Saudi Gazette report

DIRIYAH — The jewel of the Kingdom, the land of kings and heroes, the cradle of the first Saudi State, Diriyah, and equestrian sports share a great history, from which were born knights on horseback, tournaments, and epic legends that formed the nucleus at the dawn of this blessed state.

To this day, Diriyah still represents through its history and great heritage a home to these nights, with their culture, authentic Arab traditions, and revitalized pride.

The MoC, which was signed in Diriyah’s historic At-Turaif district in the presence of Prince Abdullah Bin Fahd, president of the Saudi Equestrian Federation, and Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of DGDA, outlined a number of areas of joint cooperation, to revitalize the equestrian culture through leveraging Diriyah’s rich historical past and current ambition of developing an equestrian club/center in one of its new developments, Wadi Safar, an exclusive residential district being developed by DGDA in a verdant valley west of Riyadh.

“We hope that this cooperation will reflect the cultural ties and traditions of Saudi Arabia, where horses and riders have long been part of the country’s history and a symbol of pride and belonging in the Kingdom,” said Jerry Inzerillo.

Among the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiatives, which aim to build a healthy, active society in all areas, the formation of the General Sports Authority (GSA) under the leadership of Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, along with Al-Qiddiya megaproject, which aims to build recreational and sports cities that strengthen the leisure sector in the Kingdom.

Prince Abdullah said: “Equestrian sports have endless support and wise leadership from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman because they embody the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and celebrate its rich history of knights and tournaments.

Under the direct supervision of Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki, Saudi Arabia will keep abreast of global developments in equestrianism and advance the sport.

He added: “Attention to a healthy and active society is one of the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, through which we aim to promote a healthy, active community. We are excited to transform this partnership with Diriyah Gate Development Authority into a tangible reality and we expect to support and strengthen equestrian sports in Saudi Arabia to position the Kingdom as a leader in this field.”

DGDA’s MoC with the Saudi Equestrian Federation contributes to promoting the cultural side of this great sport as it once thrived in Diriyah. DGDA has undertaken numerous projects that contribute to strengthening the authentic culture of an area with such a rich heritage as Diriyah, and linking this past to its future to enable it to become one of the world’s greatest gathering places.

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of DGDA added: “DGDA has undertaken efforts to shed light on the cultural heritage of Diriyah through many initiatives in all fields, including architecture, culture, and the arts, and this partnership represents a pillar contributing to cultural and economic development in the region.”

Under this framework, DGDA and the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation have signed a memorandum of collaboration in Diriyah, aiming — through this partnership — to strengthen the social and cultural role of equestrian sports and increase leisure and tourism activities for Saudi citizens, residents, and tourists.

The historic At-Turaif district of Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to an Arab Horse Museum that showcases — using modern technology — the history and genealogy of the Arabian horse and the tools used for horseback riding. The museum also shares stories about the close connection between horse and rider and the culture of the Arabian knight.