Meydan Racecourse, Dubai Overview

Horse racing has become quite a glamorous activity, and in Dubai, Meydan Racecourse promises an experience unlike any other. Dripping with luxury, this racecourse can accommodate over 60,000 spectators. Every year, it hosts the Dubai World Cup which, boasting of prize money of more than USD 26 million, is believed to be the world’s richest race day. Meydan Racecourse is operational from November to March every year. From April to October, it typically serves as a business and conference centre.

On other months of the year, the racecourse hosts the Winter Racing Challenge and Dubai International Racing Carnival. Opened in March 2010 as a replacement to Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, Meydan Racecourse district measures a whopping 67 million square feet. The overall ‘Meydan City’ development is said to cover 200 million square feet, including two race tracks, a five-star hotel property (the first of its kind trackside hotel), a nine-hole golf course, a horse-racing museum, and a gallery.

Dubai World Cup

Conducted in March every year since 1996, Dubai World Cup is the pinnacle of horse-racing competitions in the United Arab Emirates. Each year, the finest horses from all around the world gather at Meydan Racecourse to compete at one of the best international racecourses. The Dubai World Cup offers nine races – eight Thoroughbred races and one Purebred Arabian race. It is a Group 1 flat race for Northern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds (four years and above) and Southern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds (three years and up) for a distance of 2,000 metres.

Dubai World Cup 2019 Dates & Timings: The World Cup is held in March every year and is set to take place on 30th March 2019. Although gates on race days generally open by 3:00 PM for 4:30 PM races, the gates open at noon on Dubai World Cup night.

Ticket Price

Pricing depends on seating at Meydan Racecourse.

General admissions pre-sale tickets: AED 40.
Sky Bubble (a private dining experience atop the racecourse): AED 1400
Gallery seating near the finish line: AED 1500
Terrace for group bookings: AED 32,500.

Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse
Source

Ticket Booking

Unlike most racecourses in the world, betting and gambling aren’t allowed here. Tickets are for entry and food only.

Where to buy: There is no online ticket booking option. You will have to purchase the tickets physically from the ticket counters near Gate B and Gate C of Meydan Grandstand. The counters are open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday. Children under the age of 12 don’t require a ticket.

The Dubai World Cup is operated through the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA). It has become a star-studded spectacle, including an entertainment show that has been headlined by major acts like Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Minogue, Jacket Jackson, and Sia.

Tips

1. There is a dress code here. Casuals are allowed till the public admission area, but if you’d like to buy tickets to enjoy the racecourse from the terrace, the gallery and other hospitality areas, you’re expected to dress smartly. Women are also encouraged to wear hats – the big ones, just like the movies!
2. You can buy Dubai World Cup merchandise like mugs, t-shirts, fridge magnets, hats, and keychains from the gift store at the racecourse.
3. There are stable tours available for those who’d like to see what goes on behind the racing action. You’ll get to dine at the Meydan Hotel, visit the grandstand, check out the jockey’s dressing room, explore the stables, and even meet the horses and trainers. This stable tour is available during the entire racing season except for the Dubai World Cup week.

How To Reach Meydan Racecourse

Meydan Racecourse is located on Al Meydan Road in Nad Al Shea, Dubai. It is 16.7 kilometres (15 minutes) from Dubai International Airport and 50 kilometres (45 minutes) from Al Maktoum International Airport. It is 18.5 kilometres (25 minutes) from popular tourist spots Mall of the Emirates and 10 kilometres (10 minutes) from The Dubai Mall.

Meydan Racecourse is accessible by car on taking Exit 47 from Sheikh Zayed Road. There are also taxi services operated by Dubai Transport Company from their pick-up and drop-off point right outside Meydan Grandstand. If you’d prefer to use public transport, you can take the metro to Business Bay metro station which is 9 kilometres from the racecourse.