Sheikh Mohammed hails spectacular Dubai World Cup
As the 29th edition of the Dubai World Cup screamed into the record books, not just another edition of the sport's richest horse race meeting, but a carnival of cultures and all things Emirati beneath the pulsing Meydan sky.
Evocative comments from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai who had the original vision for the race in 1996, captured the scale of what felt like an intimate night on a universal scale on his social media account.
Sheikh Mohammed said: "A great night at the Dubai World Cup, with the best of 100 horses from all over the world, best in the sport of the jockeys and horse owners from all five continents."
In a breath-stealing concluding event, the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), saw Hit Show rocket down the heralded Meydan plain for Qatar in a demonstrative display of camaraderie and elegance as Sheikh Mohammed delivered his salutations: "Congratulations to Qatar and my brother Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the win of the main race of the Dubai World Cup with the horse Hit Show."
Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE’s vision for excellence was on display in all its glory to the sporting world. Sheikh Mohammed said: “We are proud of this great UAE event that was transmitted live to more than 170 countries of the world.”
“Congratulations to all the horse owners and jockeys in making tonight one to remember.
Certainly more than a statesman or a founder, Sheikh Mohammed has shaped the global narrative of the sport with his longstanding passion for horses and horse racing. And for more than 50 years, his passion and vision placed Dubai, and the World Cup, at the highest levels of the global arena of connectivity where heritage met competition in friendship and fellowship.
Sheikh Mohammed tweeted: "We hope to meet you next year in health and joy."
The 2025 Dubai World Cup proved its status as the most international race day in the world — not just by virtue of the mix of competitors, but a new reach around the world. As many as 37 broadcasters showed the event live to around 170 countries, which means millions of people watched it around the world.
Leading the way for mass-market broadcast Down Under was Australia’s Channel 7, which delivered the action on channel 7 for the first time; meanwhile, international titans such as Sportsnet (Canada) and Fancode (India) – which boasts 160 million user interactions – added fresh layers to the global footprint of the event.
Meanwhile, the 20,000-seat Meydan Racecourse bustled with over 60,000 fans whose voices resonated over and under the grandstand throughout the night of pageantry and passion. It all ended with a stunning closing ceremony, where sophisticated drones illuminated the skies to tell the story of The Dubai World Cup — and pay homage to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s passion for horse racing that spans a lifetime.
In a fittingly poetic representation of his vision, the airborne performance marked the 26th anniversary since the race was founded in 1996, and its current status as a beacon of global sport.
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