Emirates News Agency reported that Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts successfully wrapped up its landmark cultural initiative celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse which ran from February 13 to 15 at the centre’s venue on Jubail Island. The event organised in partnership with the UAE Embassy in China used the horse as a common cultural symbol to foster artistic exchange community engagement and diplomatic ties looking ahead. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi the UAE Ambassador to China stated that the Year of the Fire Horse celebration reflected the strength and maturity of UAE-China relations demonstrating how cultural exchange deepens mutual understanding and brings our peoples closer through shared heritage and values.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office noted that the programme unfolded as an immersive cultural journey reflecting the horse’s enduring presence across time with opening segments that merged ancestral and celestial narratives drawn from Chinese cosmology and Gulf desert heritage. Participants engaged in creative workshops tea-making experiences and ceremonial performances during the three days that also examined the future of equestrian care through innovation. This approach positioned the gathering as a platform that reflected on the past engaged with the present and anticipated advancements in the field.
A traditional Lion Dance and Al-Ayyala the UNESCO-recognised Emirati folk art featured prominently in the schedule according to coverage by Emirati Times underscoring themes of unity dignity and shared heritage. Arabic and Chinese calligraphy sessions complemented these performances adding layers of artistic expression that resonated with audiences of all ages. The events drew on centuries of equestrian influence in travel governance and knowledge exchange between regions as both cultures have long revered the horse as a vessel of memory and connection.
The focus later shifted to the horse as a symbol of discipline mastery and regal strength with interactive artistic experiences that allowed visitors to explore these attributes in depth the media office detailed. On February 14 the programme culminated in Furusiyya: Return to Origins ADREA’s signature classical horsemanship performance which traced the bond between rider and horse across cultures and centuries. This display combined movement precision and artistry to present heritage in a dynamic live format.
ADREA which opened its new 65 000-square-metre facility on Jubail Island in November 2025 as the fifth academy dedicated to classical horsemanship worldwide and the first outside Europe according to The National provided the setting for the entire celebration. The centre integrates performance education and cultural preservation including an Olympic arena an equestrian library with more than 14 000 books and manuscripts and workshops for saddle craftsmanship. Its establishment has positioned Abu Dhabi as a hub for harmonising Emirati heritage with global expertise in horsemanship.
In the Chinese zodiac the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse embodies vitality dynamism and transformation as highlighted in reports from regional outlets covering the event. This symbolism aligned with the programme’s emphasis on renewal and forward-looking cultural dialogue between the UAE and China. The celebration affirmed ongoing bilateral commitments to exchange through the arts building on the two nations’ shared appreciation for equestrian traditions.
