Hamid Abdullah Khalifa Al Muhairi delivered a standout performance at the Opglabbeek International Showjumping in Belgium, claiming two victories in the young horse classes and showing that the UAE's equestrian program is producing results on the international stage.
According to the official WAM/Big News Network report, on September 11, 2026, Omar Abdulaziz Al Marzooqi won the young horse class at Opglabbeek, while Hamid Abdullah Khalifa Al Muhairi finished second in the 6-year-old division on Villon WH.
Al Muhairi kept up the pace in the six-year-old division, riding "فيلون دبليو إتش" to another strong finish with a time of 30.58 seconds in the second phase. Omar Abdulaziz Al Marzooqi also placed well, guiding "كوم سي آسك" to seventh with a clear round.
The Opglabbeek event in early September 2026 featured CSIYH1* and CSI3*/CSI4* classes, with notable victories by Andres Vereecke, Thibeau Spits, and Anouk Kort in other divisions, as reported by Equnews. This underscores the international caliber and competitive diversity of the Belgian stage.
While Al Muhairi's results drew attention, Mohammed Saeed Al Ghurair also emerged as a podium contender in the three-star international classes. Riding "دارك ساتيسفاكشن بي إس", Al Ghurair took third in a two-phase 1.35m contest, just behind Belgian rider Michael Vriens. He then finished fourth in the one-star 1.30m on "إيكاروس", posting a clear 59.46-second round-less than a second off the winner's time.
The UAE's equestrian federation has been steadily building its international presence, and the Opglabbeek results reflect this effort. The federation's recent moves in other sports, such as the change in basketball scheduling to support global ambitions, show a broader strategy. UAE athletes are aiming for podium finishes, and the infrastructure is being shaped to help them get there.
For European riders, the Belgian event showed that the UAE's young horses and riders are now competing at the same level, with technical skill and tactical awareness. Three UAE riders taking the top three spots in a single class is a result that stands out for any federation watching the international scene.
The UAE's ability to turn investment and planning into real results is clear. Al Muhairi's two wins and Al Ghurair's podium finishes are part of a larger trend, not isolated successes. The UAE is now a serious contender in international showjumping, and the results in Belgium point to a new phase of competition.
