The eyes of the racing world will be focused on the UAE this Saturday night for the eagerly anticipated 28th running of the Dubai World Cup.
Held annually on the last Saturday in March, the race was first run back in 1996 at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse and was won by Cigar. It has since grown into one of the sport's marquee events.
It moved to the Meydan Racecourse in 2010, with Gloria de Campeao providing a first and only win for Brazil in the first World Cup staged at its new home.
Japan, Saudi Arabia and the USA have also all enjoyed success in the race, but over the years it has been an especially happy hunting ground for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Godolphin Racing.
Sheikh Mohammed first achieved success in the race in 1997 with Singspiel, with a further nine victories coming under the Godolphin banner. They include Thunder Snow, the winner of the 2018 and 2019 World Cups, and the only horse to win the race twice.
Godolphin's most recent winner came in 2021 when Mystic Guide prevailed, as the race returned to the calendar after missing a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jerry Bailey (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002) and Frankie Dettori (2000, 2003, 2006, 2022) share the record for most wins by a jockey with four apiece. Remarkably, Dettori's first and last wins came 22 years apart, with his most recent triumph coming aboard Country Grammer in 2022.
Saeed bin Suroor, with an incredible nine victories, is the most decorated trainer in the history of the race.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the Dubai World Cup - in pictures
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, arrives at Meydan Racecourse ahead of the 2023 Dubai World Cup. Antonie Robertson / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 2022 Dubai World Cup, won by Country Grammer, ridden by Frankie Dettori, at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey Christophe Soumillon receive the Dubai World Cup trophy from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid after their victory with Thunder Snow in 2019. Reuters
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid does a dance on stage after Thunder Snow, ridden by Christophe Soumillion, won the 2018 Dubai World Cup. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 2017 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Christopher Pike / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid inspects horses ahead of the 2015 Dubai World Cup. Sarah Dea/The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid celebrates after success in the 2014 Dubai World Cup with Godolphin's African Story. Satish Kumar / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid reads a racecard at the 2013 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Razan Alzayani / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with Monterosso, the winner of the 2012 Dubai World Cup. Pawan Singh / The National
The team behind Japan's Victoire Pisa receive the trophy from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in 2011. Pawan Singh / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, left, hands the Dubai World Cup trophy to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid after his horse Invasor won the 2007 Dubai World Cup. Reuters
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with jockey Frankie Dettori who rode Moon Ballad to success in the 2003 Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba racecourse. Reuters
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid congratulates Frankie Dettori after a winner at the 2002 Dubai World Cup night. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid jokes with Kentucky breeder Allan Lavin, wearing a kefiyeh, during an event ahead of the 2001 Dubai World Cup. Reuters
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and jockey Frankie Dettori celebrate Godolphin's victory with Dubai Millennium at the 2000 Dubai World Cup. Reuters
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, right, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid lead Sheikh Hamdan's winning horse Almukawatel around the racecourse after it and British jockey Richard Hills won a surprise victory at the 1999 Dubai World Cup. Reuters
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid raises the Dubai World Cup in 1997 after his maiden success in the race with Singspiel. AFP
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Director: Romany Saad Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
Key findings
Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase.
People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better.
But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
