Dubai World Cup 2025: Date, Time, Location, How to Watch, Purse

With stunning Meydan Racecourse the stage, the biggest and brightest names in Thoroughbred racing will soon bring their talents to the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai World Cup.

On Saturday, April 5, 11 of the top competitors from around the globe will square off for the top prize in the 29th edition of the $12 million Dubai World Cup (Gr. 1).

The marquee event on the nine-race card of Group 1 and Group 2 contests boasting a collective purse value of  $30.5 million quickly blossomed into a can’t-miss international exhibition following its inaugural showing in 1996.

Other major contests running on Dubai World Cup day, which stands as the culmination of the 16-day Dubai Racing Carnival at Meydan, include the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr. 1) and $5 million Dubai Turf (Gr. 1). 

In total, 35 Group/Grade 1 winners are set to participate in this year’s Dubai World Cup program.

Get up to speed on all things Dubai World Cup right here on bet365. 

2025 Dubai World Cup date

The 29th annual Dubai World Cup will be run on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

2025 Dubai World Cup start time

Post time for the 2025 Dubai World Cup is 12:50 PM ET.

2025 Dubai World Cup location and venue

The 2025 Dubai World Cup will be held at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

2025 Dubai World Cup purse

Carrying a purse of $12 million USD, the Dubai World Cup is the world’s third-richest Thoroughbred race.

Only the Saudi Cup (Gr. 1) and The Everest (Gr. 1) out of Sydney, Australia’s Randwick Racecourse boast a larger purse ($20 million each).

Here is how the Dubai World Cup’s prize pool is distributed by finishing position: First receives $6.96 million, second $2.4 million, third $1.2 million, fourth $600,000, fifth $360,000, sixth $240,000, seventh $120,000, and eighth $120,000.

How to watch the 2025 Dubai World Cup, TV channel

The 2025 Dubai World Cup will be broadcast live on Sportsnet 360 via Ignite World Racing.

Television coverage begins at 11:30 AM ET.

Full event schedule for the 2025 Dubai World Cup

The spectacle that is the Dubai World Cup features a loaded day of racing with nine total events, each boasting purses of at least $1 million.

Headlined by the $12 million Dubai Cup (Gr. 1), the lucrative collection of six Group 1 and three Group 2 tilts also includes the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr. 1) and $5 million Dubai Turf (Gr. 1).

More details on all nine riveting races below.

Saturday, April 5

Race 9 – Dubai World Cup (Gr. 1)

• Purse: $12 million

• Distance: 1 1/4 miles

• Age: 3+

• Surface: Dirt

Race 1 – Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr. 1)

• Purse: $1 million

• Distance: 1 1/4 miles

• Age: 5+

• Surface: Dirt

Race 2 – Dubai Gold Cup (Gr. 2)

• Purse: $1 million

• Distance: 2 miles

• Age: 3+

• Surface: Turf

Race 3 – Godolphin Mile (Gr. 2)

• Purse: $1 million

• Distance: 1 mile

• Age: 3+

• Surface: Dirt

Race 4 – Al Quoz Sprint (Gr. 1)

•  Purse: $1.5 million

• Distance: 6 furlongs

• Age: 3+

• Surface: Turf

Race 5 – UAE Derby (Gr. 2)

• Purse: $1 million

• Distance: 1 3/16 miles

• Age: 3

• Surface: Dirt

Race 6 – Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr. 1)

• Purse: $2 million

• Distance: 6 furlongs

• Age: 3+

• Surface: Dirt

Race 7 – Dubai Turf (Gr. 1)

• Purse: $5 million

• Distance: 1 1/8 miles

• Age: 4+

• Surface: Turf

Race 8 – Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr. 1)

• Purse: $6 million

• Distance: 1 1/2 miles

• Age: 3+

• Surface: Turf

2025 Dubai World Cup history

The Dubai World Cup has been a staple on the international Thoroughbred racing calendar for over a quarter-century.

Created in 1996 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, the 1 ¼-mile dirt race for horses aged 3-years-old and up hit the ground running.

Held on Wednesday, March 27 at the now defunct Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, the inaugural edition of the Dubai World Cup was captured in thrilling fashion by the Hall of Fame bound American trio of Cigar, rider Jerry Bailey, and trainer William (Bill) Mott.

