Watch the Dubai World Cup on TV and celebrate the event’s 30th anniversary with other racing fans across the world.

It’s one of the richest horse races in the world, and we’ll reveal the runners and how you can watch the spectacle from wherever you are right now.

At a glance

• Dubai World Cup date: 28 March 2026
• TV coverage: ITVX
• Watch Dubai World Cup from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal (77% off)

How to watch the Dubai World Cup for free

ITV Racing has jumped back into the ring for the Dubai World Cup in 2026 and will be broadcasting coverage from Meydan.

Fans in the UK can watch it on the ITV4 channel or via the ITVX broadcasting platform, which is completely free providing you have a valid TV license.

How to watch the Dubai World Cup live from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 77% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

What time does the Dubai World Cup start?

There are nine races across the day. The first race starts at 11:45am GMT (3:45pm local time), and the last race (the Dubai World Cup) sets off at 4:45pm GMT (8:45pm local time).

What is the Dubai World Cup?

The Dubai World Cup is a thoroughbred horse race that has been held annually at Meydan Racecourse in UAE since 1996. It is a Group One Flat race on dirt over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 10 furlongs).

It is open for northern hemisphere thoroughbreds aged four years old and over, and southern hemisphere horses three years old and over. The total prize money on offer is $30.5m (£22.84m).

Dubai World Cup runners 2026

Horse (Trainer)

• Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi)
• Magnitude (Steven M Asmussen)
• Hit Show (Brad H Cox)
• Meydaan (Simon and Ed Crisford)
• Imperial Emperor (Bhupat Seemar)
• Tumbarumba (Hamad Al Jehani)
• Walk Of Stars (Bhupat Seemar)
• Heart Of Honor (Jamie A Osborne)
• Tap Leader (Doug Watson)
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Saffie Osborne enjoyed history-making success at Meydan in Dubai on Friday (16 February) as the first woman to ride a winner at the racecourse. She quickly followed this up with a win in Doha, Qatar, less than 24 hours later.

Saffie, 21, gave Ouzo, who is trained by her father Jamie Osborne and owned by The Other Club, a cool ride to land the 1m1f Lord Glitters Handicap in Dubai, having returned from a spell on the sidelines last month after tearing knee ligaments in a fall at the beginning of October.

“I’ve only been back riding three weeks, but I would’ve taken all the injuries for what’s happened in the past 24 hours, because it’s been pretty magical, and I’m on cloud nine,” explained Saffie, who, among plenty of other eventing achievements, won double gold at the Pony European Championships in 2018 before turning to racing full-time in 2020.

“These are the days you do the hard slog for every day. It was a fairly gruelling three months on the sidelines, but these days remind you why you do it.”

Speaking of the fact she is the first female to ride a winner at Meydan, Saffie said: “I didn’t really think about the historic part of it. It’s always somewhere I’ve wanted to ride winners because I’ve grown up watching Dad train plenty of good horses who have won there.”

Saffie was quick to thank her father’s team, who are based in Lambourn, for her success aboard Ouzo.

“All credit to Jimmy McCarthy, who has been out in Dubai with this horse for the past couple of months, and Dad’s team – he’s a tricky horse to get right and I’m the lucky one to do the steering today.”

Saffie became emotional when recalling her memories of watching her father’s horses succeed in Dubai while she was growing up.

“Ten years ago I was 11 years old, sat on the sofa watching Toast Of New York win the UAE Derby, so to be here riding winners is really special. It’s a dream come true and to get on board one and especially in the manner that he won it was really special,” she said.

Saffie, who has ridden more than 165 winners since 2020, added victory in Qatar with Emaraaty Ana, who is also trained by her father and is owned by Barratt Racing, in the Dukhan Sprint.

“This horse has got so much ability,” said Saffie. “He’s a really classy horse and I’m lucky to be on board him. It’s my first time riding here, so I’ve tried to do as much research as possible and talk to people about the track. He’s a horse who’s nearly won two Breeders’ Cup Sprints, he has plenty of pace and I was able to use that to our advantage.”

Saffie’s mother Katie O’Sullivan was out in the Far East to witness her daughter’s success.

“We have had an unbelievable 24 hours and we have just been floating through life, it is incredible and so exciting,” she said. “Saffie is doing what she loves and it is a pleasure to watch her.”

