The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) was the Gold Sponsor of the King Abdullah Show Jumping Festival, which ended at the Nova Equestrian Resort in Riyadh on April 12 with a ceremony patronized by Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Commander of the National Guard and Minister of State. Among the other dignitaries who attended the ceremony were Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region and President of the Saudi Equestrian Fund, Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare and President of the Saudi Equestrian Federation, and Prince Abdullah bin Fahd Bin Abdullah, Deputy President of the Saudi Equestrian Federation.
At the end of the festival, Prince Miteb awarded the Grand Prize to Michel Hikar from France for winning the sixth round. The Prince also presented awards to the other winners. He handed commemorative plaques to Prince Turki, Prince Nawaf and Prince Abdullah.
SABIC was honored for being a sponsor and strong supporter of the festival. During the closing ceremony, Dr. Talaat bin Dhafer Al-Zafer, SABIC Vice President, Middle East and Africa, received an honorary plaque on behalf of the company. Dr. Al-Dhafer handed over prizes to the winners of the Medium Round, which SABIC had sponsored.
SABIC’s sponsorship of such major sports is part of its overall social responsibility strategy to support national activities and events. SABIC has been paying special attention to promoting show jumping events, particularly so as Saudi Arabia has made its mark in the sport, regionally and globally, with strong support from the Equestrian Club and the King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center.
King Abdullah Show Jumping Festival ranks among the top equestrian sports festivals in the world. More than three million Saudi riyals worth of prizes are at stake for the winners. Riders from Saudi Arabia, Gulf states and a large number of countries around the world gather to compete for the awards in three championships: ‘Lel Watan’ (national), Gulf, and International.