For millennia, horses have played a crucial role in human life. The animal is favored by many cultures for its great mobility, versatility, and empathetic nature. While equestrianism was introduced to the Olympic Games in the summer of 1900, horse racing has held great historical significance to the people of the Middle East for thousands of years. In particular, horse-related activities have remained a passion of the region’s Bedouin tribes for centuries. With the rapid growth in oil-driven economies in the Gulf region, business opportunities in the entertainment sector have attracted the attention of foreigners and locals alike – horse racing inevitably being one of them.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has an affinity for horses and horse racing. From a young age, Sheikh Mohammed was “captivated by the power, elegance, speed and grace of horses” and used to compete in bareback races with his friends. He was first exposed to formal horse racing during his studies at the University of Cambridge in 1967. In 1977, at age 28, Sheikh Mohammed entered a horse in his first international race with a victory in Brighton, UK. Then in 1996, Sheikh Mohammed founded the Dubai World Cup, which eventually became one of the most prestigious flat racing events in the world.

Sheikh Mohammed now owns Darley Stud and Godolphin Racing, both prominent private breeding and racing operations with stables in the UAE, UK, and Australia. Strong support and promotion from his family allowed his passion for horse racing to expand from a purely personal hobby to a growing international business that benefited the UAE’s economy. With the sky-high prizes and lucrative benefits from tourism, the UAE successfully reinforces its status as a rising economic power in the Middle East and even around the globe. Today, the Dubai World Cup is the wealthiest horse racing event in the world.

The enormous prize of $35 million in a single day of events draws top talents in equestrianism from all over the world to Dubai every year. Upon its creation, Sheikh Mohammed envisioned the World Cup to both “foster true international competition” and solidify Dubai’s status as a leading sporting and tourist destination as part of a broader strategy to create a stable future for both city and country when oil can no longer remain the sole contributor to the economy. Back in 1996, Sheikh Mohammed instructed the first chairman of the Dubai World Cup committee: “You are here to market Dubai as a tourist destination. We’ve got to fill all these five-star hotels.”

Because of the enormous monetary incentive from a single race, horse racing connoisseurs and horse owners are willing to dedicate immense effort and money toward breeding, buying, and training horses. The popular market creates a high demand for the best pure-breed horses. In 2012, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who owned around 1,000 horses, remarked on the Dubai Racing television channel: “We are used in the Emirates to picking the best horses in the world.” 

Horse breeders in other nations are taking advantage of the opportunities the UAE's booming horse business affords. Pio Olascoaga Amaya, a horse breeder and trainer from Uruguay, found opportunities in the UAE to save his family's horse farm from economic crisis. According to Amaya, a horse sold for $20,000 on average can be sold for a minimum of $40,000 in UAE and is worth spending $10,000 for the cost of long transportation. Amaya said, “Here in the UAE is the Formula One of horses. They need horses all the time, and from all around the world.”

Aside from breeding Thoroughbreds, which originate from England, the equine business also supports the local pure-breed of Arabian horses. They participate not only in races but also in beauty contests, or horse showings. Yet the hot weather and desert habitat in the UAE lead to fast-growing hooves (requiring more frequent trimming) and an insufficient grazing environment, resulting in higher costs and demand for horse maintenance services. To combat this, the UAE recruits low-wage workers from nearby countries such as India, Pakistan, and Oman. These workers are paid as little as $330 monthly, raising concerns about ethical labor practices in the industry.

Still, enthusiasm among horse racing’s followers and competitors remains undiminished throughout the region. To support the best horses, experienced trainers and jockeys are crucial for the success of horses and their owners. Consequently, riding schools in UAE are able to recoup investment over the course of five years, while those in Europe take around 10 years. 

Additionally, horse racing events have made a huge impact on the entertainment and fashion industry. A-list celebrities have headlined the opening ceremonies on numerous occasions, including Jennifer Lopez in 2014, Janet Jackson in 2016, and Sia in 2017. In addition, many other personalities, stars, and influencers attend the racing events with efforts to win awards such as Best Dressed Lady, Man, and Couple. 

Although horse racing is sometimes seen as purely a sports event, a major part of its global interest and economic significance is derived from the gambling associated with it. As reported by the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities, horse racing gambling “generated a worldwide market worth around US$115 billion” in 2019. However, in accordance with Islamic law, gambling is strictly prohibited in the UAE. Thus, while horse races in Dubai do not profit from gambling like their international counterparts, international participants are still able to bet on horses through their home countries’ platforms. 

Similarly, in Jordan, another Muslim-majority country, gambling has remained illegal since the formation of the Hashemite Kingdom. Despite its illegality, a Jordanian informant I spoke to who requested to remain anonymous said the betting takes place “under the table”. During one visit to a nonprofessional racing track in Madaba in 2017, he witnessed poor racing environments and excessive abuse of the horses. The racing site was unofficial and consisted of a big empty dirt field primarily used for farming, and upon which the organizers laid down the track by dragging a tractor in a big circle. Unlike the royalties in the UAE, the owners of these horses are authoritative Jordanian tribal leaders from rural areas. Additionally, the participants are not wealthy individuals from around the world, but rather other familial or tribal members from neighboring villages.

Nevertheless, attracted by lucrative prizes and intense competition, many owners or trainers are swayed by illegal methods, such as performance-enhancing drug abuse. In 2013, 11 of Sheikh Mohammed’s horses tested positive for steroids, which were doped by his trainer Al-Zarooni. Although Sheikh Mohammed showed ignorance of his trainer’s actions, the public expressed shock and distrust towards the ruler and his stable in response to the scandal. Drug abuse generates negative side effects for the horses’ health: according to animal welfare group Animal Aid, around 375 racehorses die yearly and 30 percent of them die during or directly after a race. In 2014, the UAE government passed a draft law against horse doping in an attempt to clear “a reputation tarnished by doping scandals in flat and endurance races.”

In the business transaction side of horse racing, oftentimes the racehorses are treated with indifference and regarded as a tool to further the wealth and influence of their owners. On the other hand, when horse racing is seen as a hobby, horses are considered equal-level companions of their owners, which often means they are treated with greater empathy and care. To eliminate the abuse of horses due to rapid growth in the tourism economy and create sustainable economic development, the treatment of horses must be regulated and abuse delegitimized systematically.

The author would like to sincerely thank the anonymous informant for his contribution to the research and writing of this article.

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