Al Shira’aa has extended its sponsorship of the Hickstead Derby Meeting by a further five years and has also become the new sponsor of the King George V Gold Cup as well as the British Young Horse Championships.

The UAE horse breeders, who have bases in Abu Dhabi, the UK and Germany, first began sponsoring the Hickstead Derby in 2017 as a way of promoting Al Shira’aa Stables and its stallions and encouraging riders to take part in the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show in Abu Dhabi. 

“As a historical sponsor of the Hickstead Derby, I am delighted to extend our partnership for a further five years and support the King George V Cup, such an important legacy of British showjumping at the highest level,” said Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, founder of Al Shira’aa. 

Since Al Shira’aa began sponsoring the Hickstead Derby, showjumping in the UAE has flourished and the country qualified for the Olympics for the first time in Paris last year.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and to the entire team at Al Shira’aa for their ongoing support of Hickstead,” said show director Lizzie Bunn.

Established partnership

“Al Shira’aa is now one of our longest-standing sponsors, and we are delighted that this partnership has been expanded. 

“The Sheikha has shown unwavering commitment to the sport and its development over the past decade, culminating in success at both the Paris Olympics and the recent World Cup Final, and we are delighted to be welcoming a team from the UAE to compete in the Nations Cup for the very first time. 

“Sheikha Fatima first became involved at Hickstead as a rider herself, and she is now one of the biggest supporters of equestrian sport in Britain and internationally.”

This year’s Hickstead Derby Meeting will take place on 19-22 June while the British Young Horse Championships will be hosted by the Sussex venue for the second successive year on 14-17 August.

‘A great passion’

“[The British Young Horse Championships] is a very important show for British breeders, myself being one, whereby we have a Lanaken qualifier at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Young Horse Championships. The development of young horses is a great passion of mine, breeding and producing is something I take much pride in as an owner.”

“I remain as committed to the development of international showjumping as ever, as highlighted in our multiple partnerships for 2025 across the globe which include Montefalco, Hamburg, Bolesworth, Munster and Lanaken with other exciting shows on the horizon,” added Sheikha Fatima. 

“Supporting youth and the development of our next generation of riders remains at the forefront of my vision ­– a vision that began over a decade ago. My mission is to bring the sport to the people and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve collectively this year and beyond.”

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