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EQUESTRIAN PROJECTS

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Museum, school, training, competitions and shows...

Equestrian projects are picking up the pace, making AlUla

a go-to destination for excellence.

This ambitious, comprehensive program is implemented

as a partnership between the Royal Commission

for AlUla (RCU), the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and

the French Agency for AlUla development (AFALULA).

Museum, school, training, competitions and shows... Equestrian projects are picking up the pace, making AlUla a go-to destination for excellence.

This ambitious, comprehensive program is implemented as a partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and the French Agency for AlUla development (AFALULA).

France, both as a leading country in the world

of equestrian competition and as a leader in the training of jockeys, sport riders and grooms, is supporting AlUla in the development of its projects.

In coordination with the RCU and the Saudi Equestrian Federation, and under the leadership of Antoine Sinniger, director of the AFALULA Equestrian Projects division, the project is based around two equestrian villages. Al Muatadil will be dedicated to sport and competitions, while Al Atheeb will concentrate on developing a cultural and tourist offering.

Equestrian culture, particularly that of the Arabian thoroughbred,

is a fundamental component of Saudi Arabian history. The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and AFALULA aim to use this cultural wealth as a lever to develop the economic and tourist potential of AlUla.

Discover the equestrian projects launched in AlUla.

Discover

the equestrian

projects launched

in AlUla.

“It is only the beginning of an extraordinary adventure. French expertise is invaluable for finding judges or veterinarians and for meeting the significant

training needs."

Antoine Sinniger,

Director of the Equestrian Projects division, AFALULA

“It is only the beginning

of an extraordinary adventure.

French expertise is invaluable for finding judges or veterinarians and for meeting

the significant training needs."

Antoine Sinniger,

Director of the Equestrian

Projects division, AFALULA

Two equestrian stadiums, four polo fields (two sand, two grass), a platform dedicated to endurance, a racecourse, infrastructure to accommodate horses, a veterinary clinic... The Al Muatadil site will be a prime venue for national and international competitions. It will put endurance, the main activity in Arabia, in the spotlight but also polo and Olympic disciplines such as show jumping.

Even though the infrastructure is still being developed, activities and competitions have already started thanks to semi-permanent installations, and everything is on course to be ready for the World Endurance Championships in 2026. During the 2023/2024 season, Al Muatadil has already hosted eight international endurance and polo competitions and a Tent Pigging world championship.

FOCUS ON SPORT IN AL MUATADIL

The birthplace of the AlUla equestrian project, Al Atheeb will be a venue dedicated to celebrating the Arabian thoroughbred. A veritable living museum, it will explore the role of the "father of all horses in the world", so unique in its elegance, physical abilities and stamina in challenging conditions, throughout the Kingdom’s history.

Al Atheeb will also house a Furusiyya Academy, as well as a riding school. Open to tourists and the local population, it will eventually become a training center for teachers of horse riding and other horse-related professions, such as equestrian tourism guide, groom, farrier, etc. The site will also organize adventures on horseback, multi-day bivouac horse-backing, as well as events and shows offered by riders from around the world.

A LIVING MUSEUM

IN AL ATHEEB

READ IN HORIZON ALULA N°2

by Jean-Louis Gouraud

and Marine Oussedik.

INSIGHTS

INTO THE ARABIAN

HORSE

LEARN MORE

Close-up on an ancestral equestrian tradition brought back into the spotlight thanks to the creation of an academy.

With Agnès Carayon, doctor in history, specialist in the equestrian peoples of

the medieval Arab-Muslim world at the Arab World Institute, where she is also exhibition manager.

FURÛSIYYA

It is essential to transmit equestrian values and expertise in order to establish and sustain a sector of excellence. This requires significant resources and commitment. Camille Martin, director of the Equestrian Sector within the Royal Commission for AlUla, wants to ensure “that basic notions, such as animal welfare, good sporting practices and pedagogy are guaranteed in order to build an equestrian center of excellence.” This is why training for grooms and stable-hands is being launched as a priority. They are aiming for one objective: to increase the skills of AIUlians in the field of equestrianism.