UAE Show Jumper Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi Qualifies for FEI World Cup™ Finals 2025 in Basel, Switzerland
21-year-old Talent is the Only Emirati to Qualify from the Arab League
UAE show jumping sensation Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi has officially qualified for the 45th edition of the prestigious FEI World Cup™ Finals, finishing 2nd in the Arab League Middle East standings. He heads to the final as one of forty-two qualified athletes representing 23 countries, vying to be crowned the 2025 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Champion.
Set to take place from April 2 to 6, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland, 21 years old, Al Marzooqi will compete his Olympic ride, Enjoy de la Mure (Vigo Cece x Sable Rose), owned by Al Shira’aa Farms, as he takes on the world’s best show jumpers on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
This qualification marks another milestone in an incredible 18 months for Al Marzooqi, who was named the Longines FEI Rising Star—recognising his remarkable achievements and rapid ascent in the sport. Ranked 102nd in the Longines world rankings and currently holding 5th place in the U25 rankings, Al Marzooqi has firmly established himself as one of the brightest young talents in international show jumping. His recent performances include representing the UAE at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he made the individual final, as well as securing an individual silver medal and a team bronze at the 19th Asian Games in 2023. The combination also won the FEI Zangersheide Sires of the World in Lanaken last September. His impressive career also includes a silver medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, aged 15 years old—the only UAE national to win a medal at the Youth Olympics to date.
“I feel so proud to have qualified for the FEI World Cup™ Finals, especially as the only Emirati to do so from the Arab League,” said Al Marzooqi.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative of Al Ain Region, for their unwavering support and dedication to the development of our sport.
“Special thanks to Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan who has spent the past 12 years improving the quality and structure of equestrian sport in the United Arab Emirates.
“As the first person to introduce the youth categories here in the region, Sheikha created great opportunities for riders like me to gain experience and compete against each other.
“She has greatly supported the UAE International Tour, by inviting European riders to compete in the country, which helped us to improve our skills and gain confidence by watching—and competing against—some of the world’s top riders.
“On a personal note, I would like to thank my father and my family for their endless support and inspiration, and whose guidance has been instrumental in my journey as a rider. Lastly, my gratitude goes to the UAE’s Chef d’Equipe, William Funnel, for his dedication, training and leadership. His skills have been invaluable for not only me but the whole team.”
Al Marzooqi’s success is a testament to the unwavering support and vision of Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Chairwoman of the Al Ain and Abu Dhabi Ladies Clubs, Founder and Chairwoman of the Fatima bint Hazza Cultural Foundation and Owner of Al Shira’aa Farms—the driving force behind the UAE’s equestrian success. Under her leadership, Al Shira’aa Farms has cultivated an environment where Emirati riders can develop and compete at the highest level, with a dedicated Youth programme founded in 2014, along with strong support of female riders through the Fatima bint Mubarak Academy (FBMA). Her commitment to the sport has propelled UAE show jumping onto the global stage, providing young talents like Al Marzooqi with the platform to thrive in elite competition.
Ahead of the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Basel, Al Marzooqi and Enjoy de la Mure will head back to Paris to compete in Saut Hermes in preparation. With a strong team, an exceptional horse, and the support of a nation behind him, the UAE’s rising star is ready to take on his next challenge.
