The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) has received a significant boost ahead of the start of the 2026 Taif Racing Season, with the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup for Purebred Arabians being granted Group 3 status by the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing.
The Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup Group 3.
The announcement comes just days before the Taif season begins on Friday and marks another milestone in the rapid rise of one of Saudi Arabia’s leading Arabian horse races. Scheduled to be run on September 25, 2026, the contest has steadily climbed the international ladder since it was introduced in 2021.
Run over 2,000 metres, the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup was promoted to Listed status after only its second running and has now earned Group 3 recognition just four years after its inauguration. The latest upgrade reflects the increasing international standing of both the race and Saudi Arabia’s expanding Purebred Arabian racing programme.
The Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup Group 3 carries prize money of USD 266,000 and forms part of the closing celebrations of the 10-week Taif Racing Season at King Khalid Racecourse. It will once again feature alongside the Group 3 King Faisal Cup, also restricted to Purebred Arabians, on the penultimate day of the meeting.
Saudi Arabian star Tilal Al-Khalediah has dominated the race in recent years, winning the previous two editions and helping establish the contest as one of the country’s most prestigious Arabian races.
Commenting on the promotion, His Highness Prince Salman bin Abdullah Al Saud, Chief Executive Officer of the JCSA, described the decision as another important step in the Kingdom’s long-term vision for Arabian racing.
He said the elevation of the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup to international Group 3 level reflects the growing stature of Saudi Arabian racing and supports the Club’s strategy of creating a stronger, internationally recognised racing calendar.
Prince Salman added that the achievement demonstrates the JCSA’s continued commitment to developing Purebred Arabian racing in line with the highest international standards while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position on the global racing stage and preserving the country’s rich heritage associated with Arabian horses.
The Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup Group 3 is expected to add further international prestige to the Taif Racing Season and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the global Purebred Arabian racing calendar.
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