Thus, an aesthetically beautiful sport is complemented by an entertaining, educational, and outreach program.
And, perhaps most importantly, it offers the opportunity to meet hundreds, even thousands, of members of the global Arabian horse community, exchange knowledge, and identify the best achievements in Arabian horse breeding, training, and performance.

The organizers envision the entire competition chain taking place in the most beautiful, luxurious, and iconic locations in each country. These include the verdant mangroves of the Al Zorah Nature Reserve in Ajman, United Arab Emirates; the ethno-village of Doha's new fashionable district Katara, with its gigantic amphitheatre and breathtaking views of the Gulf; the five-star Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Oman's capital, surrounded by picturesque mountains and shady palm groves; the famous Croisette promenade in Cannes, France, overlooking the dazzling sea; and many other unforgettable places.

Each championship is accompanied by a vibrant and colourful performance: thousands of quadcopters paint living pictures in the night sky, while fireworks and salutes light up the arena. Military parades march during the opening and closing ceremonies. Children's choirs, adult dance groups, symphony and folk orchestras intertwine to form a singular whole. World-class singers ignite the stands, and Circus du Soleil acts make the heart beat faster—everything is designed to dazzle, surprise, and, most importantly, highlight the unique qualities of the host country and the high significance of the event.

Starting in 2024, GCAT's geography includes a number of major cities in the Middle East and Europe.

Starting in 2025, the GCAT Americas tour expanded to include countries in both North and South America. The American part of the tour was held in the following cities:

• Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (February 18 and 20, 2025);
• Miami, Florida, United States (April 17-19, 2025);
• Sao Paulo, Brazil (July 13-14, 2025);
• *Denver, Colorado, United States (August 8-9, 2025);
• Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America (September 26-28, 2025).
* One of the championships was supposed to be held in Brandon, Canada, but was moved to Denver, USA.

The breeding success for the 2025 GCAT Europe and Middle East champions is notably concentrated, emerging from a select group of only 14 countries.

COUNTRIES OF CHAMPION BREEDERS

 1. United Arab Emirates – 6 successful breeders: 21 champions, 57 medals
 2. Saudi Arabia – 10 successful breeders: 12 champions, 22 medals.
 3. Qatar – 7 successful breeders: 11 champions, 26 medals.
 4. United States of America – 4 successful breeders: 4 champions, 14 medals.
 5. Kuwait – 4 successful breeders: 4 champions, 7 medals.
 6. South Africa – 2 successful breeders: 2 champions, 5 medals.
 7. Uruguay – 1 successful breeder: 2 champions, 2 medals.
 8. Poland – 2 successful breeders: 2 champions, 2 medals.
 9. Brazil – 1 successful breeder: 1 champion, 4 medals.
10. Belgium – 1 successful breeder: 1 champion, 1 medal.
11. Germany – 1 successful breeder: 1 champion, 1 medal.
12. Jordan – 1 successful breeder: 1 champion, 1 medal.
13. Oman – 1 successful breeder: 1 champion, 1 medal.
14. Spain – 1 successful breeder: 1 champion, 1 medal.

Totally 42 successful breeders from 14 countries.
The lion's share of champions and medals go to the top three countries — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar (23 breeders): a combined 44 champions out of 64 (69%), and a combined 105 medals out of 144 (73%).

Much of this success is concentrated in the Middle East, highlighting its key role in the world of Arabian horse breeding.

1. THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES is by far the leading producer of champion horses.
Notably, the majority of champion horses (20 out of 21) bred in the UAE were born in the "royal stables" owned by members of the UAE's ruling families.

♘ DUBAI STUD. Twelve champions were born at the Dubai Stud, owned by the Al Maktoum family, the ruling family of the Emirate of Dubai and led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Horses from the Dubai Arabian horse stud have the world-famous prefix D.

The GCAT Europe and Middle East 2025 saw an all-time record for a single stud farm, with Dubai Stud's 12 champions earning 33 medals (23% of the total, or almost a quarter). No other breeder can come close to these figure.

Among the brightest stars born at the Dubai Stud and shining throughout the Global Tour, the multiple-titled silver-grey mare D Beisan stands out. Now she is the property and jewel of the Qatari Al Shaqab Stud.
D Beisan has won five medals, including three golds – in Ajman, Riyadh, and Prague.

The charismatic junior bay colt D Borkan, a crowd favorite and owned by the Dubai Stud, became the center of heated discussion after winning silver in Doha. Since his time in Oman, D Borkan has won nothing but gold: Muscat, Riyadh, Cannes, Valkenswaard, London, and Prague.
The pearl-white stallion D Seraj, the priceless jewel of the Dubai Stud, also delighted the public with his appearance twice. Taking a part at the start of the Tour in Ajman and in the final in Prague, D Seraj easily took his gold and promised to see him in December in Doha.
It is perhaps worth mentioning two champion yearling fillies with virtually identical names, D Neeran and D Neran, who together brought Dubai Stud five medals.
And, of course, it should be mentioned the titled mare D Shihanah, who took gold in Muscat.

