Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the Supreme Organizing Committee of the HH President's Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses announced the schedule for the 33rd edition of 2026. The series will feature 19 races across 4 continents, with prize money totaling AED 20 million for the winners. The Committee confirmed in its statement today that the new season will enhance the Cup's status as the most valuable and largest Purebred Arabian horse racing series in history, following the remarkable successes achieved at the conclusion of last season (Edition 32). That season set record numbers, with 354 horses participating and a total attendance exceeding 400,000 spectators at the world's most prestigious racetracks. The series' digital content also achieved widespread reach with over 500 million views, creating a solid foundation upon which the new season will expand to even broader horizons. In detail, the Organizing Committee confirmed that the new season's schedule will include 19 global stages, starting in Tunisia on April 19, 2026, then moving to the USA at the historic Churchill Downs racetrack on April 30, followed by France on May 10. The journey continues through Sweden on June 6, Italy on June 21, Morocco on June 28, then Germany on July 5, the Netherlands on July 26, the UK at the Newbury racecourse on August 14, Spain on August 15, then Belgium on September 1, Turkey on September 6, and Russia on September 12. Concurrently, a second stage will be held in the UK at the Doncaster racecourse, followed by Poland on September 27, before moving to the Arab world with a new stage in Syria on October 9, then Libya on October 24, Egypt on October 31, and culminating in the final stage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on November 20. This historic edition and its substantial prize money are an extension of the UAE's mission to support and encourage owners and breeders, and to uphold the vision set by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, in preserving the Arabian horse as a symbol of identity, culture, and heritage. The series aims, through its geographical expansion across 4 continents (Europe, America, Asia, and Africa), to provide a competitive environment that ensures the sustainability of this ancient equestrian sport. Mohammed Suhail Al Yahyari, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee, expressed his pride in the Cup's significant leap forward, stating that the support of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan has made this Cup a bridge connecting the UAE with the world. He added that the Committee does not just organize races but formulates a global strategy to support owners and enhance the value of Purebred Arabian horses in every continent, with 19 stages serving as clear evidence of the UAE's leadership. In turn, Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary-General of the Supreme Organizing Committee, highly valued the immense support of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the 'reviver of Arabian horses in the world.' He emphasized that selecting historic racetracks like Longchamp, Churchill Downs, Newbury, Doncaster, and San Siro proves that the Cup has become the first strategic partner of the world's greatest racing festivals. He expressed pride in the race series, which carries a name dear to all our hearts, noting that Edition 33 will be the most extensive, as the new prizes and plans represent a qualitative leap that will take Arabian horse racing to unprecedented horizons. It is worth noting that the HH President's Cup series for Purebred Arabian horses began in 1994 with the vision of the nation's founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, to elevate the status of the Arabian horse globally. Over 33 years, with the continuous support of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Cup has become the most prominent and prestigious event in the world, contributing to the preservation of this authentic heritage and reinforcing the UAE's pivotal role in global equestrian sports.
