Dubai World Cup Carnival

Formerly known as the Dubai International Racing Carnival, the Dubai World Cup Carnival consists of a series of nine meetings staged at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates between January and March each year. The Dubai World Cup Carnival is staged in preparation for Dubai World Cup Night, in the late March, the highlight of which is the Dubai World Cup, a Group 1 race run over 2,000 metres, or approximately a mile and a quarter, on dirt and worth $12 million in prize money.

Inaugurated Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, in 1996, the Dubai World Cup was originally run at Nad Al Sheba before being transferred to Meydan in 2010. In its recent history, the Dubai World Cup has vied with the Pegasus World Cup, staged at Gulfstream Park, Florida in January, as the most valuable horse race in the world. However, since the inauguration of the Saudi Cup, at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is worth $20 million, the Dubai World Cup has been only the second most valuable race in the world.

Nevertheless, the Dubai World Cup Carnival builds to a major milestone in the form of so-called 'Super Saturday', typically staged on the first Saturday in March. Super Saturday is the official 'dress rehearsal' for Dubai World Cup Night, intended to allow trainers from home and abroad with their eyes on the major prizes on the single most valuable raceday anywhere in the world to fine tune their chages.