Al Monif fields two horses on the opening night of the 16-meeting season.
Meydan Racecourse opens a new Dubai Racing Carnival season on Friday, 6 November 2026, with a programme of 16 race nights running until 12 March 2027 and bringing together horses and trainers from the UAE and abroad.
Racing on opening night, sponsored by Emirates, starts at 5:30pm Dubai time, with gates opening to the public at 4pm. The programme is headed by a 1,600-metre race named after Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, featuring seven horses, including Brotherly Love, trained by Jamie Osborne, and Gun Carriage, trained by Dylan Cunha. Both horses are returning for their second carnival.
Saudi trainer Abdullah Al Monif will take part in the evening, having arrived in Dubai with two horses representing AMM Racing and owner Ayman AlRajhi. The filly Allajayn will contest a 1,400-metre race for three-year-olds after finishing second in her last two starts at Taif, while Brave Vekoma will run in a maiden race.
Al Monif, 34, began his equestrian career in show jumping before moving into flat racing and gained experience in Ireland, Britain and the United States. He currently trains around 30 horses in Saudi Arabia and hopes his participation in Dubai will give him international experience and test his horses against new rivals.
Season highlights include Festive Friday on 18 December, Fashion Friday on 22 January and Emirates Super Saturday on 27 February. Following the carnival’s conclusion, Meydan will host the Dubai World Cup on 27 March 2027, featuring nine races with total prize money of US$30.5 million.
Source: Dubai Racing Club and Emirates News Agency.
Photo: Dubai Racing Club