The Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT) makes its highly anticipated United Kingdom debut with the London stage, taking place from 14–17 August 2025 at the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea. As the seventh stop of the Europe & Middle East Series, this landmark event brings the world’s most celebrated Arabian horses to central London for a four-day celebration of beauty, performance, and cultural heritage.
Set against the iconic backdrop of one of London’s most historic landmarks, the event will feature elite competition across six categories — Yearling Fillies, Yearling Colts, Junior Fillies, Junior Colts, Senior Mares, and Senior Stallions, with horses competing for top honors and championship titles that contribute to the Tour’s overall ranking. The London stage offers a total of €1,410,000 in prize money, of which €360,000 is for the qualifying classes and €1,050,000 for the Championship.
Bader Al Darwish, GCAT CEO, commented: “Bringing the Global Champions Arabians Tour to London is a defining moment in our journey. This stage represents a perfect balance between tradition and prestige as we celebrate the legacy of Arabian horses and expand our global presence. We are proud to host this event in one of the world’s most iconic cities and invite everyone to experience the elegance, passion, and excellence of GCAT.”
Beyond the arena, the GCAT experience in London offers an immersive program of entertainment and culture. The Fan Village opens on Thursday, 14 August, welcoming guests with family-friendly activities, roaming performers, live bands, and interactive experiences. Visitors can explore a curated shopping village showcasing high-end local and international brands, artisan goods, GCAT merchandise, and gourmet food and beverages.
Qualifying classes for all categories will take place on 15 and 16 August, setting the stage for the Championship, and a grand Closing Celebration on 17 August.
All competitions will be livestreamed globally via GCAT’s official digital platforms, enabling fans around the world to witness the action in real time. Admission is free to the public.
As the Tour reaches London, the top competitors are beginning to stand out. The following are the current top rankings across all key categories after Valkenswaard:
Top Handlers
- Glenn Schoukens – 307 points
- Paolo Capeci – 305 points
- Arnauld Mertens – 291 points
Top Females
- Shahalel Al Shaqab – 120 points
- Al Aryam Banafsaj – 91 points
- D Beisan – 72 points
Top Males
- Berlin MP – 104 points
- D Borkan – 97 points
- Sharar Almanhal – 94 points
This stage is proudly supported by GCAT’s global partners, with this celebration of Arabian horse culture reaffirming their commitment to cultural exchange and sporting excellence. Our Global partners for 2025 include Qatar Airways, Doha Bank, Richard Mille, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Rixos Bagdad, United Development Company (UDC), and Alkass TV, our Broadcast Partner. For the London stage we are pleased to welcome Bentley as the Official Luxury Automotive Partner.
The London stage builds on the momentum of earlier stops, Ajman, Doha, Muscat, Riyadh, Cannes, and Valkenswaard, as the Tour heads toward its grand finale in Prague from 4–6 September. The 2025 season will then culminate with the World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme in Doha from 3–6 December 2025.