2-3. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND QATAR, as breeding countries, are neck-to-neck running in terms of the number of champions produced: 12 and 11 horses, respectively. However, Qatar edged out Saudi Arabia in the medal count by four, with 26 to Saudi Arabia's 22.

2. From SAUDI ARABIA, ten different breeders contributing to the medal tally at the GCAT Middle East and Europe.

♘ AKMAL STUD. One champion, the yearling filly Areej Akmal, a two-time silver medalist in Riyadh and Prague, was born at the Akmal Stud, owned by Prince Abdulmajeed bin Sultan Al Saud, a young and talented breeder from the kingdom's ruling family.

♘ AJMAL STUD. Mr. Turki Al Othman's Al Ajmal stud topped the Saudi standings with three champions and five medals, including two golds. He is the breeder of two yearling fillies, Diriyah Ajmal (bronze medal in London) and Khuzama Ajmal (bronze medal in Doha), as well as two-time gold champion (London, Prague) and silver champion (Valkenswaard) - yearling colt Haboob Ajmal.

♘ AL SAYED STUD. One champion, the yearling filly Delayel Al Sayed, who took silver in Doha and gold in Prague, was born at the renowned Al Sayed Stud, owned by Sheikh Abdulwahab and Sheikh Khalid Al Sayed.

The remaining seven Saudi breeders each produced one champion. Their names in the table are listed alphabetically. However, in the text descriptions, it makes sense to list the breeders with the most medals and gold medals first.
♘ Mohammad bin Sanad Al Ajmi, MJ Stud - breeder of junior colt MJ Khaled, 4 medals (Silver- 3; Bronze- 1).
♘ Shazin Stud, Khalid Al Anzan and Family - breeder of mare RK Sadeem, 3 medals (Silver- 1; Bronze- 2).
♘ Fahad bin Abed Al Boainain - breeder of yearling colt Al Fahad MAS, 2 medals (Gold- 2).
♘ Abdulazez bin Mohammd Al Mudimigh - breeder of yearling colt SK Kayan, 1 medal (Gold).
​♘ Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Khudayr - breeder of yearling colt Nebras NA, 1 medal (Silver).
♘ Faisal bin Saad Al Otaibe, Al Areeb Stud - breeder of junior colt Naif Al Areeb, 1 medal (Bronze).
♘ Tarig bin Mohammed Enaya, Enaya Stud - breeder of stallion Sultan Al Enaya, 1 medal (Bronze).

There are two more Qatari breeders of the GCAT champions:
♘ UMM ALUDHAM STUD. One champion, the beautiful snow-white mare Najla Umm Aludham was born there. The breeder and owner: Mr. Nasser Mohammed Mesfer Al Hajri.
♘ AL ATBA STUD. The stud farm of the same name is located in Saudi Arabia and is owned by a member of the royal family, Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This stud specializes in breeding the Saudi Desert Breed horse.
Probably, the show catalogue lists the Qatar branch of that stud farm, which is owned by Sheikh Al Zubair bin Mohammed Al Thani and Sheikh Meshal bin Eissa Al Thani.
Their only champion, the yearling filly Atbah, is of great interest. We'll discuss her pedigree a little later. Remember her name.

4. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – there are four the US breeders of 2025 GCAT Europe and Middle East champions. All American breeders are represented by private farms.

♘ MP ARABIANS. One champion, but the special one, – “Best Male Horse of the 2025 GCAT Europe and Middle East” – the snow-white stallion Berlin MP has amassed a full collection of eight medals (two gold – Muscat and Valkenswaard, four silver – Riyadh, Cannes, London, Prague, and two bronze – Ajman and Doha). Before heading overseas and conquering the Middle East, Berlin MP became a star in his home country, the United States. In 2022, he won gold at the International Championship in Scottsdale.
Berlin MP was foaled in 2018 at the private stud farm "MP Arabians" in Arizona, USA. His breeder, experienced horse owner Mrs. Mindy Peters (the initials became the prefix for her horses' names - MP), has bred over 150 Arabian horses in her lifetime. After several years working in the Santa Ynez Valley, she rented a farm in Cave Creek, Arizona.

♘ BUTLER FARMS TRAINING CENTER. One champion, but what a champion! – the brightest star and crowd favourite, the snow-white stallion Alexxanderr, was bred in 2014 through the joint efforts of Mrs. Frances Butler and Mrs. Brandi Carson.
Frances Butler and her husband, C.A. Butler, own the private stud farm Butler Farms in White Oak, North Carolina, USA. The couple also owns the Butler Farms training centre (co-owned by Ted Carlson, Ted Carlson Arabians). Butler Farms has evolved over time into a world-class breeding, training, and marketing centre. It is associated with the names of its breeding partners: Francis Butler and Brandi Carson.

