Equestrian Authority

The Equestrian Authority is the regulatory entity for equestrians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was established by a resolution of the Council of Ministers on July 11, 1995, under the name "High Commission for Equestrian Clubs" before changing it to the 'Equestrian Authority" by a resolution of the Council of Ministers on October 13, 2020. The Authority is headquartered in Riyadh and chaired by Prince Bandar Bin Khalid al-Faisal. It aims to develop the equestrian sector across the Kingdom.

The Authority has a legal personality and financial and administrative independence. It is organizationally linked to the Prime Minister and has the right to establish branches and offices inside and outside the Kingdom in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Authority aims, in collaboration with the relevant entities, to develop the equestrian sector in the Kingdom in line with its cultural and heritage values, serving the desired sports, cultural, social, and economic interests and contributing to enhancing the Kingdom's international position across various equestrian fields.

Equestrian events were first organized in Saudi Arabia during the era of the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in Riyadh when races took place in the northeastern part of Riyadh. The horses start the race from a location situated at the end of Salahuddin al-Ayyubi Road (in al-Malaz District) until they reach the final point in front of an elevated area where King Abdulaziz would sit to watch the races. These races initially featured the sons of King Abdulaziz riding purebred Arabian horses owned by the King and some princes among his sons, who became interested in acquiring their own horses. They have been participating in races since then.

Granting the organization associated with the Equestrian Authority the responsibility for planning international championships held in the Kingdom and collaborating in their execution, after their approval, in coordination with the relevant entities.

The Jockey Club in Riyadh organized a global equestrian championship named the Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in Riyadh in 2020. In its second edition in 2021, its prize amounted to USD30.5 million distributed over sixteen races of various races between the sand and grass tracks, while the Saudi Cup trophy award alone amounts to USD20 million.

The Authority is entitled to propose general policies to develop the equestrian sector, propose budgets for national projects and international equestrian championships, and submit them for the necessary regulatory procedures. It also aims to support Saudi riders, horse owners, and producers and develop programs to boost horse production in the Kingdom.

Equestrian Authority is responsible for establishing standardized specifications for equestrian facilities and adopting their plans in all regions of the Kingdom. It coordinates and collaborates with relevant entities to enhance veterinary services provided to horses. Additionally, it offers advice and support to develop equestrian awards and aligns and coordinates efforts among all stakeholders to ensure the advancement of the equestrian sector in the Kingdom.