Wednesday, January 4, 2006

Developing Show Jumping in Dubai - Princess Haya’s Vision

In recognition of Princess Haya’s long standing career in show jumping, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree in August 2005 establishing the Dubai Equestrian Club, and appointing HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein as Chairperson of the Dubai Equestrian Club’s board of directors.

Capitalizing on Dubai’s equestrian infrastructure and leadership positioning, Princess Haya is now devoting much of her time to restructuring show jumping in Dubai with a view to affecting progressive change and contributing to raising the profile of show jumping in Dubai, proportionately with the progress that has been made in other equestrian disciplines. “Al Maktoum Challenge” is therefore part of a long term strategy aimed at uplifting international show jumping in Dubai to top international standards.

Background

Under the direction and guidance of the late President, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates has developed a reputation for tackling projects of truly global proportions. Its people have come to expect success and the world has come to recognise this nation as a leader in the region when it comes to completing projects to the highest possible standards.

Equestrian sports were very close to the heart of the late President. He not only emphasised this constantly throughout his life but generously supported Arabian horse sports and horse shows throughout the world in his ambition to preserve the pure Arabian bloodlines, almost lost to the world during the last century. The purebred Arabian racing programme in the UAE is now classed as one of the strongest in the world.

Equestrian Sports in Dubai

Members of the Maktoum family most notably the Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his brothers, Dubai’s Deputy Ruler HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Dubai’s Crown Prince HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum have made Dubai a household name throughout the world through their support and participation in horse racing. No other single event could put Dubai on the map as effectively as the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup.

For the second time in history, Dubai recently hosted the World Endurance Championships 2005, and most who attended the event, whether competitors, officials, media or spectators, agreed that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s influence and support has been instrumental in raising standards way beyond any previous levels in this equestrian sport. Not only has he been tireless in his efforts to raise the profile of endurance racing on the world scene, but his own participation as an athlete has demonstrated his level of commitment and his love of equestrianism.

Showjumping in Dubai

Dubai was groundbreaking in the sport of show jumping as it hosted the first international show jumping event in the Middle East in January 1987, which was known as the Metropolitan International Show. This show was a significant milestone because it was a pioneering move to widen the scope of show jumping in the region and pave the way for the tremendous ground that has been covered since in terms of international shows.

The year 1992 was the last year for a Metropolitan International Show in Dubai and from then, it was not until the first Maktoum Challenge in 1999 that Dubai hosted a show with classes at national level again. In 2000 the second Maktoum Jumping Challenge became an international event. During that time, however, interest in the sport continued to develop at a fast pace, so fast that it has today outgrown the current structure and facilities available for show jumping in Dubai.

The UAE is in its sporting infancy on the world stage but already national athletes are showing prowess. As Dubai continues to make effective and groundbreaking progress in other areas of equestrian sports, developing international Showjumping in Dubai has become a necessity.

HRH Princess Haya’s Role

Throughout her sports career, Princess Haya demonstrated a proven track record of achievement in show jumping, as the first Arab woman athlete to compete in an equestrian event at the Olympic Games, where she represented Jordan in the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Building on her qualifications and commitment to developing the structure of sports in the region, Princess Haya has endeavoured to develop the equestrian sport of show jumping in Dubai.

Princess Haya has completed an in-depth analysis of show jumping in Dubai, in comparison with regional and international players, and has architected a restructuring plan aimed at elevating international show jumping in Dubai to a level that makes it again a regional leader and on a par with European and international venues.