H H The Father Amir Prix Set To Open Doha Equestrian Tour At Al Shaqab

Doha, Qatar: The prestigious H H the Father Amir Equestrian Prix 2026 will open the 2026 Doha Equestrian Tour, featuring wide international participation and a total prize pool exceeding €3.3m.

The Organizing Committee of the 2026 Doha Equestrian Tour has announced its readiness for the inaugural H H the Father Amir Equestrian Prix, the first event of the season.

The championship will be held from January 2 to 31 at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, with the participation of more than 240 riders and prize money surpassing €3.3m.

In a statement, Bader bin Mohammed Al-Darwish, President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, stated that the H H the Father Amir Equestrian Prix 2026 represents one of the most prominent strategic pillars of the Doha Equestrian Tour 2026, which includes 10 international championships classified from one to five stars.

He noted that the tour will begin tomorrow and continue until April 4, 2026, with a total prize pool exceeding €10m.

Al-Darwish emphasised that the championship serves as a national platform delivered to international standards, reflecting the State of Qatar's vision of leveraging sport as a driver of sustainable development and as a means of strengthening its global presence.

He added that, as the opening event of the Doha Equestrian Tour, the championship holds particular importance on the annual sporting calendar.

He further explained that the event carries strong symbolic value, bearing the name of H H the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who laid the foundations for the nation's comprehensive development and played a pivotal role in advancing sports infrastructure and establishing equestrian sport as an essential component of Qatar's cultural identity.

He added that the Qatar Equestrian Federation attaches great importance to the championship, viewing it as a key opportunity to enhance Qatar's standing on the international equestrian map, broaden global rider participation, and support the growth of equestrian sport at local and regional levels.

The championship also contributes significantly to the sports economy by attracting visitors, official delegations, and industry stakeholders, while stimulating investment linked to equestrianism and the hosting of major events. Its timing, alongside other international sporting events hosted by Qatar during the same period, further strengthens event integration, maximizes economic and media impact, and reinforces Doha's position as a leading global sporting destination.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmed bin Noah Al Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, said that the Doha Equestrian Tour particularly the H H the Father Amir Equestrian Prix reflects the federation's long-term strategy to build a sustainable sporting legacy grounded in quality, excellence, and innovation, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, while strengthening Qatar's position on the international equestrian stage.

He added that from the early stages of preparation, the organizing committee was keen to ensure that the first edition of the championship would set a benchmark for organizational excellence and competitive quality, in accordance with International Equestrian Federation (FEI) standards.

The program was designed to include competitions ranging from one to five stars, in addition to junior and youth categories, ensuring broad participation, talent development, and a high technical standard across the championship's four rounds.

Sheikh Ahmed also confirmed that all organizational and technical requirements at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab have been completed, including arena readiness, judging, logistics, hospitality services, media operations, and television broadcasting.

These efforts aim to deliver a comprehensive sporting experience for riders and spectators alike, while further establishing the Doha Equestrian Tour as one of the leading international events on the global equestrian calendar.

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