• Saudi team crowned champions at the AlUla Horseback Archery World Cup in the team competition
  • During workshops, local community and attendees learned how to use swords and bows and arrows by professionals in the Furusiyya Arts.

AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 28th December, 2023:

The inaugural Tent Pegging World Championship in Traditional Sport Dress and AlUla Horseback Archery World Cup unfolded from 16th to 18th December at the Equestrian Village in AlUla. With a large number of visitors attended the three-day event, the horse sports enthusiasts witnessed sportspeople put on a powerful display of the Furusiyya Arts, the ancient Arab tradition of horse riding.

The highlight of the event was the Saudi team being crowned champions at the AlUla Horseback Archery World Cup in the team competition, while Saudi rider Hisham Al Tamimi earned the title of world champion in the individual competition and Abdul Malik Al Kharif secured the runner-up position.

The Saudi team at the AlUla Horseback Archery World Cup featured riders Hisham Al Tamimi, Abdul Malik Al Kharif, Abdul Hamid Al Aboud, and Muhammad Al Dhafyan, under the expert guidance of coach Fahd Al Kharif.

This victory of the Saudi team at the AlUla Horseback Archery World Cup adds to an impressive list of national equestrian achievements this year. Saudi Arabia was earlier crowned the fourth tent pegging world champions in South Africa, and the Saudi show jumping team secured two gold medals at the Asian Games.

Beyond the thrill of the sporting events, complete with traditional outfits and action-packed bouts, the local community and attendees got up close and personal with the tools of the trade. During specialised workshops, participants learned how to handle swords for tent pegging and the bow and arrow for archery. People of all ages gained profound insight into these ancient sports, deepening their understanding of Saudi Arabia’s rich culture and heritage.

The event garnered participation from over 100 students hailing from various schools and universities, affording them a unique opportunity to engage directly with athletes. This interaction not only underscored the community’s keen interest in these heritage sports but also served as a testament to the enduring appeal and significance of preserving such integral elements of the region’s culture and tradition.

The Horseback Archery competition drew inspiration from traditional horseback hunting, challenging archers to navigate a 99-meter course while shooting arrows at targets of varying distances. Meanwhile, Tent Pegging showcased riders galloping along a 99-meter track, spear in hand, skilfully picking up targets from the ground with speed and precision.

Ziad AlSuhaibani, Chief Sports Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), emphasised the event’s significance, stating, “This groundbreaking event marked a first for AlUla and proved to be a tremendous success. We were delighted to present two captivating sporting forms in a format that resonated with everyone, regardless of their interests. AlUla, at its core, is about fostering connections and offering a distinctive experience rooted in our precious history, keeping it evergreen.”

Held in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, International Tent Pegging Federation, World Horseback Archery Federation, and World Martial Arts Union, both events come in line with AlUla’s transformation into a premier hub for heritage and modern sporting events, further enhancing its offerings for visitors and locals.

The hosting of both unique events marks a significant expansion in the equestrian and sporting calendar in AlUla, aligning with the region’s comprehensive regeneration as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage.

Other exciting equestrian events that are set to take place as part of AlUla Moments’ calendar of events and festivals include the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo from January 17th to 20th, 2024, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup from 10 to 11th February 2024.

Find out more details at experiencealula.com

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About AlUla Moments:

AlUla Moments is AlUla’s new home for events. AlUla Moments calendar was launched at the end of 2021 and introduced new festivals and events to celebrate and unlock AlUla’s stories, uncover its secrets, and celebrate local and international cultures. With 7,000 years of civilisations and home to some of the most sophisticated ancient kingdoms of antiquity, AlUla is no stranger to social gatherings and cultural celebrations.

AlUla Moments calendar comprises of five festivals offering diverse experiences in art, culture, music, nature, wellness, equestrian activities, dining, and astronomy. The AlUla Wellness Festival featuring the latest practices to engage the mind, body and soul; Winter at Tantora, the original AlUla celebration of heritage, culture, fashion and music; the Ancient Kingdoms Festival offers immersive events acknowledging the ancient civilisations that lived in AlUla and its neighboring oases in Khaybar and Tayma; AlUla Skies Festival with the popular hot air balloons and stargazing experiences; and AlUla Arts Festival bringing together contemporary and ancient art events and experiences.

In addition to the festivals AlUla Moments calendar offers a number of marquee events, including AZIMUTH, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup, AlUla Camel Cup, and a world-class fashion, adventure and sporting events.

For more information, please visit experiencealula.com/en/alula-moments

About AlUla

Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.

The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of 111 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.

Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Roman Empire after the Roman’s conquered the Nabataeans in 106 CE.

In addition to Hegra, AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages, which has been recently listed on the UNESCO’s memory of the World Register. Also AlUla Old Town Village, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th century, which has been selected as one of the World’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by the UNWTO. Additionally, Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, which are key sites in the story and conquests of Lawrence of Arabia.

For more information, please visit: www.experiencealula.com