Some of the UAE’s top endurance athletes have joined forces to form a formidable 31-rider contingent aiming to reclaim top honours at the Royal Windsor Endurance 2025 on Friday, 16 May.

Taking place in Windsor Great Park in the United Kingdom, the FEI-endorsed event features 3*, 2*, and 1* rides, attracting an international field of riders, horses, trainers, grooms, and support teams. The CEI3* ride is the longest and most demanding, covering a 160 km course split into five phases. Meanwhile, the CEI2* and CEI1* events span four-phase 120 km and three-phase 100 km routes, respectively. The endurance challenge forms part of the broader Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Emirati riders have historically excelled at this event, winning six of the eleven editions since its inception in 2013 — more than any other nation. Past champions include His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Defence, who led the UAE to victory in 2014 following Rashed Mohammed Al Baloushi’s triumph in the inaugural event.

Saif Al Mazrouei clinched victory in 2016 when the competition was staged as a CEI2* over 120 km and returns this year aiming to top the podium once more. Fellow Emiratis Saeed Hamoud Al Khayari and Ghanim Said Al Owaisi claimed wins in the 2017 and 2019 editions, respectively, while Fares Ahmad Al Mansoori led a historic clean sweep in 2023, with the UAE winning all three rides.

This year, Al Mazrouei, Al Khayari, and Al Mansoori form part of the UAE contingent seeking to halt the momentum of four-time champions and current title-holders, Bahrain.

Commenting on the occasion, Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Equestrian Club, said:

“It is with great pride that we announce the UAE Team’s participation in Royal Windsor Endurance. Our riders have demonstrated exceptional dedication, resilience, and unity in preparing for this prestigious event. I am confident that our team will represent the country with honour and distinction, embodying the spirit of endurance, excellence, and sportsmanship at every stage of the competition.

Thanks to the continued support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the sport of endurance has made significant strides both locally and internationally. Emirati riders have consistently proven their talent and commitment on the global stage.

This competition is our chance to show what we’ve trained for — to push boundaries, compete with heart, and make our mark with integrity and excellence.”

Set against the scenic backdrop of Windsor Great Park, the event offers a distinctive riding experience, taking competitors past iconic sites such as the Copper Horse, Long Walk, the Philip Jackson equestrian statue of Queen Elizabeth II, and Smith’s Lawn – famed for its elite polo action. Riders navigate a variety of terrain including woodland trails, grassland, water crossings, and paved roads, all while managing light variations through dense tree cover.

Speaking on the UAE’s participation, Ahmed Rashed Al Kaabi, Acting General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club and Chef d’Équipe of the UAE team, said:

“This is a prestigious event on the international endurance calendar, and the UAE has enjoyed great success here. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s 2014 victory remains an inspiration, motivating many to strive for excellence and national pride.

Horses are deeply woven into the fabric of Emirati culture and heritage. Endurance riding has a long-standing tradition in our region, and we are confident in our team’s strength. We look forward to another outstanding performance that will make our country and its visionary leadership proud.”

About Dubai Equestrian Club
Founded in 2002 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Equestrian Club is a global leader in endurance riding. It organises high-calibre competitions at its world-class facility, Dubai International Endurance City. The Club’s annual calendar features two flagship events: the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival and the Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Festival.

Get ready for a sweeter future, Pure Ice Cream has officially started building one of the UAE’s largest ice cream factories in Dubai Industrial City. The Dh80 million project is set to boost local production and serve customers across 20+ countries once it opens in 2026.

The state-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to produce 50 million litres of ice cream every year and is being developed by Graviss Group, the parent company of Pure Ice Cream. It will also supply products for the global brand Baskin-Robbins, in partnership with US-based Inspire Brands.

Built with sustainability in mind, the fully automated factory will use AI-powered systems, solar energy, and biodegradable packaging, and aims to be carbon-neutral. It will also create 60 new jobs in the UAE.

“Dubai will soon be home to the biggest ice cream plant in the GCC,” said Gaurav Ghai, Chairman of Graviss Group. 

“This project is a big step in our goal to export UAE-made products globally.”

The move reflects Dubai’s growing role as a regional hub for food production, aligning with key initiatives like Operation 300 billion, Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy.

The factory will cover 160,000 sq ft and sit on a 246,000 sq ft land plot in Dubai Industrial City, a strategic location near major transport routes like Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port.

As part of TECOM Group, Dubai Industrial City is already home to more than 1,100 businesses and 350+ factories, and continues to attract major investments in the food and beverage sector.

Travel across the UAE is set to get faster and easier. Etihad Rail, the company behind the country’s national railway network, has officially announced that its much-awaited passenger train service will begin operations in 2026.

The update was shared on X (formerly Twitter), where Etihad Rail confirmed the launch year and highlighted the project’s significance as one of the UAE’s biggest transportation developments.

The announcement came after a special briefing with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region. The Etihad Rail team, led by CEO Shadi Malak, met with Sheikh Hamdan at Al Dhanna Palace to share the latest updates on the national railway network, especially the upcoming passenger line.

“The project stands as one of the country’s largest strategic transportation projects,” Etihad Rail said in its post, adding that it reflects Sheikh Hamdan’s ongoing support for infrastructure development across the UAE.

Once launched, the Etihad Rail passenger service is expected to transform travel in the country by offering a fast, efficient, and eco-friendly way to move between major cities and regions.

Etihad Rail was created under Federal Law No. 2, with the mission to develop, build, and operate the UAE’s national freight and passenger railway network.

Come 2026, and hopping on a train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai or Fujairah could become part of your daily routine.