ALULA: The desert landscape of AlUla will provide the arena for more than 200 of the world’s top riders competing in the fifth edition of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup.
Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) and the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, the meeting will take place on Feb. 10 and 11 with a record amount of prize money for any endurance event up for grabs.
A prelude to the 2026 FEI World Endurance Championships in AlUla, the 2024 Endurance Cup will involve riders testing their stamina and strategic pace management in 120 km FEI 2* and 160 km FEI 3* distance competitions.
The RCU’s chief sports officer, Ziad Alsuhaibani, said: “We are honored and proud that The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup is returning to AlUla for a fifth time.
“What began a few years ago as an ambitious project has become a mainstay in the international endurance circuit.
“The event has been brilliantly received by audiences and the wider equestrian community alike – and the fact that more than 200 riders are competing across two competitions really illustrates its ever-increasing profile and popularity.
“We are very much looking forward to what promises to be another brilliant spectacle in a few weeks’ time,” he added.
A new home of world-class events, facilities, and rapidly growing infrastructure, AlUla’s Equestrian Village is part of the commission’s wider equestrian strategy to develop and expand the sport locally, as well as to position AlUla as the ultimate destination for heritage sports.
SAEF executive director, Fouad bin Fahad Ibrahim, said the Kingdom aspired to host some of the sport’s most prominent events.
“Our goal is to establish it as one of the most prestigious and lucrative competitions globally, attracting endurance riders from around the world annually.
“We take pride in our esteemed partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla, which has played a pivotal role in orchestrating equestrian championships with exceptional organization. This is owing to the enchanting nature and rich historical legacy of AlUla,” he added.
Nearly 20 percent of the 200 riders who took part in the 2022 edition of the cup competition were women.
The event is one of the main sporting occasions on the AlUla Moments Calendar which also includes the AlUla Camel Cup, AlUla Falcon Cup, and the Tent Pegging World Championship and Horseback Archery World Cup, in addition to the AlUla Tour, AlUla Trail Race, and Tough Mudder infinity.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup returns to AlUla for 5th edition
https://arab.news/bvs45
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup returns to AlUla for 5th edition
- Over 200 of world’s best riders will compete in long-distance challenges on Feb. 10-11
- SAEF executive director, Fouad bin Fahad Ibrahim, said the Kingdom aspired to host some of the sport’s most prominent events
Rhodes leads after second round of PIF Saudi Ladies International
- 2025 LET Rookie of the Year leads in PIF Global Series 2026 opener
- WiMENA panels gather trailblazing women to spark dialogue
RIYADH: England’s Mimi Rhodes backed up a stellar opening in round two of the PIF Saudi Ladies International at Riyadh Golf Club, moving into an outright lead and fending off advances from South Africa’s Casandra Alexander and Chizzy Iwai of Japan.
The 24-year-old, who was the Ladies European Tour’s 2025 Rookie of the Year, posted a score of 69 to move to an overall total of 11-under-par to lead by one.
Another former LET Rookie of the Year, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who now has 12 professional wins, sits one shot further back in tied fourth alongside Japan’s Rio Takeda. Eight players are tied for sixth and England’s Charley Hull lies four back from her compatriot alongside past champion Patty Tavatanakit.
Reflecting on her mindset, and how she has approached the week so far, Rhodes said: “Honestly, I was so excited. Having two months off competitive golf, it’s so long, but I just got back into the swing of things.
“Holing putts is my main goal out there and having the greens rolling really nicely is definitely an advantage for that. I’m just taking it chilled out there and being patient.
“I wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself, but obviously it’s a big event, one of the PIF Global Series, so I wanted to do well, and start with a cut made. I’ve done more than that. I think I can be proud of myself and now (I will) just see what happens. I’m happy.”
The second day of the event highlighted Golf Saudi’s investment in the future of women’s sport with the WiMENA (Women in Middle East and North Africa) panels, which included pioneering Saudi athletes such as Kariman Abuljadayel, the trailblazing sprinter who set a Guinness World Record for the 10 km open water row. Joining her were Razan Al-Ajmi, Saudi Arabia's first female skydiver, members of the Saudi national rugby team and other prominent Olympians and sports figures.
Ameera Marghalani, a pioneering female Saudi rugby national team member, said: “I want to see the support for sports grow exponentially across the country.
“My vision is to see more young girls and women joining the sporting community, not just in major cities but across every corner of Saudi Arabia.”