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This year’s FEI World Endurance Championships will take place in Slovakia after the event was stripped from Dubai.

Three applications to hold the event were received when the bid process was reopened in April, following the FEI’s decision to reallocate the championships.

The decision was made on Tuesday (14 June) by the FEI.

Fontainebleau in France and San Rossore in Italy were the other two candidates, but the FEI bureau ruled neither was suitable owing to health and safety concerns.

The event will be held at Samorin Equestrian Centre on 15-18 September, with the qualification period finishing on 16 July.

FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said the organisation was “very happy” to receive three bids and “appreciates the willingness to support the FEI at such short notice.”

“The bureau had no hesitation in opting for Samorin,” she said.

“Horse welfare has to be the most important element in the allocation of these major events and Samorin has a proven track record — having already run both the young horse and European Endurance Championships very successfully.”

She added the timing of the event is also important.

“Both Fontainebleau and San Rossore were proposing mid-October when the reduced daylight hours could potentially have an impact on safety,” she said.

“Safeguarding the safety and welfare of the equine and human athletes is our top priority in all our disciplines.”

Related articles:

• Dubai stripped of World Endurance Championships
• Endurance World Championships in question
• Tough new local rules designed to reform UAE endurance

Dubai controversy

The championships were due to be held in Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) on 10-17 December.

However, the FEI decided in April to move the event as it felt the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) national federation was not in a position to “guarantee horses’ welfare would be fully protected”.

The decision was part of the FEI’s ongoing battle to crack down on rule-breaking and improve the welfare of horses taking part in endurance competitions in the UAE.

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Four endurance rides in the UAE due to be staged in the next few days were announced as “postponed” on Tuesday (2 February), as worldwide outrage over the horse welfare crisis continues to escalate.

And in another surprise move, all remaining rides in Dubai for the rest of the season have disappeared from the calendar of the Dubai Equestrian Club.

The Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) emailed the postponements to its members overnight on Wednesday, without giving a reason.

However, earlier that day FEI endurance director Manuel Bandeira de Mello flew into Abu Dhabi for an emergency meeting. The week before, the EEF was summoned to FEI headquarters in Lausanne.

Mr Bandeira de Mello said: “Following meetings between the FEI and the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF), the EEF has postponed four endurance events so that agreement can be reached on proposed measures to urgently address a number of serious issues in endurance in the region.

“The CEI1* in Dubai on 8 February has been postponed, along with national events on 4, 5 and 6 February. The FEI has set a deadline of 11 February for the EEF to come back with an agreement on the proposed measures.”

The postponed rides comprise two CEIs and two CENS, of which three were due to be staged at Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC). The fifth is at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi. The other Abu Dhabi venue, Bou Thib, where HH Sheikh Sultan Al Nahyan, has forced significant reform, is unaffected.

DIEC is still listed as host of the 2016 world endurance championships, in December, though the threat of withdrawal was one of the many conditions attached to the legal agreement between the FEI and EEF for lifting the UAE’s suspension last year, for its major horse welfare abuses.

This season, there has been little evidence of change, with record speeds recorded, 10 horses officially listed as catastrophically injured, of which seven are now confirmed as dead, one of them after being pursued by a TV car and running into a fence. Vehicles are still driving on the track and “hazing” horses, with a catalogue of other rule-breaches caught on the official livestream, YAS.

Last weekend, five riders – including the first three over the line – were disqualified from a junior/young riders 120km ride at Al Wathba for beating their exhausted horses. A video clip of the final stages of the race went viral, leading for many calls on social media for the UAE to be re-suspended immediately.

Footage later emerged of the eventual winner also beating his horse, though the FEI Legal department investigated and confirmed to H&H that there is no mechanism to disqualify in hindsight.

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A dressage rider based in the Middle East has been inspired to enter the prix st georges (PSG) and intermediate I at Hickstead CDIO after judges commented favourably on tests she had posted online.

Romanian Cristina Calin Thompson, who is based in Dubai, used the website Dressage Anywhere, which enables riders to film and submit tests and have them marked by British or FEI judges.

The horse that she will compete, Webster, came from Carl Hester’s yard 18 months ago. His owner Reem Alabbar is helping to fund the trip, as she is hoping to compete him in the Asian Games next year.

With only a handful of PSG competitions in the UAE, Cristina used the site to help prepare the horse to compete on the small tour circuit.