The storied event has since seen several other memorable moments, including in 1999 when trainer Saeed bin Suroor scored the first of his record nine Dubai World Cup titles with 44-1 underdog Almutawakel.

Nearly 20 years later, Thunder Snow became the first and only two-time winner in Dubai World Cup after capturing the 2018 and 2019 versions. It was an opportune time to make history, as the 2019 edition marked the first with a $12 million purse.

While the festivities were put on a brief hiatus 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they resumed in 2021 and have since run at its normal annual pace.

The 2024 version of the Dubai World Cup went to 6-year-old Laurel River.

Catching up with Meydan Racecourse – history, track specs, and more

When Meydan Racecourse officially opened on March 27, 2010, it was tasked with continuing the storied legacy of its predecessor Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which housed the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996.

Established a decade earlier in 1986, the latter also played a pivotal role in popularizing Thoroughbred racing in Dubai following the sport’s early 1980s debut in the region.

Meydan, in its brief yet impactful existence, has not only lived up to Nad Al Sheba’s lofty standards, but helped drive Dubai’s Thoroughbred racing scene into the international spotlight.

Occupying 67 million square miles, the Meydan Racecourse district features two racetracks (1 ½-mile turf course; approx. 1 1/16-mile dirt course), a five-star trackside hotel, and a mega grandstand that can support over 60,000 spectators.

Dubai’s Thoroughbred mecca has also found its way onto the silver screen. In 2016, the racetrack’s interior was used as a filming location for Star Trek Beyond, the 13th film in the Star Trek series starring Chris Pine, John Cho, Simon Pegg, and Zoe Saldaña.

With a little bit of everything on its resume, Meydan Racecourse stands tall as one of the Thoroughbred world’s can’t-miss destinations.

Dubai World Cup past winners (horse, jockey, trainer)

2024: Laurel River – Tadhg O’Shea – Bhupat Seemar

2023: Ushba Tesoro – Yuga Kawada – Noboru Takagi

2022: Country Grammer – Frankie Dettori – Bob Baffert

2021: Mystic Guide – Luis Saez – Mike Stidham

2020: Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2019: Thunder Snow – Christophe Soumillon – Saeed bin Suroor

2018: Thunder Snow – Christophe Soumillon – Saeed bin Suroor

2017: Arrogate – Mike E. Smith – Bob Baffert

2016: California Chrome – Victor Espinoza – Art Sherman

2015: Prince Bishop – William Buick – Saeed bin Suroor

2014: African Story – Silvestre de Sousa – Saeed bin Suroor

2013: Animal Kingdom – Joel Rosario – Graham Motion

2012: Monterosso – Mickael Barzalona – Mahmood al Zarooni

2011: Victoire Pisa – Mirco Demuro – Katsuhiko Sumii

2010: Glória de Campeão – T. J. Pereira – Pascal Bary

2009: Well Armed – Aaron Gryder – Eoin G. Harty

2008: Curlin – Robby Albarado – Steve Asmussen

2007: Invasor – Fernando Jara – Kiaran McLaughlin

2006: Electrocutionist – Frankie Dettori – Saeed bin Suroor

2005: Roses in May – John Velazquez – Dale L. Romans

2004: Pleasantly Perfect – Alex Solis – Richard Mandella

2003: Moon Ballad – Frankie Dettori – Saeed bin Suroor

2002: Street Cry – Jerry Bailey – Saeed bin Suroor

2001: Captain Steve – Jerry Bailey – Bob Baffert

2000: Dubai Millennium – Frankie Dettori – Saeed bin Suroor

1999: Almutawakel – Richard Hills – Saeed bin Suroor

1998: Silver Charm – Gary Stevens – Bob Baffert

1997: Singspiel – Jerry Bailey – Michael Stoute

1996: Cigar – Jerry Bailey – William I. Mott

Dubai World Cup records

Fastest time: 1:59.50 by Dubai Millennium in 2000

Most wins: 2 – Thunder Snow (2018, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Jerry Bailey (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002); Frankie Dettori (2000, 2003, 2006, 2022)

Most wins by a trainer: 9 – Saeed bin Suroor (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019) 

Read the latest horse racing news on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Woodbine Entertainment Group.