ALULA: The fifth Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup is set to have its largest line-up when it begins in AlUla on Saturday.
“This year we have a record number of participant countries, we have 51 countries this year, a very high number of female athletes (26 percent) and we have top riders from around the world,” Camille Martin, director of development for the equestrian sector of the Royal Commission of AlUla, told Arab News.
“For the first time, we have a ride that is 160 km, which is one of the most challenging competitions in the world. This is preparation for the World Endurance Championship that we (AlUla) will host in 2026,” Martin said.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup will take place from Feb. 10-11 and consists of two races, the 120 km and 160 km distance competitions across AlUla’s desert terrains.
Prize money is SR15 million ($4 million) for the 120 km and SR5 million for the 160 km.
Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla, the competition is in partnership with the Federation Equestre Internationale and Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation.
Leading up to the Endurance Cup the Royal Commission of AlUla held a press conference in the Al-Fursan Equestrian Village on Friday to announce details of the competition.
Nizar Fakhoury, executive director of Destination Development at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said that the event aimed to celebrate the heritage of the sport in Alula.
He also highlighted that, alongside the races, the Endurance Cup would host multiple activities for attendees to take part in.
“(There will be) 17 activations in total, one of the first activations will be a number of talks delivered by some of the best equine experts in the world, they will be coming to AlUla to deliver these talks,” Fakhoury told Arab News.
“Another (activation) will be award-winning photographers to display their artwork and to be sold to the public,” he said.
Fakhoury said that there would be an array of activities for children to take part in.
“For the first time we want to integrate children at an early age to be exposed to horses so they can fall in love with horses and hopefully they can grow up to ride horses as well,” he said.
In the evening, equestrian-themed Hollywood films will be shown alongside the retail store opportunities and F&B outlets.
The completion is set to start on Saturday morning with more than 200 of the world’s professional riders and trainers competing in a rigorous long-distance endurance circuit in AlUla.
Record line-up and purse set for 5th Endurance Cup in AlUla
https://arab.news/5evux
Record line-up and purse set for 5th Endurance Cup in AlUla
- Prize money is $4m for 120 km race and $1.33m for 160 km ride
- The Endurance Cup would host multiple activities for attendees to take part in
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.
