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The Silk Road Journal · Racing · UAE

UAE Racecourses Beyond Meydan: Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali, Sharjah and Al Ain (2026-27)

Meydan gets the headlines. But 47 of the UAE's 64 meetings this season are somewhere else. Here are the other four courses: the surface, the meetings, the big races, how much is for thoroughbreds, and the horse that suits each.

By , bloodstock agent · · 10 min read

A light-hearted guide. Majid is invented. Facts are sourced at the end and were checked on 25 October 2026. Dates and cards can change; the Emirates Racing Authority has the final word.

A field of racehorses on a dirt track in the UAE
Dirt racing in the UAE. This photo was taken at Meydan, Dubai; the other four courses are below. Illustrative, not a Silk Road Bloodstock horse. Photo: Imadkayyali, "Horse race in Dubai", via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

Quick answer: the UAE racecourses beyond Meydan

The UAE has 5 racecourses and 64 meetings in 2026-27. Beyond Meydan (17) there are Abu Dhabi Turf Club (16 meetings, turf), Al Ain (14, dirt), Jebel Ali (11, dirt) and Sharjah (6, dirt). For a thoroughbred, Jebel Ali is mainly a thoroughbred course and Abu Dhabi has thoroughbred races on every card plus the US$1 million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup; Sharjah and Al Ain race mostly Purebred Arabians.

  • Season: opened at Abu Dhabi on 22 Oct 2026; ends with the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on 27 Mar 2027
  • Abu Dhabi Gold Cup: thoroughbreds, US$1 million, 7 Feb 2027
  • One licence: all 5 courses race on the ERA's fixture list under its Rules of Racing
  • Trainer: your horse needs an ERA-licensed trainer, wherever it runs

Abu Dhabi · Jebel Ali · Sharjah · Al Ain · Side by side · FAQ · Email us which course suits you

Majid (invented, 38, works in Abu Dhabi, has watched every Dubai World Cup since he was ten) decided this was the year he owned a horse. "Meydan," he said. His trainer smiled and asked one question: "How good is the horse?"

That is the real question. Meydan's Carnival is for horses rated 80 and up, and World Cup night is for the best in the world. A horse that is not at that level can still have a busy, happy season at the other four courses, if you buy the right type for the right track.

The UAE racing season 2026-27 at a glance

The Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) fixture list for 2026-27 has 64 meetings at 5 racecourses: Meydan 17, Abu Dhabi Turf Club 16, Al Ain 14, Jebel Ali 11 and Sharjah 6. The season opened at Abu Dhabi on 22 October 2026 and ends with the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on 27 March 2027.

Meydan and the Dubai Racing Carnival (from 6 November 2026) have their own page. This guide is about the other four.

Abu Dhabi Turf Club: the UAE's turf course

Abu Dhabi Turf Club has one grass track, about 2,000m round and right-handed, with a 400m run from the final turn. It races on Thursdays and has 16 meetings in 2026-27. Most races are for Purebred Arabians, but each card has thoroughbred races: the 22 and 29 October cards each had 5 Purebred Arabian and 2 thoroughbred races.

  • Abu Dhabi Gold Cup: US$1 million for thoroughbreds, 7 February 2027.
  • UAE President Cup: AED 8 million for Purebred Arabians, 12 December 2026.
  • History: founded as a riding club in 1976; grass track laid in 1980; open racing since 1991; floodlights since the 1994 modernisation.

The horse that suits it: a turf horse. A European-raced handicapper that likes fast ground is the natural buy, and a high-class turf horse can aim at the Gold Cup.

Jebel Ali: the thoroughbred dirt course

Jebel Ali in Dubai has one right-handed dirt track, a 2,200m horseshoe with a long 900m run from the final turn. The surface is a traditional mix of local desert sand and oil. It is mainly a thoroughbred course: its 31 October 2026 card has 7 thoroughbred races, and by tradition a meeting often opens with one Purebred Arabian race. It has 11 meetings in 2026-27.

  • Feature races: the Jebel Ali Mile, the Jebel Ali Sprint and the Jebel Ali Stakes.
  • History: track and grandstand built in 1990; famous for its relaxed "garden party" feel.

The horse that suits it: a dirt horse with stamina for that long straight. A sound handicapper is a sensible first buy here, before you aim higher at Meydan.

Sharjah: a small dirt course, mostly Purebred Arabians

Sharjah has one left-handed dirt track, a 1,450m oval with a short 300m run from the final turn. It has 6 meetings in 2026-27. Most races are for Purebred Arabians: its October and November 2026 cards are all Purebred Arabian races, and in past seasons a card has had one thoroughbred handicap at most.

  • History: built in 1982, first race in 1983, rebuilt from 1995 with a new grandstand and track.

For a thoroughbred owner: not a course to plan a season around. If a thoroughbred race appears on the card, your trainer will spot it.

