UAE rider Omar Al Marzooqi finishes 13th worldwide
UAE show jumper Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi has completed an impressive campaign at the FEI Jumping World Championship in Aachen, finishing 13th in the Individual Final and strengthening his position among the sport’s leading young riders.
At just 23 years old, Al Marzooqi was the youngest rider in the final field and competed against some of the world’s most established names in international show jumping.
A strong finish on the world stage
Al Marzooqi entered the final day riding Enjoy de la Mure, having already secured a place among the final 25 combinations.
A total of 146 athletes representing 51 countries had started the championship earlier in the week, making his progression to the final stages a significant achievement in itself.
Starting 15th in the Individual Final, the Emirati rider produced another competitive round and ultimately finished 13th overall.
He narrowly missed qualification for the second round, which was reserved for the top 12 combinations.
Youngest rider in the final
The result is particularly notable because Al Marzooqi was the youngest athlete remaining in the final.
His 13th-place finish put him ahead of several more experienced riders and further underlined his rapid development at international level.
The performance also continues a strong rise through the sport’s global rankings.
As of August 2026, Al Marzooqi is ranked 87th in the Longines Rankings and sixth in the FEI Jumping U25 Ranking, placing him among the highest-ranked young riders in the discipline.
One fence away from the final 12
Al Marzooqi said he was pleased with his overall performance, although missing the final round by such a narrow margin was frustrating.
The decisive moment came at the final fence, where a fault prevented him from moving into the top 12.
Despite that disappointment, the result confirmed that both rider and horse are capable of competing at the highest level of the sport.
Al Marzooqi also credited Emirates Jumping, his coaching team and his father for supporting his development throughout his career.
Praise from the UAE team
UAE Chef d’Equipe William Funnell described the championship as an exceptional performance from the young rider.
He highlighted Al Marzooqi’s maturity and confidence throughout the week and noted that finishing 13th in the world at 23 years old demonstrated the level at which he is now competing.
The result in Aachen adds to a growing list of international achievements for the Emirati rider.
From the Olympics to Aachen
Al Marzooqi made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024, where he also reached the Individual Final with Enjoy de la Mure and finished 19th.
Before that, he won individual silver and team bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
His international breakthrough came even earlier, when he claimed a silver medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
Those performances have gradually established him as one of the UAE’s most promising equestrian athletes.
UAE continues to strengthen its position in show jumping
Al Marzooqi’s result also brings the UAE’s campaign at the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 to a close.
Finishing 13th in such a competitive field represents another important result for the country as it continues to build its presence in international show jumping.
For Al Marzooqi, the championship offers another indication that he is already capable of competing alongside the sport’s elite.
At 23, with Olympic and Asian Games experience already behind him, his Aachen performance suggests that some of the most important results of his career may still be ahead.
