Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, held an open house for the public
in the evening on 22nd of February, straight after the Qatar International
Championship. This evening was intended as a celebration of the Arabian Horse
heritage that is part of the foundation of Qatari culture.

The new Director of Al Shaqab. Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, his management
and the Al Shaqab team did welcome the approximately 300 guests
from all the Gulf countries, from Europe, the U.S. and Brazil attending
this event that featured a presentation on Al Shaqab's history and
community mission, the presentation of a few champion horses at Al Shaqab,
a purebred Arabian horse auction, and a nice dinner - all held at a lovely
prepared, decorated and lightened place just besides the old stables.

A part of this open house evening and special programme was
the auction of 29 purebred Arabian horses, all bred by Al Shaqab.
And most of them by the famous Al Shaqab world class stallions.

Eight daughters and 21 sons by Marwan Al Shaqab, Gazal Al Shaqab,
Al Adeed Al Shaqab, WN Star of Antigua were offered, as well as some
by the straight Egyptian while outside stallions, Ashhal Al Rayyan,
Ansata Selman, and Safir Al Rayyan. All horses born between 2006 and 2009 -
and at the end of the well going and very professionally handled auction,
all horses sold! A really great result, a really great success!

This auction lot and chosen collection gave a nice chance to everybody
to share the Al Shaqab breeding programme and bloodlines.

The buyers came from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
from Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar itself. So the horses and bloodlines of Al Shaqab
were nicely spreaded throughout the Gulf giving other breeders a chance
and base for their own breeding and future.

The top seller of auction is the three-year-old Maitha Al Shaqab,
a daughter of triple World Champion Marwan Al Shaqab and out of
Aasila Al Shaqab (by Ashhal Al Rayyan). Sold to the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, she drew the top price with 160,000 Qatar Riyals (QR)

The whole team and management of Al Shaqab operated really excellent,
and the Qatari auctioneer additionally kept everybody entertained,
besides the fact that he did a very good, professional and successful job.

All 29 offered horses at the al Shaqab auction were sold,
resulting in a Total amount of 1,3 Million Qatari Riyals.

.
The Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani founded
Al Shaqab in 1992 to preserve and further develop the Arabian horse in Qatar.
Al Shaqab is led by H E Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, son of the Emir,
and encompasses a Breeding & Show division, Riding Academy and Endurance Team.
In 2004, Al Shaqab proudly became a member of Qatar Foundation.
Al Shaqab's mission is to promote the highest standards in the breeding and showing
of Arabian horses and serve as a community resource with innovative, educational and
competitive opportunities in all of the equestrian arts.