Al Ain: the biggest track, built for stamina

Al Ain has the largest track in the UAE: a 2,500m right-handed sand (dirt) oval. It opened on 31 January 2014 and has 14 meetings in 2026-27. Most races are for Purebred Arabians, including its best-known races, the Group 3 Al Ain Mile and the Marathon Series, whose last leg is 5,100m. Thoroughbreds appear in trials and the occasional handicap.

For a thoroughbred owner: a useful extra run now and then, not a main target.

The Silk Road Letter

Twice a month: the sales worth watching, one buying tip and one real market number (plus the odd catalogue joke). Free with it: our 2026-27 sale calendar (PDF) and a one-page guide to what a racehorse really costs. We email a link to confirm first. Unsubscribe in one click.

The 5 UAE racecourses side by side, 2026-27

CourseMeetingsSurfaceThoroughbred racingBig races
Meydan (Dubai)17Dirt and turfThe top level: Carnival (rated 80+) and World Cup nightDubai World Cup, 27 Mar 2027
Abu Dhabi Turf Club16TurfThoroughbred races on each card; most races Purebred ArabianAbu Dhabi Gold Cup (thoroughbreds), 7 Feb 2027
Al Ain14Dirt (sand)Trials and the odd handicapAl Ain Mile, Marathon Series (Purebred Arabians)
Jebel Ali (Dubai)11Dirt (sand and oil)Mainly thoroughbredsJebel Ali Mile, Sprint and Stakes
Sharjah6DirtRarePurebred Arabian cups

One ERA licence for all five courses

All five courses race on the ERA's fixture list under the ERA's Rules of Racing, so the owner licence is the same wherever your horse runs. The ERA's online owner application lists a one-year single or partnership licence at AED 1,200 plus 5% VAT, with colours included. Owners who do not live in the UAE can ask the ERA about its International Stable at Meydan.

The full steps, costs and the four ways to own are in how to own a racehorse in the UAE. Owners in other Gulf countries: see Kuwait and Oman, Qatar and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

What does it cost?

The licence is the smallest bill. The horse, the flight and the monthly training bill are the real costs. Budgets for a horse that can compete in the UAE start from about US$50,000 with us; a Carnival or Gold Cup horse costs much more.

  • Getting it there: vetting, export tests, the flight and quarantine. See our import cost calculator.
  • Keeping it: trainer's fees, vet, farrier and race fees. Our cost calculator shows the totals in dirhams.

Racing is a passion with a budget, not a way to make money. We never promise wins or returns.

The right horse for the right UAE course, this season.

Email us your budget and your target: a first season at Jebel Ali, a turf horse for Abu Dhabi, or the Carnival at Meydan. We will reply with an honest view of the level it takes and the horse that fits, before you spend anything.

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The Silk Road Letter

Twice a month: the sales worth watching, one buying tip and one real market number (plus the odd catalogue joke). Free with it: our 2026-27 sale calendar (PDF) and a one-page guide to what a racehorse really costs. We email a link to confirm first. Unsubscribe in one click.

Frequently asked questions

How many racecourses are there in the UAE?

Five race on the Emirates Racing Authority's 2026-27 fixture list: Meydan (17 meetings), Abu Dhabi Turf Club (16), Al Ain (14), Jebel Ali (11) and Sharjah (6), 64 meetings in all.

When does the UAE racing season start?

The 2026-27 UAE season opened at Abu Dhabi Turf Club on 22 October 2026 and ends with the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on 27 March 2027. The Dubai Racing Carnival at Meydan starts on 6 November 2026.

Is Abu Dhabi racing on turf or dirt?

Turf. Abu Dhabi Turf Club has one grass track, about 2,000m round and right-handed. Most races there are for Purebred Arabians, but each card has thoroughbred races, and the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup (US$1 million, 7 February 2027) is for thoroughbreds.

Does Jebel Ali race thoroughbreds?

Yes. Jebel Ali is mainly a thoroughbred course, on a right-handed dirt track of sand and oil with a long straight. Its feature races include the Jebel Ali Mile, the Jebel Ali Sprint and the Jebel Ali Stakes.

Are Sharjah and Al Ain for Purebred Arabians?

Mostly. Both race on dirt and most of their races are for Purebred Arabians, with an occasional thoroughbred handicap or trial. Al Ain's best-known races, the Al Ain Mile and the Marathon Series, are Purebred Arabian races.

Does Silk Road Bloodstock train horses?

No. Licensed trainers train. We find and buy the right horse worldwide, choose an ERA-licensed trainer with you and handle the paperwork with that trainer.

Spotted an error? Email info@silkroadbloodstock.com and we will fix it within 48 hours.

Sources

Checked 25 October 2026. Dates, cards and conditions can change; always confirm with the Emirates Racing Authority.