The International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing (IFAHR) has decided to upgrade the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses to International Group 3 (G3) classification, a step that underscores the rapid growth of purebred Arabian horse racing in the Kingdom and reflects the Saudi Arabian Jockey Club's ongoing efforts to develop the system and elevate it to the highest international standards.

With this upgrade, the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup becomes one of the most prominent trophies of the Taif season, classified among the top races in the region, with a prize of one million riyals over a distance of 2,000 meters, joining the elite group of major graded races on the dirt track for purebred Arabian horses aged four years and over on the international stage.

On this occasion, Prince Salman bin Abdullah Al Saud, CEO of the Saudi Arabian Jockey Club, said: "The upgrade of the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup - may God have mercy on him - to International Group 3 represents an important milestone in the development of purebred Arabian horse racing in the Kingdom, and reflects the growing status our races have achieved on the international scene."

He added: "This step is an extension of the club's strategy aimed at building a competitive racing calendar that enhances the quality of races and strengthens the Kingdom's presence as a leading destination for horse racing. This achievement embodies the club's ongoing commitment to developing purebred Arabian horse racing according to the highest international standards, in line with the historical and cultural legacy represented by the Arabian horse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

The King Khalid Racecourse in Al-Hawiyah will host the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup (International Group 3) on Friday, September 25, 2026, as part of a major evening that also includes the King Faisal Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses, classified at the same level, along with the Taif and Okaz Cups, within the framework of the 2026 Taif racing season, which begins on Friday, July 24 and runs for 10 weeks.