Mohammed bin Rashid witnesses the 30th Dubai World Cup evening and confirms Dubai’s status as a global capital for sports and horse racing.

Today, Saturday, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, witnessed the competitions of the 30th edition of the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan International Racecourse, and alongside him were His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, where he continued. His Highness and those attending the event, which this year witnessed, as in previous years, the participation of the best and strongest horses and most skilled riders in the world.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcomed all participants, including riders, owners and horse breeders, who were keen to participate from various parts of the world. His Highness said that three decades of excellence made the Dubai World Cup a renewed Emirati message to the world, whose theme is noble competition and the ability to transform a vision into a unique success story. This event is no longer just a horse race, but has become an international forum that brings together the world’s cultures, and confirms Dubai’s status as a global capital for sports and horse racing.

His Highness added: Since the inception of the Cup, we have been keen to make Dubai at the heart of the global scene of horse and equestrian sports, and to provide an organizational model that exceeds the highest international standards, and today we see this ambitious approach being achieved year after year with the participation of the world’s elite horses, the trust of our partners, and an attendance that reflects the event’s status as one of the most important events on the global sports map.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the tireless efforts behind organizing the event this year, despite the challenges and exceptional situations taking place in the region and the world, and His Highness expressed his appreciation to everyone who contributed to achieving this achievement and the emergence of this edition in a way that befits the great and honorable history of the Dubai World Cup, and to everyone who participates in confirming Dubai’s ability to always succeed and excel at all times and under various circumstances.

His Highness concluded by saying: We believe that true competition is in making a difference, in continuing development, and building bridges of communication and constructive cooperation between peoples… Dubai will remain open to the world, and will continue to consolidate its position as a platform for celebrating achievement, motivating success, and creating a prosperous future… We are proud of what we have achieved, and we are moving confidently towards the future, with a vision that does not know the impossible, and a will that makes Dubai always at the forefront.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was crowned the winner of the 2026 Dubai World Cup, which went to the horse Magnitude, led by jockey Jose Ortiz and under the supervision of trainer Steve Asmussen, for his owner, Winshill Breeding Ltd., after winning the main race held at the Meydan track, sponsored by Emirates Airlines, with prizes amounting to $12 million.

The evening was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, a number of sheikhs and dignitaries, and a group of horse owners, breeders and horse racing enthusiasts from around the world.

The competitions of the 30th edition of the Dubai World Cup witnessed the participation of the best and strongest horses in the world, and included a group of the most important and prominent horse owners, breeders and trainers, with the participation of the most skilled riders in the world, and 101 horses from 17 countries competed in 9 rounds, with a total prize pool of 30.5 million US dollars, including $12 million for the main round and the ninth “Dubai World Cup”.

The Dubai World Cup for Horse Racing was launched in 1996, and its first edition was held at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, as a result of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai a destination for international athletes, especially at the level of horse racing.

It is noteworthy that the Dubai World Cup title in its 29th edition, whose competitions were held last year at the Meydan track, was won by the horse “Hut Show,” led by jockey Florent Giroux and under the supervision of coach Brad Cox, for his Qatari owner, Wathnan Racing.