Kuwait, 24 February 2026: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) announced the successful conclusion of the fourth season of KIB | The Stadium, organized by its strategic partner, Suffix, reaffirming the event’s status as one of Kuwait’s most prominent sporting platforms. The event garnered significant audience engagement, attracting attendees and participating riders from around the world to Kuwait to experience the championship. The latest edition delivered value beyond sport, contributing significantly to strengthening sports tourism, energizing local economic activity, and creating opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses.
Held at Marina Beach, the championship delivered a high-level international competition and an enhanced visitor experience that extended beyond the sporting arena. Across two action-packed weekends from 5 to 14 February 2026, the championship featured CSI3-W*, CSI2*, and CSI1* competitions, showcasing exceptional athletic performance.
The CSI3-W* competitions featured a series of show jumping classes with varying heights, culminating in highly competitive rounds awarding valuable World Cup qualifying points. During the first weekend, Saudi equestrian Abdullah Al-Sharbatly claimed the championship title, earning direct qualification to the World Cup in the same category.
The second weekend continued the championship’s momentum, witnessing a high turnout of spectators and participants, as well as intensely contested rounds that reflected the event’s growing stature on the international equestrian calendar.
All competitions were conducted under the supervision of qualified local and international judging panels, ensuring fairness, professionalism, and full adherence to international regulations.
A key highlight of the 2026 season was the continued expansion of the championship’s scope. For the first time, KIB | The Stadium introduced a polo showcase, offering audiences a fresh sporting dimension and further diversifying the program. This addition builds on the championship’s evolution in recent seasons and follows the successful introduction of dressage in the previous year, underscoring KIB’s commitment to innovation and the progressive development of equestrian sports in Kuwait.
Commenting on the conclusion of the championship, Marwa Marafie, Manager of Corporate Communications at KIB, said: “The fourth season of KIB | The Stadium reflects how a sporting event can grow into a complete community experience. From the level of competition to the atmosphere created at The Village, every element was designed to engage people of all ages and backgrounds. This season clearly demonstrated our ambition to continuously raise the bar and deliver an event that resonates far beyond the arena.”
Marafie further stated: “What truly inspires us is seeing families spend their evenings together, young riders looking on with ambition, and international athletes experiencing Kuwait at its best. Introducing polo and expanding the overall experience were steps to ensure that KIB | The Stadium continues to surprise, evolve, and leave a lasting impact.”
From his side, Ahmed Almajed, COO of Suffix, said: “This season represented a significant step forward in how KIB | The Stadium is experienced by both athletes and audiences. Our collaboration with KIB continues to be driven by a shared vision to create events that leave a lasting impression. The positive feedback from riders, officials, and visitors this season confirms that KIB | The Stadium has matured into a comprehensive sporting and lifestyle destination that meets international expectations. We look forward to many more seasons of this special event.”
The successful conclusion of the fourth season further reinforces KIB’s dedication to its comprehensive corporate social responsibility program, through which the Bank continues to support initiatives that promote sports culture, youth development, and community well-being, living up to its main slogan “Bank for Life.” By investing in high-impact sporting platforms such as KIB | The Stadium, the Bank remains committed to contributing to Kuwait’s long-term development goals and strengthening its position as a regional hub for world-class sporting events.