Latakia Racecourse Hosts the Sixteenth Leg of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses
Matar Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri:
Syria joining the agenda of the 33rd edition represents an important addition to the journey of the Prestigious Cup and strengthens its presence at Arab and international racecourses’.
We look forward to a successful leg that continues the Cup’s mission of supporting owners and breeders and elevating the standing of the Arabian horse’.
Latakia Racecourse in the Syrian Arab Republic hosts the sixteenth leg of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses tomorrow, Friday 9 October 2026, within the calendar of the 33rd edition of the Prestigious Cup, marking the first time in the history of the series that it has been staged on Syrian soil.
The Cup races are staged with the support of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, with the aim of developing the Arabian horse racing industry, supporting owners and breeders, and encouraging them to acquire and breed the Arabian horse and to elevate its standing in countries around the world.
The leg forms part of the UAE–Syrian Festival, which runs across Friday and Saturday at Latakia Racecourse and features a varied programme of 15 races for Purebred Arabian horses, with 10 races on the first day and five on the second.
The Syria leg carries particular significance within the agenda of the 33rd edition, representing a new addition to the reach of the Prestigious Cup and its presence across the Arab region, and continuing its mission of supporting Purebred Arabian horse racing and standing alongside owners and studs in Syria.
RACE DETAILS
| Date | Friday, 9 October 2026 |
| Venue | Latakia Racecourse, Syrian Arab Republic |
| Occasion | UAE–Syrian Festival, staged across Friday and Saturday |
| Festival programme | 15 races for Purebred Arabian horses — 10 on day one, 5 on day two |
| Runners | 16 |
| Significance | First appearance of the Prestigious Cup on Syrian soil |
THE CONTENDERS
The Syria leg features 16 runners, among them Sanad Al Aref, Victor Damascus, Mohib Al Aref and Awad Al Khaled, in a meeting that brings together a group of Arabian horses who have recorded distinguished performances in local racing.
The list of participants also includes Sultan Al Khatib, Habib Al Kutub, Easar Al Shabak, Ward Al Kour, Baghdad Al Shabak, Rami Al Souriya, Shibl Al Lagha, Al Hajjaj H, Ward Al Mahayni, Fahd Al Kour, Zain Al Waad and Douma Al Ezz.
Full Runners List
| No. | Horse | No. | Horse |
| 1 | Sanad Al Aref | 9 | Baghdad Al Shabak |
| 2 | Victor Damascus | 10 | Rami Al Souriya |
| 3 | Mohib Al Aref | 11 | Shibl Al Lagha |
| 4 | Awad Al Khaled | 12 | Al Hajjaj H |
| 5 | Sultan Al Khatib | 13 | Ward Al Mahayni |
| 6 | Habib Al Kutub | 14 | Fahd Al Kour |
| 7 | Easar Al Shabak | 15 | Zain Al Waad |
| 8 | Ward Al Kour | 16 | Douma Al Ezz |
IN THEIR WORDS
HE Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses, said:
‘We are pleased to welcome the Syrian Arab Republic to the agenda of the Prestigious Cup’s races and to see it make its first appearance within the 33rd edition, representing an important addition to the journey of the series and strengthening its reach across Arab and international racecourses. This is an expression of the considerable support and wise direction of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his sustained commitment to developing the Arabian horse racing industry and supporting owners and breeders’.
He added:
‘The new Syria leg comes as part of our commitment to continuing to expand the scope of the Cup’s races and to bring them to more racecourses, consistent with their goals and mission of elevating the standing of the Arabian horse, encouraging owners and breeders, and providing new opportunities that strengthen the development and sustainability of this industry’.
He continued:
‘We look forward to a distinguished success for the first of the Prestigious Cup’s races in Syria, particularly as it is staged within the UAE–Syrian Festival and its varied two-day programme, strengthening the bonds of cooperation and communication and matching the prestigious standing the series has reached at both Arab and international level’.
