His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, on Friday attended the 20th Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship.

Being held from March 17-19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the world-class beauty competition for purebred Arabian horses features 151 horses competing in 14 categories for a total prize money of $4 million.

Sheikh Mohammed, accompanied by Sheikha Hessa Bint Hamdan Al Maktoum and Helal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, also toured the 17th Dubai International Horse Fair (DIHF), being held alongside the Championship.

Featuring 60 exhibitors from 35 countries, the region’s leading equestrian industry event connects a diverse range of equine suppliers with horse enthusiasts, owners, breeders, stables and clubs.

This year’s DIHF features for the first time exhibitors specialised in equine healthcare services, a market worth $24.5 billion globally. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the growing profile of the Dubai International Arabian horse Championship, which has helped the emirate raise its status as an equestrian hub and a destination for horse owners from around the world.

This year’s edition of the championship features a number of horses that won medals in equestrian beauty contests in the UAE and Qatar, as well as in the World horse Championship held annually in Paris, France.

The 2023 edition gave the equine industry the opportunity to meet once again, showcasing some of the world’s finest horses and providing an opportunity for the finest breeds to perform on an international stage.

The Dubai International Horse Fair held annually is one of the largest horse fairs in the world, offering a wide range of horse and equestrian products.

It is the most important event in the Middle East and North Africa, attracting more than 10,000 visitors every year.

Among other things, horse health and care, horse breeding and husbandry, equestrian sports, riding clothing and equipment, as well as new trends in horses and riding, are presented.

The Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship is one of the region’s renowned events.

The competition judges the beauty and majesty of Arabian purebreds. The competition itself is directly about global and regional equine industry players across the globe, and aspirant horse riders of all ages.

Arabian yearlings, fillies, foals, colts, mares, stallions will compete in a unique beauty contest during DIAHC. The competition presents some of the most magnificent Arabian breeds in the world.

The UAE is globally-recognised as one of the most renowned equestrian hubs featuring world-class events that showcase the legendary grace, beauty, speed and power of horse breeds in an accessible, family-orientated environment.

The global equestrian community eagerly awaits Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship, held alongside the Dubai International Horse Fair, where the finest Arabian breeds and their owners compete for glory.

For over a decade and a half, Dubai International Horse Fair (DIHF) has been the equestrian industry’s pivotal gathering ground. The only and most established trade show in the region connecting a diverse array of equestrian suppliers with the region’s avid enthusiasts, owners, breeders, stables and clubs.

The UAE has earned its place as one of the world’s leading hubs for the equestrian community.

The nation’s passion for the equine industry is deeply rooted within our heritage, and this is reflected on the rise of equestrian market in the UAE.

Dubai International Horse Fair is professionally managed and organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) which provides more than three decades of experience in delivering world-class events in the Middle East, featuring local, regional and international exhibitors with unmatched expertise and in-depth market knowledge.

Dubai has launched a number of new initiatives that will strengthen its position as a regional hub for the horse racing and equine industry and bring new opportunities to the sector.