The competitions of the 2026/2027 Riyadh racing season will begin tomorrow, Friday, at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Square in Riyadh, amid aspirations for an exceptional season on both the technical and public levels, as an extension of the success achieved recently by the Taif racing season.
The season extends over a period of six continuous months, with 24 weeks, with its competitions concluding on April 17, 2027. It witnesses competition between the elite of stables, trainers and horsemen, and is interspersed with the “Saudi Cup”, the richest horse race in the world, with prizes exceeding 38 million dollars, within the total financial prizes for the season amounting to 236.3 million riyals ($63 million), which is the largest in the history of the Riyadh racing season.
The season includes 50 racing events, with a total of 569 races, the competitions of which are held on Friday and Saturday of every week. The agenda also includes 52 major racing cups. The rounds are divided into 104 rounds dedicated to Arabian horses, and 465 rounds for purebred crossbred horses, in addition to 35 rounds held on the grass track.
The season experience is not limited to competitions inside the track, as King Abdulaziz Equestrian Square offers a range of recreational, community and cultural events and activities that suit different groups and ages, thus enhancing its presence as an integrated weekend destination for families and visitors.
The launch of the Riyadh racing season comes as an extension of the continuous development witnessed by horse racing in the Kingdom, and to strengthen Riyadh’s position on the global racing map, through a season that combines high-level sports competition and an integrated public experience.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, revealed the possibility of postponing the 2027 Asian Cup finals scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia until 2028, stressing at the same time that the Continental Confederation is not in a rush to decide the fate of the tournament.
According to Agence France-Presse, on Thursday, the President of the AFC confirmed, during his speech to reporters in the Swiss city of Zurich, on Wednesday, that all preparations for the tournament are proceeding so far according to the approved timetable.
Salman bin Ibrahim said: “We can wait until the end of November,” referring to the date when the AFC may take a decision on the future of the tournament, which is scheduled to be held during the period from January 7 to February 5, in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar.
The AFC President continued: “If we need to make a decision, we will make it, and we can postpone the tournament by one year to 2028 if the need arises.”
He added, "At the present time, we are monitoring the situation, and everything is going according to the specified schedule."
On Thursday, Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, was briefed on the latest developments in the Aramco Stadium project and its level of readiness to host major sporting and entertainment events, during an inspection visit that included a number of the stadium’s facilities and equipment.
The Emir of the Eastern Province toured the facilities of the sports facility and reviewed the ongoing preparations to host sports competitions and mass events, stressing that the sports and entertainment projects witnessed by the region reflect the development of its infrastructure and the diversity of its facilities, and contribute to strengthening its position as a destination for hosting major events.
Prince Saud bin Nayef stressed the importance of completing the readiness of facilities and equipment according to the highest standards, in a way that meets the aspirations of fans and visitors, and keeps pace with the development witnessed by the sports and entertainment sectors in the Kingdom.
During the visit, Eng. Amin bin Hassan Al-Nasser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Aramco, gave a presentation on the progress of work in the project and the stages of completion, in addition to the technical and technical equipment, facilities and services allocated to the public, and the efforts made to provide an integrated experience for visitors in accordance with international standards.
Aramco Stadium is considered one of the most prominent sports and entertainment projects in the Eastern Province, with a capacity exceeding 47,000 spectators. It is characterized by an architectural design inspired by the marine nature of the region, in addition to modern technical facilities and equipment aimed at improving the fans’ experience and enhancing the Eastern Province’s ability to host sports competitions and major entertainment events.