And feedback from List One judges has given her the confidence to make the trip to West Sussex (1-4 August).

“I was stuck. I didn’t know if was doing the right thing,” she told H&H. “But the judges’ comments are so useful and now I know I’m not going to make a fool of myself.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (25 July 2013)

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Two horses owned by Sheikh Mohammed are to start their stud careers in China next year.

Jalil – a seven-year-old son of Storm Cat – will stand at the Lisui Farm in Beijing. Jalil cost $9.7m ( £6.1m) as a yearling and went on to win the Group Two Maktoum Challenge in Dubai.

And six-year-old Sousa – who is by Galileo and won the Australian Group One Spring Champion Stakes – will stand at Ordos Farm in Inner Mongolia.

Each stallion is expected to cover around 75 mares. Their stud fees will be free to approved mares.

John Ferguson, the sheikh’s bloodstock advisor, said: “Sheikh Mohammed is eager to support the emergence of the Chinese thoroughbred industry.

“He has selected these two, as they are both exceptional physical specimens, boast stellar Classic bloodlines and both performed with great credit at the highest level.”

In the1930s Shanghai had one of the largest racetracks in the world, but racing was banned in China for almost 60 years after the communist takeover in 1949.

It was legalised in 2008, but gambling is still banned.

Last year plans were announced to build a £2.6bn international racing complex near Tianjin to support the growing interest in the sport.

H&H bloodstock writer Sue Montgomery said: “It’s a nice gesture to support a burgeoning industry.

“They are nicely bred, which may be a significant move for the future of racing in the country.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (27 October, 2011)

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A 120km “private” endurance ride with an “unprecedented” prize-pot of £175,000 being organised and run by Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) is causing consternation among UK riders.

The 120km event, called Ride with the Stars, will be held at Euston Park, Norfolk, on Saturday (2 August). It was announced on 14 July and will not be run under International Equestrian Federation (FEI) or Endurance GB (EGB) rules.

The ride is expected to attract a large field because every completing combination will receive prize-money.

Discussion about the last-minute addition to the endurance calendar is rife on the EGB members’ forum.

One rider states: “Our ride organisers have put many hours of unpaid time into producing rides for this year and the future and, if we are not careful, they will not be there.”

Others are concerned over welfare of horses ridden by inexperienced competitors keen to complete and win money.

“I would urge anyone who does not have extensive experience of competing at this level to think long and hard before entering,” said another rider.

There have also been suggestions that the ride has been put on to allow Sheikh Mohammed to continue to compete. He is currently suspended from competition by the FEI while a doping enquiry is investigated (news, 16 April).

EGB chairman John Yeoman has warned members to remember the “very hard work” put in by ride organisers who are “understandably disappointed that this unscheduled ride is going to take place”.

He told H&H that about 10 or 12 rides may see a reduction in competitors as a result of Ride with the Stars, but added: “It won’t be so dramatic that we will be cancelling rides”.

Ridgeway Barbury Castle Ride, which has a 100km one-day class and a 116km two-day class over 8-9 August, has not been adversely affected, according to joint-organiser Jill Kent.

“I know of one rider who has changed plans to enter Ride with the Stars, but we haven’t had any withdrawals,” said Ms Kent, who admitted she has entered Euston Park herself.

Organiser of the Pheonix ride on 2-3 August, John Hudson, also said he has not noticed any adverse effect on entries.

Mr Yeoman added that the prize-fund is “unprecedented in Europe, let alone the UK” and would attract a large field, adding: “My wife and brother will both be competing, it will be a terrific event.”

FEI head of endurance Ian Williams told H&H that Dubai Equestrian Club enquired “some months ago” about the legalities of running a private ride.

“As a one-off, it’s like unaffiliated show jumping. It’s a private get-together and there’s nothing in our statutes to prevent that,” he said.

While he added that the FEI had little information about the event, he believed organisers were using experienced endurance vets and running the ride “virtually like an international endurance competition”.

He added that a prize-fund of £175,000 would be “fairly standard” in the UAE.

H&H contacted the organisers, but they did not return our calls.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (30 July, ’09)

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US Horse of the Year Curlin took an easy victory in the $6million 2008 Dubai World Cup on Saturday, 29 March.

