Butheeb International Endurance Village (BIEV) in Abu Dhabi has been selected to replace AlUla, Saudi Arabia, as the host of the 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship. The championship will take place from Monday 14 –  Sunday 20 December. 

AlUla’s organising committee, the Royal Commission for AlUla, informed the FEI on Monday 29 June that it was no longer able to organise the championship, originally scheduled for November, due to the current geopolitical situation.

The FEI Board approved the termination of AlUla’s host agreement for the event at a board meeting on Wednesday 1 July and reopened the bidding process.

BIEV, which is located around one hour from Abu Dhabi city centre, was confirmed as host by the FEI Board during its teleconference on Tuesday 28 July. It will be the second time the venue has hosted a World Championship, having successfully staged the 2022 edition.

Multiple strong bids

“We are very pleased with the decision to award the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026 to Butheeb,” said FEI President Ingmar De Vos.

“The Butheeb bid was one of four very strong bids received when we re-opened the process. The fact that four organisers put themselves forward as potential hosts demonstrates the solidarity within the Endurance community and a shared commitment to ensuring there would be a FEI Endurance World Championship in 2026. 

“The Butheeb Organising Committee has a proven track record of hosting events of this calibre, and we have very fond memories of the outstanding FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 held at the venue.

“We are extremely grateful to the Organising Committee and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation for their continued support of the Endurance discipline, and we are confident that the 2026 championship will be an outstanding event.”

Image © FEI.

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