FEI World Championship · Endurance · Butheeb, Abu Dhabi
160 km.
One day.
Win as one.
19 December 2026Ride day · start 05:45 GST
Butheeb International Endurance VillageAl Khatim, Abu Dhabi, UAE
—Days
—Hours
—Min
—Sec
160 km.
UAE Equestrian & Racing FederationFédération Équestre InternationaleButheeb International Endurance Village
Years in the making. Moments of glory.
Epic & Extreme, in the sands of Abu Dhabi.
Are you ready to endure and win as one? The FEI World Championship 2026 in Butheeb brings together horse & rider, athletes & fans, and the world's best endurance nations for a single 160-kilometre day across the desert of Al Khatim — with the horse's welfare at the heart of every kilometre.
160kmCEI 3* World Championship distance
6Loops, each closed by a vet gate
36Nations at Butheeb's last World Championship
2M AEDProposed prize fund
The course
Six loops. One vet gate between each.
0 → 31 kmLoop 131kmLoop 1 · the mass start from the VillageVet gate 1 · 50 min hold31 → 60.9 kmLoop 229.9kmLoop 2 · 29.9 kmVet gate 2 · 40 min hold60.9 → 90.9 kmLoop 330kmLoop 3 · 30 km · past halfwayVet gate 3 · 50 min hold90.9 → 119.9 kmLoop 429kmLoop 4 · 29 kmVet gate 4 · 50 min hold119.9 → 140 kmLoop 520.1kmLoop 5 · 20.1 kmVet gate 5 · 50 min hold140 → 160 kmLoop 620kmLoop 6 · 20 km · the finishFinal inspection · best condition
Six loops from the Village, 160 km in all. Holds of 50 minutes after Loop 1, 40 after Loop 2 and 50 after Loops 3, 4 and 5.Interactive course map →
Programme
Seven days in Butheeb
All times are Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4). Switch to your local time from the Live page.
08:00GST
Horse arrivals & stabling
Passport and vaccination checks at the stable gate.
Butheeb International Endurance Village · Stables14:00GST
Accreditation opens
Chefs d'équipe, grooms, crews and media.
Butheeb International Endurance Village08:00GST
Horse arrivals & stabling
Passport and vaccination checks at the stable gate.
Butheeb International Endurance Village · Stables14:00GST
Accreditation opens
Chefs d'équipe, grooms, crews and media.
Butheeb International Endurance Village15:00GST
First veterinary inspection
Every horse presented to the Veterinary Commission before it may start.
Butheeb International Endurance Village · Veterinary area18:00GST
Opening ceremony & team draw
Main arena · open to the public.
Main arena10:00GST
Pre-ride briefing
Course, crew points, timing and welfare protocol.
Briefing hall16:00GST
Course open for inspection
Crews and chefs d'équipe · shuttle from the village.
Course05:45GST
Ride day — mass start, Loop 1
160 km · team and individual World Championship.
Start & finish07:10GST
Vet gate 1 opens
Heart rate ≤ 64 bpm within 15 minutes · 50-minute hold.
Veterinary area~17:00GST
Expected finish & final inspection
Finish at the Village · best-condition judging follows.
Start & finish19:00GST
Prize giving & closing ceremony
Team and individual medals · best condition award.
Main arena08:00GST
Horse departures
Post-event veterinary checks and export paperwork.
Butheeb International Endurance Village · StablesFull programmeAll times Gulf Standard Time (GST)
Ride day
Live timing and broadcast, on this site
Leaderboard by vet gate, loop splits, recovery times and the live stream — in English and Arabic, without leaving the event site.
Leaderboard · after vet gate 3
Sample data| # | Rider / Horse | Ride time | Avg | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. Al Mansoori UAESahara Star | 4:52:10 | 20.5 km/h | Out |
| 2 | M. Dupont FRARêve du Désert | 4:53:44 | 20.4 km/h | Out |
| 3 | S. Al Khalifa BRNGolden Dune | 4:55:02 | 20.3 km/h | Hold |
| 4 | L. Costa PORVento Norte | 4:57:30 | 20.2 km/h | Hold |
Horse welfare
Fit to continue, every loop
Endurance is judged on the horse as much as the clock. Between every loop an independent Veterinary Commission checks heart rate, hydration, gait and metabolic condition. A horse that is not fit to continue does not continue — whatever the standings.
64 bpm
Heart-rate threshold
Recovery to 64 bpm or below within the presentation window at every gate.
15 min
Presentation window
From loop arrival to vet presentation; the clock only stops once the horse passes.
40–50 min
Mandatory holds
Compulsory rest at every gate — cooling, hydration and re-inspection.
News
Latest from Butheeb
The course: six loops from the Village, 160 km in a day
Loop by loop, with the vet gates, the water points and the leaders' expected times.
Abu Dhabi to host the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026
The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation announces the award, with the support of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
FEI awards the Endurance World Championship 2026 to Butheeb
The FEI Board selects Butheeb International Endurance Village from four bids. The ride is on 19 December 2026.
Partners
Winning as one, with our partners
Organised by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation with the FEI. The commercial partner family is being assembled; tiles are placeholders until partners are confirmed.
Institutional partners
UAE Equestrian & Racing FederationFédération Équestre InternationaleButheeb International Endurance Village
Title partner
Title partner
Presenting partner
Presenting partner
Official partners
PartnerPartnerPartnerPartnerPartnerPartner
Supporters & suppliers
PartnerPartnerPartnerPartnerPartnerPartnerPartnerPartner
Free entry · stay updated
Be there when the first loop starts in the dark
Entry to Butheeb International Endurance Village is free. Leave your email for the programme, the course, spectator zones and where to watch.