How to See Horse Racing in Dubai

Dubai, a city synonymous with luxury and grandeur, reveals a different facet of its opulence through the thrilling sport of horse racing. At the heart of this equestrian spectacle is the Meydan Racecourse, a venue that epitomises architectural magnificence and embodies the rich heritage and passion for horse racing in the United Arab Emirates.

Each year, the racing season at Meydan builds in intensity and excitement, drawing in enthusiasts and elite competitors from across the globe. This equestrian mastery and competition reaches its zenith with the Dubai World Cup, often touted as one of the world’s most prestigious and opulent horse racing events.

Regular Race Days in Dubai

Horse racing in Dubai generally takes place during the cooler winter months only on the dirt and turf courses at Meydan Racecourse, just outside Downtown Dubai.

Dubai Racing Carnival 2024-25

Races occur every Friday evening from 5:30 p.m. until late, from 8 November 2024 until 14 March 2025, as well as Emirates Super Saturday, on 1 March 2025

This is the published calendar by DRC for the Dubai 2024-25 horse racing season at Meydan:

Tickets to the races can be purchased at the track or booked online for a premium package (though note that hospitality packages bought at the gate will cost you more and are subject to availability).

• General Public – you’re at ground level here with a selection of picnic tables and an open outdoor food court until the end of the last race. Adults AED 5, grab free kids entry tickets at the gate – entry Gate B.
• The Premium By McGettigan’s includes a kid’s playground and cash bar in a dedicated ‘village.’ Kids Village is open from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Music at McGettigans continues until midnight. Adults AED 65, Family packages AED 180. Kids’ tickets are at the gate, entry Gate A.

Enjoy the races in Dubai with a premium dining package

TBC if these packages and prices are still correct for the 2024/25 season; we have left the 2023/24 packages as a guide

The Grandstand at Meydan offers commanding views over the track, and Parade Ring offers many different dining packages to suit different budgets:

• Parade Ring Lounge – Centrally located on the ground floor, this is where you want to head for a close-up view of the action with a buffet dinner, al fresco seating and entertainment. Soft Packages AED 295; House Beverages AED 395

• Paddock View – A step up on level 4, this is a good choice for a mixed age group with great views, indoor and outdoor seating and a bottomless buffet dinner. Soft Packages AED 365; House Beverages AED 495

• Invasor Room – An elegant and upscale offering on the 2nd floor with great views of the track and parade ring. This is where you want to head for a classy and exciting evening. Soft packages AED 445; Premium Beverages AED 595

• Winners Circle Restaurant – On the 2nd & 3rd floors with excellent views through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the winners circle. This includes a 3-course sit-down dinner—Soft Packages AED 345 and house AED 445.

• Levels 3 and 4 of the Grandstand are dedicated to private suites, which can be booked for corporate events and special occasions throughout the racing season in Dubai.

Visit dubairacingclub.com to learn more about specific weekly fixtures and special events. If you think you’ll be a regular racegoer, it’s well worth checking out the DRC season memberships.

Dubai World Cup 2025

One of the richest days on the international racing calendar, with $30.5 million in prize money on offer, the Dubai World Cup showcases the finest thoroughbreds of the season. The event brings out Dubai’s social elite and a glamorous international audience.

This year, the Dubai World Cup will take place on Saturday 5 April 2025

The hospitality packages we mentioned above are not available for the Dubai World Cup; an entirely different set of hospitality packages is available, with a broader range of bars and restaurants open specifically for Dubai World Cup night.

Refer again to the dubairacingclub.com website to purchase packages for the Dubai World Cup.

What Type of Horse Racing do They Have at Meydan?

Meydan Racecourse consists of both a 1750-metre dirt track and a 2,400 turf track. Most Friday race nights will involve a combination of both tracks being used.

Each evening consists of six or seven races, held 35 minutes apart.

