km and 80km qualifier on November 8, followed by the Seih Al Salam Challenge over 120km on November 13 and the Al Wasl Cup for Private Stables over 101km on November 14.
On November 15, Boudheib will host the 160km test event for the Endurance World Championship, in addition to two international qualifying races.
Dubai will stage the Commemoration Day Race for Private Stables over 120km on November 20, followed the next day by the Dubai International Endurance City qualifying races over 40km and 80km.
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The Federation Cup competitions will begin at Boudheib on November 26 with the 100km Private Stables race, followed the next day by the 100km Ladies Race and then the 100km Giants Race.
The Emirates International Endurance Village at Al Wathba will continue the season by hosting the Eid Al Etihad Cup over 120km on November 29.
Dubai International Endurance City will then stage the 101km Local-Bred Horses Race on December 11.
The H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup for Female Private Stable Owners will take place at Al Wathba on Saturday, December 12.
Boudheib will also host four races as part of the UAE President’s Endurance Cup programme: a 120km Private Stables race, a 100km Ladies Race, a 100km Giants Race and the 120km main event.
For the third consecutive year, Boudheib will host the FEI Regional Group VII Championship over 120km on January 3, 2027.
The H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival will then take place at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Al Salam over four days.
The festival begins with the 120km Ladies Race on January 5, followed by the 120km Private Stables Race on January 6, the Jamilati Cup for Mares over 120km on January 7, and the 160km main race on January 9.
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On January 16, Al Wathba will stage the Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Ladies over 100km, followed the next day by the Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Private Stables over 100km.
Boudheib will host the Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival, beginning with the 100km Private Stables Race on January 20. This will be followed by the 100km Ladies Race on January 21, the 100km Young Riders and Juniors Race on January 22, and the 160km main race, run as “80km + 80km”, on January 23.
The UAE Cup for Arabian Horses over 100km will be held at Al Wathba on January 24, followed by a Boudheib International Endurance Village qualifier over 40km and 80km on January 28.
Dubai International Endurance City will stage qualifying races over 160km, 120km and 101km on January 29.
The prestigious UAE President’s Endurance Cup over 160km will take place at Al Wathba on Sunday, January 31.
Dubai International Endurance City will then host a 120km Private Stables Race on February 5, followed by qualifying races over 40km and 80km on February 6.
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Attention will then turn to the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival, scheduled from March 16 to 20.
The festival includes four events: a 120km Ladies Race, a 120km Private Stables Race, the Al Yamamah Cup for Mares over 120km, and the 120km main race.
Competition returns to Boudheib with a 100km Private Stables Race on March 21, followed by a 40km and 80km Boudheib International Endurance Village qualifier on March 22.
The Abu Dhabi Endurance Festival Ladies Race over 100km will be held at Al Wathba on March 26.
Competition continues on the same day with the Abu Dhabi Endurance Festival – Masters Games over 40km.
The Sheikh Zayed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Private Stables over 100km will take place on March 27, followed by the Abu Dhabi Endurance Festival over 120km on March 28.
Dubai will then host the Endurance Trainers Cup over 120km on April 2, followed by a Dubai International Endurance City qualifier over 40km and 80km.
The season will conclude with a Boudheib qualifying event over 40km and 80km on April 10.
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His Excellency Major General Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, President of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the UAE’s wise leadership for its continued support and patronage of endurance racing.
He said these events carry great significance and represent a sustainable national heritage, reflecting the leadership’s commitment to equestrian sport across its various disciplines while developing the sector and enabling Emirati male and female riders to achieve world-class competitive standards.
Al Raisi praised the efforts and continued development of the endurance villages in organising and hosting endurance championships and other equestrian competitions.
He also commended the ongoing cooperation of equestrian clubs and their commitment to keeping pace with the significant global development of the sport.
He noted that the new season will feature events that hold a special place in the hearts of all riders, in addition to the UAE hosting the 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship from December 14 to 20.
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The championship will be staged in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the second time, reflecting international confidence in Abu Dhabi’s prestigious status, advanced facilities and modern infrastructure, which enable it to host the world’s leading international championships according to the highest standards and best practices.
Dr Ghanem Mohammed Al Hajri, Secretary-General of the Federation, described the new endurance racing season as another opportunity to showcase the sport’s developing standards.
He reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to continuing its strategic plans and adopting international best practices to maintain the UAE’s leading position in equestrian sport, while further developing its operational system and embracing modern technologies.
Dr Abdullah Al Sheikh, Member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation and Chairman of the Endurance Committee, confirmed that the Federation is fully prepared to provide all the necessary requirements to ensure the success of the various races during the new season.
He wished all male and female riders representing the various stables success in the scheduled competitions.
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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.
