Meydan race nights 2026-27: dates, tickets and dress code

The horse racing season at Meydan Racecourse starts on Friday 6 November 2026 with the opening night of the 2026-27 Dubai Racing Carnival. Gates open at 4pm and the first race runs at 5.30pm. The Carnival continues through the winter and ends with the Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday 27 March 2027. Tickets and hospitality are booked on the Dubai Racing Club's website, dubairacingclub.com, and every racegoer is expected to dress smartly. Everything below comes from the club's own pages and press releases.

The season at a glance

Dubai Racing Club describes the Carnival as a five month season of racing under floodlights, running from November to March. These are the dates the club has published so far for 2026-27:

Opening Night: Friday 6 November 2026. Gates 4pm, first race 5.30pm, and an after-race set by DJ SLIM in the Paddock Garden that is open to every ticket category.

Festive Friday: Friday 18 December 2026.

New Year's Day racing: Friday 1 January 2027.

Fashion Friday: Friday 22 January 2027, with DJ SLIM back after the racing.

Emirates Super Saturday: Saturday 27 February 2027.

Dubai World Cup: Saturday 27 March 2027, the season's last and biggest meeting.

The club's full race calendar for the season sits on its Racing Fixtures page. The gate and first race times have only been announced for Opening Night so far; for the other nights, check each event page before you go.

Tickets

Tickets, memberships and hospitality packages are sold through dubairacingclub.com, which links to the club's online ticket shop. The club's main pages do not list general admission prices, so the price you pay is the one shown in the shop for your chosen night. Book early for the big nights listed above, when the restaurants and suites fill first. Groups and companies can book private suites for 10 to 500 people through the club's hospitality team.

Where to eat and watch

The Paddock Garden is the casual, outdoor side of a race night. This season it adds Flip Smash Burger, Berry Dip, Chapos Tacos, The Ship, N&Co and Pull Me Pizzeria to returning favourites Little Fox by Rowley's and Ration'd Cafe.

Inside the Grandstand, the club lists these bookable options:

Dress code

Meydan asks for smart, elegant dress. Men wear smart clothes or national dress. Women wear modest dresses or skirts of an appropriate length, or national dress. Hats and fascinators are encouraged, above all at the Dubai World Cup. Not allowed: shorts, sportswear, torn or ripped jeans, open neck t-shirts, tank tops, trainers and flip-flops.

Getting there

Meydan Racecourse is on Al Meydan Road in Nad Al Sheba, about 10 km from Downtown Dubai. The club puts it at a 10 minute drive from Dubai World Trade Centre and about 20 minutes from Mall of the Emirates. It is reached by car or taxi, and there is ample parking on site, according to the club; it does not publish a parking fee. Arrival by helicopter can be arranged through the Dubai Racing Club office.

Bringing children

The Kids' Zone in the Paddock Garden is an outdoor play area for children aged 3 to 12, open to all hospitality guests and closest to Gates 3 and 4.

About the racecourse

Meydan opened in 2010 and has been home to the Dubai World Cup ever since. Its Grandstand runs for 1.6 km and holds more than 60,000 people. It overlooks a 2,400 metre turf course and a 1,750 metre dirt track, both lit for night racing.

Common questions

What time does racing start? On Opening Night, gates open at 4pm and the first race is at 5.30pm. Times for later meetings are published on each event page.

Can I just turn up? The club sells tickets online and does not publish whether tickets are sold at the gate, so book before you go.

How do I contact the club? Through the contact details on dubairacingclub.com.