The Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) is responsible for overseeing horse racing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ERA organizes the celebrated Dubai World Cup Night—a major horse racing event at Meydan Racecourse. The evening features eight exciting thoroughbred races and one purebred Arabian race, with the grand finale being the highly anticipated Dubai World Cup.
Created by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1996, the Dubai World Cup is one of the most prestigious races in the world, known for its impressive prize purse. This iconic event draws top horses from across the globe, all competing for the coveted title. On April 5th, 2025, the Dubai World Cup will return, offering a thrilling 2000-meter race and a jaw-dropping prize of USD 12,000,000.
The day begins with the Dubai Kahayla Classic, a 2000-meter Arabian race, offering a prize pool of USD 1,000,000. Next up is the Dubai Gold Cup, a 3200-meter race that leads into the Godolphin Mile (1600 meters), with a prize of USD 1,000,000. The Al Quoz Sprint, a 1200-meter race, offers a prize purse of USD 1,500,000, and the UAE Derby, a 1900-meter race, carries a prize of USD 1,000,000. The Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200 meters) offers USD 2,000,000 in prize money, while the Dubai Turf (1800 meters) comes with a prize of USD 5,000,000. Lastly, the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, a 2410-meter race, offers an impressive prize of USD 6,000,000.
Apart from the exciting races, Dubai World Cup Night is also a celebration of style, drawing fashionable racegoers who compete in five categories: Best Dressed Lady, Best Dressed Man, Best Dressed Couple, Best Traditional Outfit, and Best Hat. International fashion experts like Ossama Rinno, Sarah Silsbury, Fidaa Badour, Vivien Sheriff, and Elena Marinoni judge the competition, with winners receiving shopping vouchers from Emaar, designer accessories, and beauty products.
The event also honors the legacy of legendary jockeys and trainers. Jockeys Jerry Bailey (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002) and Frankie Dettori (2000, 2003, 2006, 2022) are among the top performers. As a trainer, Saeed bin Suroor holds the record for the most wins at the Dubai World Cup (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019). One of the most memorable wins came in 1996 when Cigar, a six-year-old horse, triumphed with jockey Jerry Bailey and trainer William I. Mott, completing the race in 2:03.84. In 2024, Laurel River, trained by Bhupat Seemar and ridden by jockey Tadhg O’Shea, completed the race in 2:02.31.
With so much at stake, Dubai World Cup Night 2025 is sure to be an unforgettable evening, offering not only thrilling races but also a chance to witness incredible fashion and top-tier competition.
