11 March 2007

THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP 2007


Announces Sponsors for the April 2007 Event

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship 2007, under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, is proud to announce their hosting of the event for the fourth year.

Arguably the most prestigious equestrian event in the Middle East, this year’s Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship will be held from 2nd- 4th April at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, and will also include the final round of the Dubai Gold Cup International Series. The Championship is judged on the aesthetics, agility and authenticity of Purebred Arabian horses; and in addition to generating interest amongst members of the region’s Ruling Families, countless VIPs and horse enthusiasts it has also become a highly anticipated and renowned social event. Significantly, this year’s show has also been awarded the accolade of “A” Class status by the European Conference of Arab Horse Organisation (ECAHO).

The championship has grown immensely since its inauguration in March 2004, having successfully doubled in size from its first to second year. We anticipate that this growth will continue in the years to come. Entries for this year’s event closed on the 26th of February 2007, and final tally of top quality horses is well over two hundred.

Entries will include the Champion and Reserve Champions from Europe and the Middle East including our own from the U.A.E., with some of these horses also having competed successfully in the USA.

Such an important event can only succeed in the International spotlight with the generous support of its Key Sponsors, namely: Dubal, Blancpain, and Abyaar Real Estate Development Co. (new sponsors for the 2007 event), and returning this year: Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group Holding, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Dubai Sports Channel , Emirates, the official airline for the Championship, and Al Bayan.

The Chairman of the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship (DIAHC) Higher Organising Committee, Mr. Ziad Galadari pointed out that: "This is no longer a new event for us – this is our fourth year of organizing the DIAHC - but the challenge remains to maintain and build upon the high standards with which we have become associated. The United Arab Emirates and Dubai set out to host a show that would promote the Arabian Equestrian world and the UAE. Four years on, the Championship and the new Dubai Gold Cup international series has become the talking point among the European “A” Class shows. I think we and our sponsors can be justifiably proud of what we’ve achieved thus far, and look forward to another success in 2007".

This year’s Co-Sponsors are: Masafi, Shadwell, Derrinstown Stud, Shadwell Farm USA, returning for second and fourth years respectively, and we are delighted to announce the newly-signed sponsor for 2007: Dubai Duty Free,Rose Valley Landscaping and Maktoob Groups for maktoob.com, souq.com and araby.com.

The categories for entries to the Championship comprise Fillies, Colts, Mares and Stallions and will see the return of the ECAHO who will provide authorised judges for the event. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• The four Champions and four Reserves will each receive an Audi motor vehicle.
• The winners of each qualifying class will win exclusive brand wristwatches.
• Cash prizes for non-ECAHO championships will total US $100,000 divided between Racing and Endurance (US $66,000) and Foal Championship (US $34,000) categories.
• Each of the four top horses from the Dubai Gold Cup, International Series, will take home US $400,000 in total.