Global Racing Giants Compete As Thirteen Nations Vie For Dubai World Cup Glory In 2025

The 29th Dubai World Cup will take place at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, featuring 102 horses from 13 countries. They will compete in nine races with a total prize pool of $30.5 million. The main event, the Dubai World Cup, offers a $12 million prize and is scheduled for 9:30 PM.

The evening kicks off with the Group 1 'Dubai Kahayla Classic' at 4:35 PM. This race is for pure-bred Arabian horses over a 2000-metre dirt track, with a $1 million prize pool and 15 participants. Meydan Racecourse opens its gates at 2:30 PM.

The second race, the Group 2 'Dubai Gold Cup', features 10 thoroughbred horses racing over 3200 metres on turf for a $1 million prize. Following this, the Group 2 'Godolphin Mile' sees 14 thoroughbreds competing over a 1600-metre dirt track, also for $1 million.

In the fourth race, the Group 1 'Al Quoz Sprint', 11 thoroughbreds will compete over a distance of 1200 metres on turf for a $1.5 million prize. The fifth race, the Group 2 'UAE Derby', involves nine thoroughbreds racing over a distance of 1900 metres on dirt, with a $1 million prize pool.

The main event is sponsored by Emirates Airline and covers a distance of 2000 metres on dirt. It features fierce competition among elite thoroughbreds like Japan's ‘Ushba Tesoro’ and ‘Forever Young’, who won the UAE Derby in 2024 and the Saudi Cup in 2025.

Other notable contenders include ‘Imperial Emperor’, ‘Walk of Stars’, ‘Wilson Tesoro’, ‘Ramjet’, ‘Rattle N Roll’, ‘Mixto’, 'El Maracolo,' ‘Katona’, and ‘Heat Show’. This race promises intense competition among these top-tier horses.

Additional Races and Prizes

The sixth race is the Group 1 'Dubai Golden Shaheen', featuring 12 thoroughbreds racing over a distance of 1200 metres on dirt for a $2 million prize. The seventh race, the Group 1 'Dubai Turf', has an impressive $5 million prize pool for its competitors.

In this seventh race, eleven thoroughbreds will compete over an 1800-metre turf track. The eighth race, known as the Group 1 'Longines Dubai Sheema Classic', offers a substantial $6 million prize pool for its nine participating thoroughbreds racing over a distance of 2410 metres on turf.

This year's Dubai World Cup promises thrilling races with significant prizes attracting top international competitors. Each event showcases exceptional talent across various distances and surfaces, making it an exciting day for horse racing enthusiasts worldwide.

With inputs from WAM