Since its announcement, the decision of Al Sheraa Stables to sponsor the prestigious equestrian championships has sparked a widespread wave of controversy, as the sponsorship deal included several championships, the most important of which are the German Hickstead and Hamburg Derby, the Champions Championship in Münster, and the German National Championship in Warendorf.
During the dressage shows at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, the sail logo of the sponsoring Emirati stables appeared. These stables, owned by the UAE and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with branches in Great Britain, Munster and elsewhere, were originally scheduled to sponsor the Falsterbo Horse Fair in Sweden. However, opposition from exhibitors and other sponsors to this decision appears to have been so strong that it prompted organizers to withdraw support for the agreement.
Missing money transfers
It seems that the main news now is what was included in the contract and what Al Shiraa Stables had to implement, which the UAE side violated according to the German story, which was essentially issuing the financial transfer. More precisely, we're talking about a seven-figure amount owed. This is the total amount that the German championship organizers who succeeded in contracting with Al Sheraa as the main sponsor of the event are still waiting to receive.
The agreed-upon amount for the German National Championship “Bonds-Championship” for 2025 has been paid, but the dues for 2026 are still pending, according to what was confirmed by Dennis Bieler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the German Equestrian Federation. Martin Reichenhagen, president of the federation, told the German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung" that there is a financial deficit of 200,000 euros in the tournament budget. However, Beller reassured everyone that the event will remain “financially stable even in the absence of a major sponsor” this year.
Hendrik Snook, Munster's tournament director, declined to specify the exact amount of funding required, but indicated that the total budget for the tournament amounts to 1.8 million euros. It is noteworthy that the plan to upgrade the tournament to the “five-star” category, which was promised when Al Sheraa was announced as the new main sponsor, has already been canceled for 2025. “This would have required an additional 250,000 euros, which is difficult to justify under the current circumstances,” Snook explained.
It is worth noting that the contract concluded between the Championship of Champions and Al Sail actually extends until 2030. But Snook confirms, saying: “There is a lot of ambiguity at the present time, as no one really knows what is going on.” This is attributed to internal restructuring processes in the UAE regarding the distribution of responsibilities, especially in the sports sector.
Bieler, a member of the Board of Directors of the German Equestrian Federation, expressed a similar view, saying: “We are in contact with our contractual partner, and we can confirm that Al Sheraa is currently going through a structural reorganization.”
When asked about this, Byler explained: “We are still in contact with the public representative of Sheikh Al-Ra’iya. He has been our contact from the beginning, but he wishes to remain anonymous. Communication is still ongoing.”
An open letter from the sponsor, and a blackout in the Emirati press
Behind Al Sheraa Stables is a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, granddaughter of the founder of the United Arab Emirates and daughter of the current Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi. After ending the collaboration with Falsterbo, the Swedish Horse Fair republished the news that came from the Sheikha’s office, in an open letter in which she explained, among other things: “Our mission was to help protect these historic events from commercial appropriation, and to return the sport to the people to whom it belongs: the fans, the families, the horse breeders and the culture it created.”
But Sheikha Fatima said that in Sweden she was exposed to “hatred, violence and racism” through the media. She stressed that she believes in freedom of expression and Swedish rights, among other things. But she stressed that insulting her and her brand was not “freedom of expression,” but “an attack that causes harm.”
The Sheikha said: “Words may seem unimportant, but actions are what decide the matter.”
While the issue received some coverage in a number of German media, the Emirati media paid little attention.
Will the embassy intervene?
The German Equestrian Federation sent a letter to the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Berlin requesting assistance. The Federation is also considering initiating legal proceedings against the contractual partner who violates its obligations or taking other legal steps.
Bayler stressed that the “Bonds-Championships” tournament enjoys “financial stability even without the main sponsor.” He also confirmed the accuracy of the reports contained in the German newspapers "Westfälische Nachrichten" and "Süddeutsche Zeitung" regarding waiting for funding to be provided for the tournaments held in the cities of Münster and Hamburg, which are also sponsored by Al Sairaa Stables.
