Over 200 of world’s best riders will compete in long-distance challenges on Feb. 10-11 SAEF executive director, Fouad bin Fahad Ibrahim, said the Kingdom aspired to host some of the sport’s most prominent events ALULA: The desert landscape of AlUla will provide the arena for more than 200 of the world’s top riders competing in the fifth edition of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) and the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, the meeting will take place on Feb. 10 and 11 with a record amount of prize money for any endurance event up for grabs. A prelude to the 2026 FEI World Endurance Championships in AlUla, the 2024 Endurance Cup will involve riders testing their stamina and strategic pace management in 120 km FEI 2* and 160 km FEI 3* distance competitions. The RCU’s chief sports officer, Ziad Alsuhaibani, said: “We are honored and proud that The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup is returning to AlUla for a fifth time. “What began a few years ago as an ambitious project has become a mainstay in the international endurance circuit. “The event has been brilliantly received by audiences and the wider equestrian community alike – and the fact that more than 200 riders are competing across two competitions really illustrates its ever-increasing profile and popularity. “We are very much looking forward to what promises to be another brilliant spectacle in a few weeks’ time,” he added. A new home of world-class events, facilities, and rapidly growing infrastructure, AlUla’s Equestrian Village is part of the commission’s wider equestrian strategy to develop and expand the sport locally, as well as to position AlUla as the ultimate destination for heritage sports. SAEF executive director, Fouad bin Fahad Ibrahim, said the Kingdom aspired to host some of the sport’s most prominent events. “Our goal is to establish it as one of the most prestigious and lucrative competitions globally, attracting endurance riders from around the world annually. “We take pride in our esteemed partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla, which has played a pivotal role in orchestrating equestrian championships with exceptional organization. This is owing to the enchanting nature and rich historical legacy of AlUla,” he added. Nearly 20 percent of the 200 riders who took part in the 2022 edition of the cup competition were women. The event is one of the main sporting occasions on the AlUla Moments Calendar which also includes the AlUla Camel Cup, AlUla Falcon Cup, and the Tent Pegging World Championship and Horseback Archery World Cup, in addition to the AlUla Tour, AlUla Trail Race, and Tough Mudder infinity.