5. KUWAIT is another Arabian Peninsula country in the list of champion breeders. Kuwait has four private breeders, each with one champion.

6. SOUTH AFRICAN breeders are represented by two stud farms, each with one champion.

♘ AL AMAL ARABIANS. One champion, the junior colt Azzam Al Amal, who won gold in Ajman, silver in Muscat, and bronze in Cannes, was born at the Al Amal Arabians stud farm in South Africa, founded by Mr. Bilal Bassiouni. The Arabesque Arabians stud farm was a partner breeder. The colt, Azzam Al Amal, the bronze World Champion Arabian Horse in Paris in 2024, is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Al Bidayer Stud Farm, Sharjah, UAE.

♘. ELKASUN ARABIAN HORSE STUD. One champion stallion, EKS Sirajj, winner of the silver medal at Valkenswaard and bronze medal at Cannes, was born at the private stud Elkasun Arabian, located in the Franschhoek wine region of the Western Cape, South Africa. The stud was founded in 1998 by Willie Brown and his wife, Lisa. The Browns focus on breeding "for purpose," producing a "complete horse" with correct conformation, excellent movement, and a usable disposition. Initially, the breeding program was based primarily on American lines, but was later expanded and supplemented by Spanish, Egyptian, and Polish lines. Elkasun Arabians has produced world champion horses, including EKS Farajj and EKS Alihandro.
In 2022, Elkasun Arabian moved to a new, state-of-the-art 30-hectare farm.

7. URUGUAY is represented by one special breeder with two champions. 

♘. LAS ROSAS ESTANCIA S.R.L. Two champions were born at the La Rosas Estancia: the Gold Champion of Doha, the junior colt LR Anselmo, and the Bronze Champion of Valkenswaard, the mare LR Altagracia. The La Rosas Estancia is a large, multi-profile farm in Uruguay owned by Princess Laetitia d’Arenberg, a member of European nobility. Princess Laetitia acquired the farm in 1973. The farm occupies 3,500 hectares of land and, in addition to purebred Arabian horses, breeds various livestock and cultivates crops. But it was the Arabian horses that brought her farm worldwide fame.
Princess Laetitia d’Arenberg turned her passion for Arabian horse breeding into a serious enterprise in 2004, although she had owned Arabian horses before. She owns the famous stallion Excalibur EA and uses him in her Arabian horse stud breeding program.

8. POLAND is represented by two breeders, each with one champion.

♘ SK MICHALOW (MICHAŁÓW STATE STUD). One champion, the mare El Esmera, winner of the Ajman bronze medal, was born at the Michałów State Stud, one of Poland's most prestigious and largest Arabian horse breeding facilities. SK Michałów was founded in 1953. It is a state-owned stud that operates as a subsidiary of the National Agricultural Support Centre. The stud has played a key role in refining the special "Pure Polish" Arabian horse, known for its beauty, courage, and impressive endurance. 
SK Michałów has a herd of over 400 Arabian horses, including around 120 exceptional broodmares. Michałów-bred horses have won numerous championships and fetched top prices at prestigious auctions like the "Pride of Poland". Besides Arabians, the stud also has other horse breeds and maintains herds of dairy cattle.

♘ LUBOCHNIA ARABIANS. One champion, the yearling filly Dalia L., winner of the silver medal at Valkenswaard, was born at the family stud farm Lubochnia Arabians. The stud was established in Poland in 2021 by Dobrochna Perz-Wawrzyńczyk and Przemysław Wawrzyńczyk. Though a new entrant to the breeding scene, Lubochnia has quickly gained international recognition by acquiring horses from top global bloodlines and farms.
The stud's strategy and meticulous planning have yielded impressive results. In its early years, it quickly produced several international champions, including medallists at the prestigious All Nations Cup in Aachen.

9. BRAZIL is represented by one breeder with one champion who won four medals.

♘ HARAS VILA DOS PINHEIROS - AGROPECUARIA VILA DOS PINHEIROS. One champion, the junior filly Shahbrys HVP, who won four medals, including gold in London, was born in Brazil.
Agropecuária Vila dos Pinheiros is the company's main name, encompassing all aspects of agribusiness (cattle breeding, agriculture, and livestock farming).
Haras Vila dos Pinheiros (HVP) is the name of the company's elite division, dedicated to breeding Arabian horses.
A key figure associated with this business for decades was the late José Carlos Boumlai, a prominent figure in Brazilian agribusiness and politics. The company's operations remain within a family or corporate structure.
Agropecuária Vila dos Pinheiros has corporate offices in São Paulo (Avenida Paulista) and operates extensive farms in the Brazilian states of: São Paulo, near the city of Indaiatuba; Mato Grosso do Sul, in the region of Nova Andradina.

