THE dates for the 2015-16 UAE racing season have been approved by HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Emirates Racing Authority (ERA).

The ERA season will offer 62 race dates and starts at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday October 30. Meydan will begin its racing season Thursday November 5 and is followed by Sharjah Racecourse Saturday November 7 and Abu Dhabi on Sunday November 8. Al Ain will begin its racing season Friday November 20.

The international racing season will kick off with the Dubai World Cup Carnival 2016 at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday January 7 and will lead to the 21st running of the Dubai World Cup race day, sponsored by Emirates Airline, scheduled for Saturday March 26.

The 2015-16 UAE race season will include: Al Ain Racecourse, 10 meetings; Meydan Racecourse will have the largest number of dates, 20; Abu Dhabi Racecourse, 15 racenights; Jebel Ali Racecourse, 11 dates; and Sharjah Racecourse, six days of racing.

“We are pleased by this impressive schedule of race meetings to be offered for the 2015-16 ERA season,” said Malih Al Basti, ERA Board member and Chairman of the ERA Steering Committee. “The UAE racing season has grown to serve as a showcase of both domestic and international horses and horsemen. We continue to build on our successes and look forward to the return of racing for the coming season.”