World Arabian Horse Racing Forum 2019 Bucharest, Romania - July 2-7 Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest

Abu Dhabi to host World Arabian Horse Racing Forum 2020

One of the most important events of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is the annual World Arabian Horse Racing Forum this year’s ended in Bucharest, the Romanian capital on July 6, 2019.

At the conclusion of the Bucharest Forum on Friday, the organisers of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival announced Abu Dhabi as the host city for the 2020 World Arabian Horse Racing Forum.

Dr Abdulla Al Raisi and Helal Alalawi received the Festival’s flag from HE Mahra Alshaya, Charge d'Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Romania and Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).

The event was attended by a number of UAE Ambassadors and over 300 members of the equestrian fraternity from around the globe representing 90 countries from the six continents.

"We can only thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs for the support this festival for Arabian horses," she said.

She also thanked Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the Emirates, President of the General Women's Union, the Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, which supports women activities all over the world.

Ms. Lara Sawaya said that the Forum in Bucharest was very busy and distinguished and achieved many gains for the Arabian horses, and that this edition of the Festival has gained great importance because it coincides with the ‘Year of Tolerance’.

“Abu Dhabi, which hosted the inaugural edition, was chosen as the UAE is hosting Expo 2020,” Ms. Sawaya said.

After the inaugural three-day conference in Abu Dhabi in 2010, the Forum has been held in The Hague in The Netherlands in 2011, Berlin in Germany in 2012, Toulouse in France in 2013, London in the United Kingdom in 2014, Warsaw in Poland in 2015, Rome in Italy in 2016, Marrakech in Morocco in 2017, Madrid in Spain in 2018 and the just-concluded one in Bucharest, Romania.

Earlier on Friday the Forum’s staged its final session: Future & Innovation in Arabian Racing (moderator Philip Brennan and panelists Dr. Abdulla Al Raisi (UAE), Edward Hamod ((USA), Peter Pond (Australia), Mubarak Al Nuaimi (UAE), Jon Henningsgard (USA), Ahmad Al Qubaisi (FR), Ali Al Mulla (UAE), Faysal Al Rahman (UAE) and Lara Sawaya (UAE); followed by a Workshop conducted by Lara Sawaya and Derek Thompson; and then in the evening a gala party was organized to felicitate all those who attended the three-day event.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.