MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Faleh Al Nasr (C) attends the Global Champions Arabians Tour 2026 on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Global Champions Arabians Tour Miami Beach)

Getty Images for Global Champions Arabians Tour Miami Beach

The Global Champions Arabians Tour may not be a household name event just yet, but it’s certainly growing traction in the wealth and celebrity community.

The GCAT recently hosted its second annual event in Miami Beach, with the equestrian tour now holding three total events in America – one in Scottsdale, Arizona and one in Las Vegas towards the end of the season.

The tour – which features 13 events throughout the season, including in the Middle East and Europe – is one that features Arabian horses with professional jockeys competing in six different categories that awards points to the best horses and best handlers. Those categories are the following: yearling females, yearling males, junior females, junior males, senior females and senior males.

The competition is described as a combination of “sport and artistry” by Faleh Al Nasr, Chairman of the Global Champions Arabians Tour.

“Arabian horse competition is not just about performance – it’s about identity,” said Nasr in a one-on-one interview. “The focus is on the horse itself: its movement, presence, balance, and expression. There is technical depth, but also an emotional dimension; the way a horse carries itself, its charisma, and the connection it creates in the arena. That combination of sport and artistry is what makes it compelling once you experience it live.”

The GCAT debuted in 2024 and has been expanding in different cities ever since. While equestrian and horse racing are obviously historic and known sports in America, the GCAT has an elegance and artistry to it that the normal equestrian and horse racing sports in America do not possess.

“It starts with an exceptional horse, but it’s equally about the team behind it,” Nasr details when it comes to what it takes to succeed in the sport. “Preparation, conditioning, and presentation all matter. Judges look at type, movement, balance, and expression but what often separates the best is presence. That’s harder to define. It’s the way a horse carries itself, its alertness, its elegance, and the impression it leaves in the arena.”

The panel features 11 judges and the electronic scoring system employs five criteria: type, head & neck, body, legs and movement. Scores are assigned from 1 to 20 points for each criterion. Total prize money amounts to $1,275,000 and is allocated to the top 20 male and female horses and the top 20 handlers.

“GCAT was created to bring the Arabian horse onto a truly global stage, in a way that reflects both its heritage and its relevance today,” Nasr said. "Arabian horses represent beauty, endurance, and pride, with a legacy that spans generations and cultures. Our goal was to build a platform that respects that history while presenting it in a modern, international, and highly professional format.

“It’s not just a competition series; it’s a global platform that brings together leading breeders, owners, and audiences, while opening the door for new people to discover the breed,” Nasr continued.

The magnitude of the event feels even bigger due to the fact that it takes place in major cities – the GCAT will also tour Paris and Warsaw – combined with the presence of celebrities at its events. This year’s event in Miami Beach alone featured the likes of 50 Cent, Sean Paul and Jason DeRulo performing.

“Miami Beach is a natural fit,” Nasr said of why the GCAT is held there. "It’s a global city with the energy, diversity, and appreciation for high-level experiences that align with the Tour. Last year was our debut, and the city was very welcoming. This year, that relationship has deepened, and we’ve felt strong support from both the city and the community. It’s the kind of place where a global audience comes together, which makes it an ideal setting to introduce the Arabian horse at the right level.

Celebrities who were also present over the course of the two-day event – the first day was cancelled due to bad weather – included DJ Khaled, Daymond John, Bethenny Frankel and Jonathan Vilma.

"It’s a classic sport, the most classic sport of upscale," said DeRulo of why he chose to be a part of GCAT. “So it’s always great to be a part of it. I’ve actually owned a horse before, but you know tthat was a whole situation. But I want to learn more about the situation, because that was a whole debacle. I’m looking forward to somebody pulling me by the hand and teaching me about horses.”

The inclusion of mainstream celebrities obviously brings more attention to the sport. Khaled and Vilma were seen during the event taking pictures and presenting medals to the winning competitors over the course of the event in Miami Beach.

“They help bring visibility and introduce the Tour to new audiences,” said Nasr. "The horses and the competition remain at the core of the experience. What we’ve seen is that many of them genuinely engage, not just with the horses, but with the competition itself. There’s a real interest in understanding what’s happening, which is important.

“We also have owners and participants who are high-profile in their own right,” Nasr continued. “Some are competing, others come purely for the experience, but they are part of this world, not outside of it. What celebrity presence does is amplify the story and show that this is a world-class experience. For future events, we’ll continue engaging with people who genuinely connect with what we’re building.”

The tour has obviously expanded into more cities with more tour dates compared to its first year in 2024. When asked what exactly is the long-term objective of the GCAT, Nasr said its to build an “institution” and help the global audience understand the tradition of the sport.

He also said they’re “selectively” looking into expanding into more cities globally.

“We are building the premier global platform for Arabian horse competition,” said Nasr. “That means raising standards, expanding selectively, and creating a circuit that reflects the prestige of the breed. But it goes beyond sport. We are also preserving and promoting a heritage that deserves to be seen and understood globally. In the long term, the goal is simple: to build an institution, not just a tour.”