The hospitality services start 30 minutes before the first race, so on most Fridays this means things start at 5:30 PM with racing commencing at 6:00 PM. You want to get in and be seated early in the hospitality spaces if you want time to get stuck into the race program and fill in your Pick 6/7 in plenty of time and have your first drink served before the action starts.

Limited tables are available in the general public space, so you’ll want to be in early to nab one. The gates open at 4:00 PM.

The Meydan Hotel Dubai At Meydan Racecourse

If you want to make a complete night of your horse racing experience in Dubai, then we’d suggest arranging to stay at the attached Meydan Hotel. You are within walking distance here to the Grandstand, though they can assist you with an electric buggy ride door to door.

You can see the racing action from your rooms, too, though you’re a little far from the finish line. To be at the heart of the action, we suggest booking with the hotel and combining your stay with a hospitality package.

The Rooms at The Meydan Hotel

You have the choice of rooms or suites. They are well known as some of the most spacious hotel rooms in the city.

• Grand Deluxe Balcony Room, Grand Premium Balcony Room (higher floors) and Grand Superior Balcony Room – all 62sqm
• Panoramic Suites – 132sqm, Presidential Meydan Suites (4 adults 2 kids) and Presidential Duplex Suites (split level sleeps up to 6)

Whilst they don’t offer those sought-after Gulf water views, it’s still a pretty spectacular and interesting view to wake up to, and it’s in a great location for visiting other city attractions. Meydan is around 10 minutes by taxi from Downtown Dubai and 15 minutes from DXB Airport (all traffic dependent).

You can book your room at Meydan here – though note that going direct with ticketoffice@dubairacingclub.com you may get a better package including dinner at the track and breakfast at Farriers

Dining at Meydan Hotel

There are formal dining options and several casual dining options at Meydan.

• Farriers is their international restaurant
• The Millennium Lounge for track views and al fresco dining and drinks
• Qube Sports Bar, with its screens, is perfect for big event days
• Grip n Sip is ideal for after a round of golf
• Or enjoy Equus Pool Bar for rooftop sips

NB – The hotel’s ‘in-house’ dining package includes dinner at Farriers on race nights. Yes, Farriers overlooks the course, but it is NOT the same as the hospitality packages and restaurants we mention above which sit immediately above the racing action and Parade Ring; your views from Farriers are quite distant.

• If not included with your stay, the race night packages at Farriers, including buffet and bottomless drinks, start from AED 249 Soft to AED 599 Sparkling.
• Alternatively, the Millenium Lounge is a little closer to the action with an open terrace, shisha, an a la carte menu and a minimum spend of AED 150. They stay open until very late if

Other Leisure facilities at Meydan

Other than coming to see the horse racing, there’s a great range of options. You are attached to a Golf Course, set around 6 lakes and the Meydan Tennis Academy, as well as the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views from the rooftop pool 9.

If you’re coming with the kids, there’s a separate kiddy pool on the rooftop with a few pieces of playground equipment (why not ask the hotel to organise a nanny, though, so you can pop out and enjoy the races?!).

Even if you’re not there for the racing, guests can arrange stable tours during their visit to the Meydan Hotel for a unique Dubai experience.

Gambling on Horse Racing in Dubai

In case you are not aware, gambling is still illegal in Dubai. That, as you can imagine, does not stop people from doing so, but you’d need a VPN to access any gambling sites from the URL.

You won’t see trackside, however, any bookies or TAB huts, etc, that you may be familiar with at horse racing events in other countries.

To keep the evening entertaining for punters, every guest is given a Pick 7 prediction game as an alternative to gambling. These cards are distributed at the gate and must be submitted 15 minutes before racing starts.

Lucky Draw prizes are also to be won, and car prizes and giveaways will occur throughout the season.

Other Horse Experiences in Dubai

While you might think Dubai is all about camel racing and camel rides – which indeed it does well – there are still opportunities for equine lovers to have enjoyable experiences in the UAE.

• Our complete guide to Dubai horse riding locations and equestrian events is coming soon!