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Doha, Qatar: The country is gearing up to host the inaugural stop of the Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT), set to run from February 1 to 5.
The equestrian event is part of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival programme..
In a statement, the Cultural Village Foundation, Katara, said: “Join us to witness the elegance and beauty of the finest Arabian horses in the world.”
With seven destinations across the Middle East and Europe, this year’s GCAT boasts an impressive overall prize money pool of €17m. The tour’s schedule includes stops in Doha and Abu Dhabi in February, Muscat, Oman in April, Cannes, France in June, Valkenswaard, Netherlands in July, Rome, Italy in September, and Paris, France in December.
GCAT is a unique Arabian Horse Championship created by Global Champions, known for its dynamic equestrian sports series featuring top riders and horses.
Faleh Al Nasr, the Chairman of GCAT, spoke about the tour’s mission, “We created a unique Arabian Horse Tour that will bring sport to the next level, connecting peoples and cultures through a common passion.”
The competition, organised into various categories such as Best Horses (yearling females, yearling males, junior females, junior males, senior females, and senior males) and Best Handlers will showcase the elegance and beauty of the finest Arabian horses worldwide.
At each GCAT, the total prize money for the top ten horses amounts to €1,050,000, with a season prize money of €7,350,000; prize money is allocated to the top 20 female horses, top 20 male horses, and top 20 handlers in the overall classification of the season, the total prize money amounts to €3,565,000.
Katara General Manager, Prof Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, emphasised the significance of preserving and promoting the horse heritage, stating: “Arabs have close relations with horses, and these horses, for certain times, got neglected. Now, Qatar is taking care of breeding and encouraging people to breed more Arabian horses,” he told The Peninsula.
Prof Dr. Al Sulaiti underscored Katara’s commitment to the care and breeding of Arabian horses, encouraging local breeders to actively participate in preserving this cultural legacy.
Hosting international championships, he highlighted the events’ role in supporting breeders and fostering renewed interest in Arabian horse breeding.
GCAT aims to promote the uniqueness of Purebred Arabian Horses through an international platform, fostering a legacy of excellence, transparency, fairness and integrity; create a unique fairground for Arabian horse shows to expand and prosper and connect people and cultures all over the world through a common passion, promoting inclusiveness, respect, and exchange of knowledge.
