The countdown to the Dubai World Cup 2027 has officially begun after the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) released the schedule for the 2026–2027 UAE horse racing season, confirming that the country’s flagship race meeting will take place at Meydan Racecourse on March 27, 2027.
UAE horse racing calendar 2026–2027
Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in global horse racing, the Dubai World Cup will once again headline the UAE season and bring together elite horses, jockeys, trainers and owners from across the world. With a total purse of US$12 million, the race remains a cornerstone of the international racing calendar and a showcase of the UAE’s status as one of the sport’s leading destinations.
Source : ERA
The new season will get underway on October 22, 2026 at Abu Dhabi Turf Club, marking the start of another extensive programme that spans five racecourses and features 64 race meetings across the Emirates.
According to the ERA, the calendar has been designed to further strengthen the competitiveness and international profile of UAE racing while continuing to provide opportunities for both Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred horses.
Meydan Racecourse will once again serve as the centrepiece of the season with 17 race meetings, culminating in the Dubai World Cup meeting. The venue has become synonymous with world-class racing and regularly attracts some of the sport’s biggest names, generating global attention and reinforcing Dubai’s reputation on the international sporting stage.
Abu Dhabi Turf Club will play a major role in the season with 16 race meetings and two of the most important fixtures on the calendar. The UAE President Cup, one of the world’s richest and most prestigious races for Purebred Arabians, will be run on December 12, 2026 with prize money of AED 8 million. The venue will also host the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup on February 7, 2027, offering a purse of US$1 million and drawing high-quality Thoroughbreds from leading racing jurisdictions.
Elsewhere, Sharjah Racecourse will stage six meetings featuring several marquee events including the H.H. The Ruler of Sharjah Cup, the GCC Cup, the H.H. Sharjah Crown Prince Cup and the H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, which serves as the opening leg of the Emirates Sprint Series.
Al Ain Racecourse is scheduled to host 14 meetings and will continue to highlight stamina-focused competition through its popular three-leg Marathon Series and the Al Ain Mile meeting. Jebel Ali Racecourse, meanwhile, will conduct 11 race meetings and maintain its long-standing traditions with feature races such as the Jebel Ali Mile, Jebel Ali Sprint and Jebel Ali Stakes.
The distribution of race meetings across the season includes 17 at Meydan, 16 at Abu Dhabi Turf Club, 14 at Al Ain, 11 at Jebel Ali and six at Sharjah, reflecting the depth and breadth of racing throughout the UAE.
With the road to the Dubai World Cup 2027 now officially mapped out, the UAE is preparing for another season of top-class racing that combines rich local traditions with international competition, culminating in one of the most anticipated race days in world sport.
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