The Steve Asmussen-trained four-year-old won by a record-breaking seven-and-three-quarter lengths, topping Dubai Millennium’s previous record of a six-length victory in 2000. Curlin was ridden by Robby Albarado.

The 2007 Breeders Cup winner has had eight wins in eleven starts and has won more than $8.8m in prize money for owner Jess Jackson.

Curlin is now third in North America’s all time highest winners – behind Cigar ($9.9m) and Skip Away ($9.6m).

South African trainer Mike De Kock’s Asiatic Boy finished second and third was Well Armed.

As well as training the World Cup runner up, Mike De Kock had further cause to celebrate on the day — taking a fourth UAE Derby with Honour Devil as well as a win with Sun Classique in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Godolphin’s Jalil was expected to run a good race under Frankie Dettori but finished a disappointing seventh.

Connections are now giving Curlin a well-deserved rest while they plan his US campaign.

Saturday was the world’s richest day of racing — with seven races worth a total of $21.2m.

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Jessica Kurten won the richest prize ever in show jumping — $250,000 — at the Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge in Dubai on Friday. And if that was not enough of a story, she did it from a seemingly impossible first draw in the 13-strong jump-off while nursing a pulled shoulder.

Jessica and Quibell (pictured) set off at hunting pace and got a tricky double out of the way before kicking on around the huge floodlit arena, to go clear in 38.22 secs.

Trying to beat her forced error after error from the world class field, and eventually an entirely separate competition developed for second place and a not to be dismissed $170,000.

There was then the prospect of a “home” win. The Saudi star, Sydney bronze medallist Khaled El Eid was last to go and, with nothing to lose, was lightning fast out of the blocks and came very close on 38.85, but with two down, including an exasperating final fence.

Against this drama Nick Skelton surreptitiously held on to third, from the third draw, with Arko to pocket a cool $120,000. “Not bad, eh?” he beamed while furiously texting connections in the collecting ring.

For Jessica, it was a dream three days. She had also won Thursday’s Masters and paid huge credit to her home team who kept her horses in work after she was grounded by a fall immediately after Olympia.

“I would like to pay huge credit to the Maktoum family for this show,” she said. “We have never seen anything like it.”

Of the other British in the grand prix, Tim Gredley, John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker all went out in the first round.

Earlier, Nick continued his unbeaten run in the six bar with Russell. With eight previous wins, they shared first prize in Dubai version Alois Pollman Schwekhorst on Glen and took his show total to some $160,000.

pictures by Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge/Kit Houghton

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Nick Skelton and Arko were effortless winners of the Dubai Classic, first serious class of the new Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge which opened on Wednesday night.

Course designer Olaf Petersen found 10 clear rounds from an Olympic standard field and, going early in the jump-off, Nick was not expecting to win.

“I just tried to keep turning but not gallop – there’s plenty of money on the last night so the idea was to keep something in reserve,” he explained.

Yet one by one the others found both his time and his faultlessness impossible to beat, yielding Arko’s owner John Hales an unexpected $25,000.

Only Gerco Schroder (Netherlands) came close second with Eurocommerce Milano over a second adrift.

The show, founded by Princess Haya, wife of the newly elevated Ruler of Dubai, offers $1,000,000, the biggest purse ever in the world, and the floodlight showground by Nad al Sheba racecourse has facilities equally lavish.

Riders were still walking round in a trance several days after arrival. “We need a few more shows like this,” said Michael Whitaker, tucking into a gourmet meal in the owners’ tent, though Nick added: “We would have come without the money – it’s important to support new events in regions where the sport is fast evolving, and Princess Haya [herself an Olympic show jumper] really knows the job.”

Ludo Phillipaerts of Belguim pocketed a Land Rover in the opening Ride and Drive, having also won the qualifier with Tauber VH Kapelhof.

John Whitaker (7th) and Lactic 2 were up on the clock after the jumping section but lost some 17 seconds when confusing the brake pedal for the accelerator and was unable to get the car off the blocks. Michael Whitaker, riding for new sponsor Team InsulTech, was sixth on Up to Date 8 and Nick eighth on Russel.

The Dubai Classic was the first major competition of the inaugural Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge. In Dubai the tension is mounting as the world’s top 19 riders prepare for Friday afternoon when they will contest show jumping’s richest ever purse – a staggering $1,250,000 (US).

pictures by Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge/Kit Houghton

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now