ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The UAE Showjumping Team begins its journey towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games at the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) Jumping World Championship in Aachen, Germany.
The Championships got underway on Tuesday and will run until August 23, 2026, with the showjumping competition scheduled from August 19 to 23.
Hosted at Allianz Park in Aachen’s Soers district – one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian venues – the FEI World Championships bring together elite riders and horses across six of the FEI’s seven disciplines: jumping, dressage, para dressage, eventing, driving and vaulting.
The seventh FEI discipline, endurance, will be held at Butheeb International Endurance Village in Al Khatim, approximately one hour from Abu Dhabi city centre, from December 14 to 20.
For the UAE team, Aachen represents the first opportunity for teams to qualify for Los Angeles 2028. The squad will also compete at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, where the equestrian disciplines will be staged at the JRA Equestrian Park in Tokyo from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
The team’s presence in Aachen reflects the UAE’s continued investment in developing a strong pool of equestrian athletes and horses capable of competing consistently on the international stage.
Among those representing the UAE is Omar Al Marzouqi, the first Emirati equestrian athlete to win a medal at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires in 2018 at the age of 15. He later represented the UAE as the nation’s flag bearer at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he also reached the individual final. In the same year, he became the first rider from the UAE to receive the Longines FEI Rising Star Award.
Alongside Al Marzooqi and Enjoy de la Mure, the travelling squad includes Abdullah Al Muhairi with Hudson de Vains, Humaid Al Muhairi with Foncetti vd Heffinck and Al Suwadi is with Flonflon.
Al Marzouqi’s individual silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games adds to the squad’s international record. The final combinations for the competition will be confirmed closer to the event, following the horse inspection.
Joining the squad is Sheikha Latifah bint Ahmed Al Maktoum, one of the UAE’s most accomplished riders, who will compete with Cornet XL. An Olympic rider and multiple Asian Games medallist, Shaikha Latifah has represented the UAE at the highest level of international sport for more than two decades.
Also making up the delegation are young riders Mohammad Al Ghurair and Mabkhout Alkirbi, who will contest the dedicated Young Riders competitions, including the STAWAG-Prize and the Prize of Sparkasse team competition.
The selected squad features an exciting blend of championship experience and emerging talent, bringing together Olympic, Asian Games and World Championship competitors alongside the next generation of Emirati showjumpers.
The UAE team will once again be led by renowned British horseman William Funnell, who returns as Chef d’Équipe after overseeing the squad’s successful European campaign. “Every rider has earned their place on this team through consistent performances and hard work throughout the season,” said Funnell.
“Championship competition is unlike any other. Success comes from preparation, trust in your horse and producing four solid performances when it matters most. We know the standard in Aachen will be exceptionally high, but this group has shown it can compete with the very best and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”