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
World Football Summit Riyadh set for Misk City
- Event will bring together 2,500 attendees and 150 speakers from more than 80 countries on Dec. 10-11
RIYADH: More than 150 speakers and 2,500 attendees from over 80 countries are preparing to descend on Misk City for the World Football Summit Riyadh on Dec. 10-11.
Participants will gather at Misk City for WFS Riyadh, the platform that aims to connect Saudi Arabia’s leading football officials and figures directly with high-profile individuals and companies from the global industry.
It will be the second year in row that the event will be held in the Saudi capital, with the World Football Summit Asia having also been hosted by Jeddah in late 2023.
Football is Saudi Arabia’s most popular sport, and as part of Vision 2030 the game has become a driver of social and economic development, particularly with the 2034 FIFA World Cup set to take place across 15 stadiums in the Kingdom.
A year on from FIFA’s confirmation of Saudi Arabia bid, WFS Riyadh 2025 will take place as football’s development across the Kingdom continues to accelerate. From the Saudi Women’s Premier League launch to the privatisation of three clubs opening doors to global investment, the past year has seen significant progress, which will be explored at the conference.
The event will be hosted by Mo Islam, presenter of The Mo Show. The agenda will address football’s most relevant topics through panel discussions, roundtables and fireside chats.
Over the summit’s two days, panels will explore the evolution of Saudi football, the long-term impact of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the growth of international club partnerships, innovation in technology, and the role of inclusion and sustainability in the game’s future.
Confirmed speakers include Mai Alhelabi (CEO, local organization committee — Asia Cup 2027), Saleh Al-Shehri (footballer, Al-Ittihad), James Bisgrove (CEO, Al-Qadsiah Club), Esteve Calzada (CEO, Al-Hilal), Adlene Guedioura (former professional player), Ben Harburg (chairman, Harburg Group), David Henry (CEO, Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City), Peter Hutton (Saudi Pro League), Basim Ibrahim (sport investments director, Ministry of Investment), Omar Mugharbel (CEO, Saudi Pro League), Magda Pozzo (chief commercial officer, Udinese Calcio), Ralf Reichert (CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation), Javier Tebas (president, LALIGA), and Mohammed Wasfy (CEO, Right to Dream Egypt and FC Masar), among others.
Meanwhile, the Female Leaders Gathering, now in its third year, has established itself as an essential platform for advancing women’s leadership in football. This dedicated space within WFS Riyadh brings together women executives and athletes to discuss gender equity, leadership pathways, and the evolving role of women in the sport. The gathering will be led by Farkhunda Muhtaj, captain of the Afghanistan women’s national team and advocate for women’s rights through sport, who joins as ambassador of the initiative.
Other highlights include Brazilian freestyler Ricardinho attempting to break his own Guinness World Record for the longest time keeping a football in the air without it touching the ground. Ricardinho currently holds the record at 49 hours and 3 minutes, and his objective at WFS Riyadh is to reach 50 consecutive hours of ball control in the air.
Jan Alessie, co-founder and managing director of World Football Summit, said: “What stands out is the genuine interest from both sides; Saudi leaders wanting to share their progress and vision, and international stakeholders wanting to understand and engage effectively.
“The strength of this year’s speaker lineup and the backing from leading global and regional partners reflects that appetite,” he added. “In just three years, WFS Riyadh has consolidated as the platform where these partnerships happen naturally. We’re pleased to continue playing that role and committed to maintaining this long-term presence in the Kingdom.”
WFS Riyadh 2025 is supported by Pioneer Events as main partner and backed by leading regional and international football properties, with the Saudi Pro League as institutional partner and LALIGA as corporate partner. The event will take place at Malfa Hall, in Misk City, the first nonprofit city of its kind.
