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Endurance rides in the United Arab Emirates,
a sport loving country, was started under the
directives of President His Highness Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The UAE Equestrian
& Racing Federation began in April 1992 and
the sport has gone a long way since its inception
in January 1993.
The first modern desert ride took place on
January 7, 1993.
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Camels competed against horses in this 40-km pioneering
event in the dunes of Dubai and the first 15 places
were taken by horses.
The UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation has built up
a very strong infrastructure to support equestrian sport
in general and endurance in particular. There are three
self-sufficient modern endurance centers or villages
in the country and 22 riding clubs and equestrian establishments.
Endurance riding has captured the top position in the
equestrian sports held in the United Arab Emirates.
Among its strongest supporters are many members from
the Royal families of the country and several of Their
Highnesses and Rulers of different Emirates regularly
take part in endurance competitions alongside large
numbers of UAE nationals and resident foreign riders
and visiting riders from abroad.
All endurance rides are electronically monitored and
controlled and receive comprehensive media coverage.
The United Arab Emirates is working closely with several
other in globally developing Endurance. 
Highlights
Over the last one decade several remarkable achievements
have been made by the endurance sport and the UAE riders.
A brief description is given below.
The first National Endurance Riding Rules were established
in 1995.
The period 1995-1998 saw long-distance point-to-point
endurance rides in the UAE.
For the first time the UAE riders participated
in 1996 World Championship endurance in Kansas, USA.
In 1998, for the first time the UAE hosted the World
Championship endurance which attracted a record 162
competitors out of which 78 completed the 160-km ride.
This record number of participants gained an entry
into the Guinness Book of World Records as " The First
Equestrian Federation to enter Guinness World Records
as the organizer of the Biggest Equestrian World endurance
Championship 1998". For the first time, time control
was fully computerized and the riders carried plastic
swipe cards to register their arrival after each phase
of the ride.
The first World's Preferred Endurance Ride was held
in 1999 in the UAE which is an annual feature and
has been renamed FEI/UAE World Cup Endurance.
In late 2002, The Al Wathba Endurance Village in
Abu Dhabi built in 2000 was refurbished and the HH
The President's Cup (160 km) and the National Day
Cup (120 Km) rides are annual important events here.
Young UAE rider Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
became the youngest rider in history and also the
first man to win the coveted FEI World Cup Endurance
Championship at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, WEG,
in Spain.
The UAE has been elected Chairman of the Endurance
Committee of Asian Equestrian Federations.
Activities
Formulating the National Rules and regular updates
Maintaining an Endurance Registry mainly record of
riders and horses right from the advent of sport in
United Arab Emirate.
UAE endurance licensing of riders and trainers and
registration of horses.
Interaction with FEI, AEF and National Federations
and foreign endurance organizers and well-known
endurance persons in endurance related matters.
Interaction with UAE endurance organizers for
planning rides, developing the endurance calendar,
endurance village infrastructure and preparation of
endurance trail, selection of officials and overall
technical management of most competitions and
qualifications rides in UAE.
Complete liaison with FEI in preparing the endurance
calendar, the draft schedules for the FEI rides and
sending the results. Total detailed on-line
registration of riders and horses with FEI.
Technical control and advisory role in rides in UAE.
Maintaining a proper protocol and observance of all
International norms and regulations and ensuring that
the competitions are held according to the rules.
Maintain National Register and conduct endurance
rides exclusively for Private National Owners.
Coordinating the functions of all officials working
at the ride.
Interaction with clubs, licensed persons in the
running of day to day endurance in UAE.
Handling and scrutiny of all entries for the rides
and ensuring that the rules and conditions are abided.
Checking out endurance routes, checking the
facilities and amenities of the four endurance
villages. Inspection of endurance trials and handling
of all complaints and reports from National elements.
Arbitration and settlement of disputes on the ride day
itself.
Issues endurance information regularly to all
stables and riders concerning National and
International rides and other endurance matters.
Complete endurance invoicing of all FEI
registrations, Federation licenses and individual
entry fees of rides organized in Abu Dhabi.
Active participation both as FEI officials and at
the National level to ensure that all regulations and
protocols are observed.
Inspection of prospective riding clubs in UAE and
assessment of their capabilities.
It is also one of the duties of the National
Federation to send eligible National riders to
participate in International rides all over the world.
The NF scrutinize and ensure that all necessary rules
have been observed and that our riders and horses are
accepted and ensuring their smooth participation in
the event.
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