Azzaam al Amal put Al Amal Arabians on the map, and in this edition of The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine, owner Bilal Bassiouni talks to us about his history, dreams and vision, along with his determination to show the brilliance of South African Arabians.
Cover horse is Shah-Almar Aljazelle (Barjass al Zobair x Mistico Aljayed by EKS Alihandro)
I grew up in a small town in southern Johannesburg, surrounded by horse farms, but my roots stretch back to Sharqia in Egypt, where my family bred straight Egyptians for generations. Travelling there as a child immersed me in that tradition and gave me a sense of connection that never left.
Back in South Africa, I began with hobby riding and dressage, before being reintroduced to Arabians through Saleem Ally of Al Badr Arabians. That moment tied together the horses of my Egyptian heritage with my South African upbringing and set me firmly on the path that became Al Amal Arabians. This is where my South African upbringing and Egyptian heritage meet, and where I’ve chosen to invest my energy in joining the Arabian horse breeding world.
Al Amal Arabians is a small stud farm in Kyalami, Johannesburg, the southernmost tip of Africa, and an area with a rich equestrian community with numerous horse-riding academies. Emphasis is placed on quality rather than quantity. The broodmares are the heart of the programme, and every step is about raising that standard year after year.
One of our foundation mares is Arabesca Scarlet Moon (Sidi Scorpio x Arabesca Exquisite by Simeon Segev), crowned WAHO Champion Mare in 2024 and the dam of Azzaam al Amal (by El Galal Baahir by Ibn Farid out of XA Echo of Marwan). Alongside her is Shah-Almar Aljazelle (Barjass al Zobair x Mistico Aljayed by EKS Alihandro), who was crowned 2025 South African National Supreme Reserve Champion. Another key mare is (MCA Magnum Gold x Armika Justmine by Justify), dam of the 2025 South African National Champion Yearling Filly, Armika Rosemary (by El Galal Baahir).
Together with the rest of our mares, these horses bring a blend of international bloodlines and long-standing South African breeding that produces a unique and diverse foundation.
Azzaam al Amal is the horse who put us on the map internationally. I will never forget the day he was born! From that first moment, he stood out. His balance and type were exceptional, but what stopped me in my tracks were his eyes. Huge, pronounced, and almost otherworldly in their expression. They gave him a presence far beyond his size, and as he grew, that presence only deepened. He just kept refining and getting better and better. Breeding a colt like him is truly a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for any breeder, and for him to be born here was truly magical.
The journey that followed with Azzaam was built on partnership. Safwaan recognised Azzaam’s quality from the very beginning, gave him his first show schooling, and encouraged us to think internationally about his future. Together with Jaco Koen of El Galal Arabians and owner of El Galal Baahir, renowned handler Wynand Bouwer, and Stephan van der Westhuizen, we formed a partnership for Azzaam, pooling vision and resources. We sent him to Europe, and his first training was with Tony Bauwens and Kelly Delen at Elba Training Centre in Belgium, which gave him a fantastic start before he went onto the show circuit. Azzaam’s trip to Europe in 2024 was itself an incredible story – a three-month journey that included quarantines in Cape Town and Mauritius before he finally reached the continent. That kind of passage tests a young horse, but he came through it with the same proud attitude he was born with.
Azzaam was shown first internationally as a yearling at Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT) Valkenswaard, where he took the world by surprise and won Bronze. After that, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saud Al Qasimi of Albidayer Stud acquired him, recognising what we had seen from the start. Under Albidayer’s care and with the guidance of Manager Dawn Martin, Azzaam went to the World Championships in Paris and earned Bronze again. Then, earlier this year, he took Gold at the GCAT Ajman Junior Male Championship. Watching him step into those arenas, carrying himself with the presence of an African lion – the true to the meaning of his name in Arabic – has been one of the most powerful experiences of my life.
What makes it even more meaningful is what his success represents. Azzaam has rejuvenated interest in South African breeding. He showed that small breeders, working carefully and with the right partnerships, can produce horses that compete at the very top. For us, that was the true goal of the partnership: to prove that South African Arabians can stand on the world stage, and to open the door for others to follow.
We are still waiting for the first foals of the 2025 breeding season. We have some exciting prospects, and the anticipation is always electric because each foal is a chance to dream again. You can plan the pedigrees, you can imagine what might come, but when the foal is born, you are reminded that breeding is as much about humility as it is about vision.
My focus is to continue strengthening the broodmare band at Al Amal Arabians. With stronger mares, we can produce horses of similar great quality and consistency. Azzaam has given us a platform, and the next step is to use that platform to represent South Africa on the GCAT circuit and beyond. The timing could not be better. GCAT is bringing the world together in new ways, and for South Africa to have a place in that movement is important.
Azzaam al Amal stands as proof of what South African breeding can produce, but my dream goes further: to see and help horses bred here competing with confidence on the world’s biggest stages and shaping international breeding programmes, building a legacy that reflects the true potential of South African Arabians.
I would like to say that this is not my story alone. Al Amal Arabians was built through a shared love of Arabians, mentorship, and friendship. People such as Safwaan, Jaco, Wynand, Tony, Kelly, Sheikh Mohammed, and Dawn all played vital roles in Azzaam’s journey. That moment he was born was the greatest achievement of my life with horses, but his success belongs to everyone who believed in him and helped him along the way. That collective effort is what gives me pride in this journey. We set out to show that South African breeders can compete on the world stage, and Azzaam has proven that dream possible.
