THE ROAD TO TEXAS: HOW THE ARAB LEAGUE QUALIFIES FOR THE LONGINES FEI JUMPING WORLD CUP FINAL
While the HORSE TIMES team has spent the last few months following the high-octane action of the Western European League (please scroll through the news section), the spotlight is now shifting to the Middle East.
With the 2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, Texas, fast approaching (7 - 12 April, 2026), riders in the Arab League are entering the final, critical stages of their qualifying campaign. For those following the action in the region, here is a simple guide to how the qualification process works.
A LEAGUE OF TWO HALVES:
The Arab League is unique because it is split into two distinct sub-leagues:
- The Middle East Sub-League: featuring major shows in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.
- The North African Sub-League: primarily focused on events in Morocco and Egypt.
THE MAGIC NUMBER, THREE:
The stakes are incredibly high in this region. Unlike Western Europe, which sends 18 riders to the Final, the Arab League is typically allocated just three spots.
To decide who gets these tickets to Texas, the FEI uses a points system. Riders earn points based on their performance in designated World Cup qualifiers (CSI-W events). At the end of the season, the top three athletes from the combined Arab League standings secure their place on the plane to the United States.
THE "BEST RESULTS" RULE:
Riders don’t have to be perfect at every show. To account for the unpredictable nature of showjumping, only a specific number of a rider’s best results count towards their total.
- In the Middle East Sub-League, riders count their best four results from the qualifying legs.
- In North African Sub-League, the top three results from their specific circuit form the basis of the score.
THE "EXTRA ATHLETE" RULE, NAYEL NASSAR & ABDEL SAÏD:
A unique case in the Arab League involves top Olympic riders like Egypt’s Nayel Nassar. Because he is based in the United States, he typically competes in the North American League (NAL) rather than travelling his horses back for the Middle East qualifiers.
Under FEI rules, because Nassar represents Egypt but competes in a different league, he can qualify as an "Extra Athlete." To do this, he must earn enough points in the North American circuit to match or exceed the point total of the 3rd-placed rider (the final qualifier) in the Arab League standings. This allows him to secure a spot in Fort Worth without displacing the riders competing locally.
Similarly, Abdel Saïd presents an interesting case. Though Saïd represents Belgium, he is a familiar face on the Arab circuit. Instead of competing in European legs like London or Basel, Saïd has been highly successful in the Arab League this season. He currently sits in 5th place in the Middle East standings with 20 points, largely thanks to a victory in the Al Ain World Cup Grand Prix. Like Nassar, he does not take away a spot from local Arab League athletes; if he meets the qualification threshold, he is invited as an extra international guest.
PROVING CAPABILITY:
It isn’t just about the points; it’s about the partnership. To compete at the World Cup Final, which features fences at 1.60m, both the rider and horse must achieve a "Certificate of Capability." This means they must have completed at least two high-level courses during the season with four penalties or fewer, proving they are ready for the world stage.
CURRENT STANDINGS (AS OF 11 JANUARY 2026):
Middle East Sub-League:
1.Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) — 56 points
2. Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) — 52 points
3. Khaled Almobty (KSA) — 44 points
4. Ramzy Al Duhami (KSA) — 41 points
5. Abdel Saïd (BEL) — 20 points
North African Sub-League:
1. El Ghali Boukaa (MAR) — 35 points
2. Abdeslam Bennani Smires (MAR) — 25 points
3. Zain Shady Samir (EGY) — 22 points
4. Mouda Zeyada (EGY) — 20 points
5. Ali Al Ahrach (MAR) — 20 points
--ENDS--
Source: FEI.org
See attached image for remainder Arab League events
Longines FEI World Cup Final website here
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