For horse lovers, there are few sights as magnificent as that of an Arabian stallion at full stretch, mane and tail streaming as it thunders down a track. Here in the Emirates and in Dubai, the city which hosts the richest horse race in the world, that admiration for the thoroughbred horse translates into everything equine.

In the UAE, professionally-run equestrian clubs offer a wide range of activity: from spectacular floodlt racing, to leisurely horserides along the beach, or even to a skilful chukker of polo.

Dubai World Cup

As 11 of the world’s leading thoroughbreds stepped onto Dubai’s refurbished Nad Al-Sheba racecourse on 27 March 1996, one of racing’s most ambitious dreams came true. The brainchild of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai World Cup is a fitting tribute to his love of horses and of horseracing.

With the establishment of the annual invitation-only Dubai World Cup, the United Arab Emirates became the home of one of the world’s top racing challenges, and drew the attention of millions of enthusiasts around the globe.

Perhaps part of the Dubai World Cup’s success is not only due to the state-of-the-art race track, but the burgeoning status of Dubai as an international crossroads and global transport hub, and of course a first-class tourist destination, evidenced by more than 50,000 racegoers attending the Dubai World Cup meeting each year.