Global Champions Arabians Tour Abu Dhabi Welcomes UAE And Qatar Leaders

Diplomatic and sporting ties between the UAE and Qatar are highlighted this week as Abu Dhabi hosts the Global Champions Arabians Tour– Abu Dhabi, drawing elite purebred Arabian horses, breeders and owners from many countries to competitions organised by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club for the opening round of the 2026 season.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, receives H.H. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Personal Representative of H.H. the Emir of the State of Qatar, during the visit linked to the Global Champions Arabians Tour– Abu Dhabi events.

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During their meeting, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed and H.H. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani hold friendly discussions that underline the strength of bilateral relations between the UAE and Qatar, before both sides move to follow part of the second day’s programme of the Global Champions Arabians Tour Championship for the 2026 season, held in Abu Dhabi for the first time.

The gathering includes Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Arabian Horse Society; Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Minister of State; along with several sheikhs, ministers and senior officials.

Earlier, H.H. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and the accompanying delegation arrive at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi, where H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomes the guest and expresses appreciation for the visit to the United Arab Emirates during the launch of the new Global Champions Arabians Tour season.

The Abu Dhabi Tour, which serves as the opening round of the 2026 Global Champions Arabians Tour season, begins on Friday and is scheduled to finish on Sunday, featuring 162 horses drawn from leading purebred Arabian lines, with total prize money exceeding $1 million, signalling a strong level of competition and performance standards.

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The organisation of the Abu Dhabi leg of the championship reflects close institutional cooperation between the Emirates Arabian Horse Society and the Global Champions Arabians Tour, where joint planning covers logistics, judging systems and technical regulations, and aims to provide a fully professional framework that increases trust among owners and breeders while strengthening the international profile of Arabian horse beauty contests.

Launched in 2024, the Global Champions Arabians Tour is now in its third consecutive season and is regarded as one of the leading global series for purebred Arabian horse beauty championships, visiting destinations noted for combining heritage and modern infrastructure, and offering what is described as the highest prize values yet seen in horse beauty competitions.

The tour’s stated objective is to highlight the purebred Arabian horse on an international stage that respects heritage while celebrating elegance and performance, with competition rules built on transparency, integrity, sustainability and fairness, in line with the UAE’s vision to safeguard cultural heritage and project it globally through contemporary sporting platforms that connect authenticity with national leadership ambitions.

With inputs from WAM