10. JORDAN is represented by one breeder with one champion.

♘ FEDERICO JOSE MORALES. One champion, the yearling colt FAM Vortex, won a silver medal in Ajman. This colt was bred by Mr. Federico José Morales.
Federico José Morales, a Jordanian Arabian horse breeder with connections in the United Arab Emirates, breeds Arabian horses under the F.A.M. Arabians prefix and actively participates in international shows. He is also active in Brazil, where he has the Morales Arabians stud farm.

11. SPAIN is represented by one breeder with one champion.

♘ GANADERIA YEGUADA BAUTISTA VICH STUD. One champion, the yearling filly Veronica BV, who won the Valkenswaard gold medal, was born at the Ganadería Yeguada Bautista Vich S.L., often referred to as Bautista Vich Stud (hence the BV prefix for their horses). This renowned horse breeding farm located in Inca, Mallorca, Spain.

The Bautista Vich Stud specializes in breeding both Purebred Spanish Horses (P.R.E. or Andalusians) and Arabian horses. It was established in 1991 by brothers Guillermo and Pedro Bautista Vich.

12. GERMANY is represented by one breeder with one champion.

♘ MELANIE MALORNY. One champion, the yearling colt BV Chazan, who won bronze in Cannes, was bred by German Arabian horse breeder Melanie Malorny, who works with Blue Valley Arabians (hence the BV prefix at the beginning of the horse's name).
Melanie Malorny has been actively breeding Arabian horses for many years, both independently and with her family. In addition to breeding horses, Malorny runs a related company, Malorny International Horsetransports, which handles international horse transportation.

13. OMAN is represented by one breeder with one champion.

♘ ROYAL CAVALRY OF OMAN. One champion, the stallion Shareem RC, who won a bronze medal in Muskat, was born in the Royal Cavalry of Oman.
This is the Sultanate of Oman's official organization, created to preserve and develop the country's equestrian traditions. It maintains a large herd of horses, primarily Arabian breeds, and its activities include racing, cultural events, and competing in international competitions.
The Royal Cavalry is owned by the state of Oman. It was founded in 1974 by the former ruler, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, with an initial herd of 20 horses to revive Oman's rich equestrian heritage. Under Sultan Qaboos, the Omani Cavalry increased its herd of purebred Arabian horses to nearly a thousand, becoming "the largest mounted army in the world."

14. BELGIUM is represented by one breeder with one champion.

♘ SWAENEPOEL ARABIAN HORSE STUD. One champion, the junior colt Chalino CJ, who won a silver medal in Riyyad, was born at the Swaenepoel Arabian Horse Stud.
This is a family Arabian horse stud in Belgium, run by Christel and James Swaenepoel, hence the prefix CJ to the name of their horses – C(hristel) and J(ames). The couple has been breeding Arabian horses for over 20 years and has produced multiple international champions.

You can buy or lease a ready-made star and become the owner of a champion, but without the breeder's foresight and diligence, that star simply wouldn't exist. That's why these Arabian horse studs farms are highly respected that manage to both breed and own a champion. This achievement is challenging because it involves managing both the genetics and the development of the horse.

Champions of the 2025 GCAT Middle East and Europe are owned by individuals and studs from a select group of just 10 countries.

COUNTRIES OF CHAMPION OWNERS
1. Qatar – 10 successful owners: 26 champions, 67 medals.
2. United Arab Emirates – 4 successful owners: 18 champions, 45 medals.
3. Saudi Arabia – 7 successful owners: 11 champions, 22 medals.
4. Switzerland – 1 successful owner: 3 champions, 4 medals.
5. Jordan – 1 successful owner: 1 champion, 1 medal.
6. Kuwait – 1 successful owner: 1 champion, 1 medal.
7. Libya – 1 successful owner: 1 champion, 1 medal.
8. Oman – 1 successful owner: 1 champion, 1 medal.
9. Palestine – 1 successful owner: 1 champion, 1 medal.
10. Poland – 1 successful owner: 1 champion, 1 medal.

A total of 28 successful owners from 10 countries.
And again, the lion's share of champions and medals goes to the top three countries - Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia: a total of 55 champions out of 64 (86%), a total of 134 medals out of 144 (93%).

1. Qatar

2. The United Arab Emirates

3. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - 

4. Switzerland - 

5-10. Other Champion Owners - 

The presence of a common Bey Shah ancestor in 63 of the 64 champions of the prestigious tour is not just the norm, but a characteristic feature of intensive selective breeding in the Arabian horse breed.
This reflects a phenomenon known as the "founder effect" or line breeding, and has both its benefits and potential risks.