RIYADH: At the Ghazal Stable in Janadriyah, Salwa Abuljadayel, a fencer and artist, talked about the horse racing industry in Saudi Arabia, with its origins dating back to 1965.
“So, we all know Royal Ascot, we all know our neighbors in the Emirates they have the Dubai World Cup,” she told The Mayman Show. “So, what we have built, which is the Saudi Cup, the goal is for our leadership to kind of show the world that we also have horse racing that could compete globally on a massive level,” she said.
Abuljadayel, who works as a communication specialist at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, is dedicated to helping young talents enter the equestrian world and showcase its diverse career opportunities. “It’s a huge industry. You can be an owner, you can be a trainer, you can be a jockey. You can work within those elements or you can work in an equestrian authority or the jockey club of Saudi,” she said.
Abuljadayel expresses her interest in the equestrian world by creating paintings and artworks during her free time. “The reason why I picked painting is because some things you cannot translate with words and some things you want to express when you leave this earth. Our lifespan is very short … I like the fact that at the end of the day I’m creating something, and leaving a mark,” she said.
One of her artworks portrays a horse she called Galileo in honor of the Italian astronomer. Abuljadayel described a connection she felt between the horse and the astronomer, a sentiment she struggled to put into words. She turned to painting to express those feelings through imagery, explaining it as a form of “storytelling.”
Abuljadayel said: “Art is a luxury, it comes at the end of the pyramid … I am in essence an artist, but I didn’t find my time yet.”
She also has a passion for theater. Abuljadayel studied fine arts and theatre at Emerson College in Boston during a time when theaters were nonexistent in Saudi. She also holds a master’s degree in the history of art and archaeology from SOAS in London.
However, she recognizes that her goals do not align with the current ecosystem in the Kingdom: “The reality is Saudi just started and what I have in mind does not fit here.” This is why she is currently focusing primarily on the equestrian and fencing industries.
Abuljadayel started to participate in competitive fencing events only a year ago. She said that fencing is a sport characterized by its focus on mental agility and its inclusivity, with no age restrictions. Abuljadayel outlined the three different disciplines within the sport: epee, saber and foil. Her involvement is in the epee category. “With epee, the entire body of your opponent is a target. With foil, it’s just the upper body. And with saber, you slash with your sword,” she said.
Abuljadayel is optimistic about the future of fencing in the Kingdom and commends Ahmed Al-Sabban, the president of the Saudi Fencing Federation, for his crucial contribution in boosting the sport’s popularity. “I think that’s when a sport can thrive, when the people in it care about it and want to improve it,” she said.
Abuljadayel said that the common thread running through her various pursuits was as a way to have a break from reality. “There’s a pattern to what I’m doing. Just keep escaping one thing to another,” she said.
She hinted that having the discipline and ability to detach from the outside world are essential for managing the balance between work and life. These qualities are what enable her to juggle her diverse endeavours.
