Abu Dhabi’s Equestrian Art School Opens In November 2025

What results when you mix Arabian traditional horse culture, European riding techniques, and a dash of theatre? Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts School (ADREA) is all this and more.

Opening its doors in November 2025 at the spectacular Jubail Island, ADREA is more than just a riding school. Think of it as a theatre. A place where horses don’t merely trudge. They perform. They dance. They narrate stories.

Why ADREA Matters

ADREA is making history. It is the fifth school of classical horsemanship to be founded anywhere in the world and, more importantly, the very first one to open outside Europe. That is significant enough; its royal patronage goes another mile.

The project is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the intention of fusing the UAE’s Furusiyya heritage—the traditional art of horsemanship—with ancient European techniques.

The outcome is brand new. Not just riders. Not just athletes. Equestrian artists.

Imagine a rider and a horse moving in harmony. Trot turns into dance, and every step is in sync with the music-soaked precision and beauty. This is the vision of ADREA.

The Stage Is Set

Facilities? Simply out of this world:

The arena will be completely climate-controlled and accommodate 1,200 seats. Imagine an opera house but for horses.

60 air-conditioned stables enabled by a smart monitoring system

A full veterinary and rehab centre to care for the stars and main characters of the show.

A home tucked among the mangrove forests of Jubail Island.

This isn’t just a school; it is a performance venue where equestrian art takes centre stage.

Classical Horsemanship: Ballet on Hooves

If you’ve never witnessed classical horsemanship, consider it ballet on horseback: every movement speaks of balance, style, and a bit of mutual cooperation.

The piaffe is basically a trot in place, smooth and very deliberate. Then comes the passage: another variety of trot with suspension in it, looking nearly weightless. These moves come from centuries-old training by Europe’s premier riding schools.

Now imagine the merging of these old traditions with Arabian horses — a breed well-known for spirit, intelligence, and beauty. That is a force to reckon with. And it exists here in Abu Dhabi.

Programs for All Levels
ADREA is not just for the pros. It has programs for all ages and levels of ability:

Rider Degree – A four-year journey into the equestrian arts in all their aspects, from horse psychology to performance choreography.
Junior Academy – For ages 8–18. Kids learn skills, safety, and responsibility while having fun.
Mastery Clinics – Short, intensive workshop for riders who want to brush up on their craft.
Ceremonial Rider Programme – Training for those who dream of riding in parades or cultural events.
Horse Care Courses – For people who love horses but prefer to stay on the ground. Learn grooming, health, and stable management.

Each path is designed to turn passion into skill, and skill into artistry.

A Day at ADREA

Morning begins early. Horses rise with the sun. Riders start with stretches and strength training. Then it’s time for the stables.

Training blends technique with creativity. One hour might be drills. The next choreography with music. Costumes add flair. The goal is always the same: harmony between horse and rider.

It’s discipline. It’s beauty. It’s art in motion.

More Than a School

Don’t ride? No matter. It is not just for students. All are welcome to visit.

Imagine yourself seated inside the arena. The lights dim. Music enters. A rider enters, soon escorted by a horse stepping to the rhythm. The story unfolds-Zap dance, a little tradition, a lot of wonder.

They show-and-teach. Culture to be absorbed. And after that? You are on Jubail Island, an ambience interspersed with beaches, mangroves, and nature walks. Full-day outing.

Why Abu Dhabi, Why Now?
Horses have long woven the fabric of Abu Dhabi’s history. It is profoundly ingrained within Bedouin life and royal stables. The ADREA ushers in a new era of excellence into the world. It proclaims to the world: here, tradition meets innovation.

Bold cultural ventures already mark the standalone character of the UAE, like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Hosn. ADREA joins that company. It preserves the heritage. It reinvents it. It shares it with the world.

Fab weather for year-long riding: few are good contenders to compete with Abu Dhabi. The cooler months, from October to April, are the best.

Planning Your Visit
Here’s what you need to know:

Location: Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
Opening: November 2025
Contact: connect@adrea.ae | 800-ADREA
Website: adrea.ae

Whether you want a lesson, a performance, or just a glimpse inside, ADREA is built to welcome you.

The Bottom Line

The ADREA is much more than a mere equestrian school. It is a cultural hotspot; a meeting point between East and West, past and future, tradition and performance.

It is for equestrian enthusiasts. For families. For culture seekers. For anyone who believes art manifests in myriad forms — even on hooves, in loose sand.

Here, horses run, they dance, they inspire, and they narrate. Then, come November 2025, they will relay their stories to the rest of the world.

Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts School, where every step is a masterpiece.