Elton, Kylie, Sting, Simply Red . . . and camels – Dubai has hosted them all

1 The first racecourse in Dubai was developed in 1969 by Sheikh Maktoum at Al Ghusais, where several meetings were held for purebred Arabians and imported thoroughbreds on the site now occupied by the international airport. However, the first properly regulated meeting at the camel track on October 1, 1981 – organised by Sheikh Mohammed's office – is generally regarded as the beginning of organised racing in Dubai and the UAE as a whole. The Al Ghusais track was closed before the 1982 season and the stables relocated to Nad Al Sheba.

2 The Dubai Racing Club was established in early 1992 with an official opening meeting at Nad Al Sheba in March that year featuring Lester Piggott and Willie Carson. A series of jockey challenges with the world's best-known names paved the way for the Dubai World Cup.

3 There are now five active racecourses in the UAE, with two of them in Dubai, namely Meydan, which hosts carnival cards and 'normal' meetings plus the World Cup itself, and Jebel Ali, where they race every other Friday throughout the season (late October to March). Jebel Ali is a large commercial port and business hub about 35km south west of Dubai City. Abu Dhabi usually races on Sunday, with Al Ain, the region's newest venue, generally taking up the Friday slack left by Jebel Ali. The other track is Sharjah. Jockey Richard Mullen and trainer Doug Watson are reigning UAE champions.