DOHA: The Organizing Committee of the International Equestrian Championships – Qatar 2025 has announced details of the opening round of the Longines Global Champions Tour and the 2025 Global Champions League, hosted by Al Shaqab.
The prestigious event, taking place at the Longines indoor and outdoor arenas at Al Shaqab, begins today, and will run for four days.
It will feature more than 271 riders from 35 countries and over 411 horses, with a total prize pool exceeding €1.1 million.
These details were revealed during a press conference at Al Shaqab, attended by Mohammed Jaber Al Khayarin, Tournament Director; Marco Danis, Sports Director of the Longines Global Champions Tour; and Jan Tops, President of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
Al Khayarin emphasized that hosting a new season of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Qatar is a significant milestone for the country’s equestrian community, which has been part of the tour since 2008. He highlighted that the inaugural round of this prestigious series further solidifies Al Shaqab’s reputation as a world-class venue for international equestrian championships.
“Our collaboration with Longines, the tournament’s presenter, reaffirms our commitment to providing an ideal environment for both riders and horses. Hosting such global events allows us to showcase show jumping at its finest and reinforces Al Shaqab’s position as a distinguished hub for Olympic equestrian sports in the Middle East and beyond.”
Competition Schedule
The tournament kicks off today, with seven rounds across the indoor and outdoor arenas at Al Shaqab:
- Four rounds for the star and three-star categories at varying heights up to 145 cm
- One round for the five-star classification at a height of 140 cm
- One junior round at a height of 135 cm
- One round for future knights
On Thursday, competitions continue with seven rounds:
- Four rounds for the three-star and five-star categories at heights reaching 160 cm
- Two rounds for the star category at heights between 110-125 cm
- One round for future knights
The third day will feature eight rounds:
- Six rounds across the star, three-star, and five-star categories at heights ranging from 115-150 cm
- One junior round at 135 cm
- One round for future knights
The final day, Saturday, begins at 3:30 PM with the five-star round at 145 cm. The championship concludes with the highlight event: the five-star round at 160 cm with a differentiation round, set for 8:00 PM.
A Global Equestrian Spectacle
Each year, Al Shaqab hosts the opening round of the Longines Global Champions Tour, as well as the Global Champions League for teams. This prestigious series spans 16 countries, with Qatar marking the first stop. The tour offers a total prize pool of €36 million across 16 rounds, held in 14 countries and 16 destinations.
Partners & Sponsors
The championship is presented by Longines, with ExxonMobil Qatar as the official partner. Additional sponsors and partners include:
- Visit Qatar – Official Sponsor
- Qatar Airways – Official Airline Partner
- QMNUCATION – Social Media Partner
- Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company – Official Transport Partner
- Equine Veterinary Medical Center – Official Veterinary Partner
- Aspetar – Official Medical Partner
- Sahil – Media Partner
With its world-class facilities and elite competition, the Longines Global Champions Tour in Qatar promises to deliver an exhilarating start to the international show jumping season.
