The fixture list for the 2016-17 UAE racing season has been approved by His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA).

A total of 62 race meetings, held across five race tracks in the UAE, will be staged in what promises to be a highly competitive and exciting 2016-17 racing season.

Commenting on the new calendar His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “We are pleased to release the fixtures for the 2016-17 UAE racing season. The schedule offers trainers and race goers a comprehensive season across our five tracks.

“We offer racing for domestic and international horses in both the Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian ranks and look forward to the start of another successful season of racing in the UAE on Friday, October 28. Spectators and racing aficionados will be treated to yet another renewal of a top quality flat racing season where the best horses, jockeys, owners and trainers will be contesting for success in the meetings held at the country’s best racecourses.”

The ERA season opens at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday October 28, 2016.

The action moves to the Sharjah Racecourse a day later and progresses to Meydan Racecourse on Thursday, November 3. Abu Dhabi Racecourse begins its season on Sunday November 6, while Al Ain Racecourse hosts its first meeting on Friday November 18.

In a change to the 2015-16 season schedule, the Dubai World Cup Carnival double-header moves from the first weekend in March to Thursday February 9 and Saturday February 11 with Super Saturday, the official prep for the Dubai World Cup, taking place on March 4.

The UAE racing season will include 10 meetings at Al Ain Racecourse, 15 at Abu Dhabi Racecourse, 11 at Jebel Ali Racecourse, six at Sharjah Racecourse and 20 at Meydan Racecourse.

Each of the five ERA racecourses will stage a signature day of racing with Abu Dhabi Racecourse offering the world’s richest Purebred Arabian contest, The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown. Al Ain Racecourse offers the Al Ain Mile for Purebred Arabian horses contested on dirt. The Ruler of Sharjah serves as Sharjah Racecourse’s signature event while Jebel Ali offers the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile and the Listed Stakes and Sprint. The UAE’s racing season ends with the internationally acclaimed Dubai World Cup, held at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday March 25, 2017.