Qatar’s Al Shaqab equestrian center: A five-star haven for horses

Did your last hotel offer a pool, spa, gym, personal trainers, maternity care, and private performance arenas?

Of course, it didn’t.

In fact, horses in Qatar might be enjoying better amenities than you.

At Al Shaqab, a sprawling horseshoe-shaped facility on the outskirts of Doha, horses indulge in a luxurious lifestyle that resembles a five-star resort more than a typical breeding farm.

They enjoy leisurely gallops on a private racetrack, daily grooming, and custom fitness plans. By night or during the scorching midday heat, they retreat to pristine, air-conditioned stables.

If they had hands instead of hooves, these thoroughbred beauties would probably be ordering room service.

Built around the remains of historic stables, Al Shaqab is a sleek, state-of-the-art equestrian facility that showcases Qatar’s passion for horses and the country's desire for extravagant symbols of wealth.

It’s a must-visit for horse enthusiasts passing through Doha. Public tours are available through the center’s website, and even those not particularly into horses will likely find the experience intriguing.

Pure cuteness overload

Get a chance to witness the grooming of some of the world’s finest show and sport horses. And if you're lucky, prepare to max out your cuteness meter with a chance to meet a newborn foal.

Unlike other major equestrian venues in Doha like the Racing and Equestrian Club, Al Shaqab is part of the Qatar Foundation, a vast campus on the northwestern edge of the city that focuses on advancing culture and education in the desert kingdom.

Founded in 1992, Al Shaqab was established to create a premier equestrian center and to preserve Qatar’s rich tradition of breeding Arabian horses.

Getting around its vast grounds is done in golf buggies, much like those quietly transporting guests at luxurious human resorts. These buggies are essential for covering the expansive distances between buildings, especially as the scorching summer heat sets in.

The buggies navigate past Al Shaqab’s central performance arena and alongside the lengthy straight of its racetrack, eventually stopping at the Breeding and Show Department, one of the highlights of the experience.

Natural swimmers

Around a sandy outdoor paddock where the horses can stretch their legs when the weather permits, you’ll find Al Shaqab’s impressive exercise and grooming facilities. This world-class center has nurtured 420 competition and breeding horses since its inception.

On a sunny winter morning, a white mare trots through the sand. An observer comments on her bulging belly, suggesting she may be pregnant. The trainer, however, shakes his head. It turns out she’s just a bit overweight.

When the weather is warmer, she trains indoors using an air-conditioned treadmill, where horses can work out for 30-45 minutes on hot days. This is an essential part of training for show horses, which, unlike jumpers or racehorses, typically aren’t ridden.

On the opposite side of the paddock, a spacious, airy building houses the swimming pool—a circular water track similar to a lazy river. Here, horses are encouraged to get their hooves wet from a young age, gradually working up to five or six laps.

“Every horse is a natural swimmer, but we teach them specific techniques to build their muscles,” says Zayed al Hashmi, Al Shaqab’s head of stable management. “We make sure they enjoy it, without pushing them too hard.”

“We take our time. We start their training when they’re young, and by the time they reach one year old, it’s much easier.”

“Some of them absolutely love it.”

There’s also a “horse Jacuzzi”—a therapeutic spray bath that, according to Al Hashmi, the horses are less fond of. They typically prefer a human touch when it comes to massaging sore muscles.

And, because no horse wants to be seen with a damp mane after swimming, there’s a row of heat lamps by the pool to dry them off.

All that’s missing is a cozy bathrobe.”

Behind the training center, there are long, cool rows of indoor stables, home to some of the 740 horses currently residing at Al Shaqab. The curious heads of these graceful animals peek through the gates of their spacious stalls to greet visitors.

A captivating atmosphere

In some stalls, newborn foals wobble to their feet and nuzzle their mothers in search of milk. A one-day-old foal, still unnamed, unsteadily stumbles and bumps into the wall as she figures out how to coordinate her long limbs.

Most of the horses are born in the Amiri Stables, a private area of Al Shaqab reserved for Qatar’s royal family. In addition to claiming the most exclusive section of the center, the royals also have the privilege of naming the newborn foals.

After leaving the breeding center, the electric buggy quickly zips around to an older section of the complex near a historic fort—a dusty, low-lying area that marks the location of the original stables built decades ago, before Qatar’s oil-fueled transformation.

Still in use to house some of Al Shaqab’s horses today, these Ottoman-era stables are a rare historical gem in an otherwise modern nation, occasionally used for corporate events due to their atmospheric charm.

The ride back to the main equestrian center takes the buggy past horses being trained for endurance races. A popular sport in the Gulf, these long-distance races challenge Arabian horses to compete over 120 kilometers or more.

Al Shaqab has earned a reputation for producing champions in endurance, show jumping, dressage, and Arabian horse competitions. Most recently, Falah Al Shaqab, one of its horses, was crowned Unanimous Gold Champion Stallion at the 2018 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show in Arizona.

Beyond the hedgerows lie additional facilities, including a veterinary medical center with aspirations of becoming a regional leader in equine care—although its plans may be affected by ongoing sanctions from neighboring countries.

There’s also an equine education division, where young Qataris, aged six to 18, come to learn every aspect of equestrian life, aiming to cultivate the next generation of horse riders, breeders, and professionals in the country.

Twin arenas

The highlight of the Al Shaqab tour is the grand performance arena at the heart of the center's horseshoe-shaped layout. This impressive structure features a sweeping white and gray shell that encompasses both an outdoor and an indoor arena, the latter offering a cool retreat during the summer months.

On-site amenities include a fine-dining restaurant and a four-star hotel, open during events to accommodate guests and participants alike.

Looking ahead, Al Shaqab plans to construct a luxurious seven-star hotel, designed to cater to horse enthusiasts and others who wish to immerse themselves in the equine ambiance of the center’s expansive, verdant estate.

Rooms at the hotel are sure to be furnished with every luxury amenity to provide the utmost comfort for guests.

And if a hairdryer happens to be missing, there’s likely a horse nearby that could lend a hoof—or a mane.