More than 700 equine industry players including more than 250 stables, 350 buyers, and 75 suppliers, sellers, breeders, service providers, technology partners, and professionals have gathered at the 2nd Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum that got underway at the the Meydan Grandstand in Dubai, in conjunction with Dubai World Cup Carnival’s Super Saturday.
Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, inaugurated the 2nd Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum that takes place within six months of the first edition of the highly successful event. Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook toured the entire length of the exhibition ans spoke to the exhibitors who travelled all the way from different parts of the world to participate at the exhibition and conference.
The two-day 2nd Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum includes an exhibition, conference, seminars, workshops and product demonstration for the buyers while manufacturers are showcasing new technology and innovative products. The event concludes on Sunday, March 6, 2021.
This marks a new beginning for the US$400 million (Dh1.46 billion) equine industry that is set to grow from strength to strength from a number of initiatives by Dubai Racing Club and Dubai Equestrian Club – the two large stakeholders of the industry.
The event takes place following the success of the first edition and within six months of hosting the first edition in October 2021. Hosting the two back-to-back Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum is set to strengthen Dubai’s position as a regional hub for the industry.
Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, said: “I am pleased to see the high turnout of participants as we make final preparations to receive industry stakeholders. The strong interest the event has evoked from major players across the sector takes the 2nd Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum to the next level.”
“We are extremely proud to organise the second edition of the event, which brings the equestrian industry together under one roof to discuss new business opportunities and developments in the sector. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, this event is rapidly growing in stature and participation. We look forward to creating new initiatives like this to support the industry both regionally and internationally.”
Although Arabian horses are part of the Middle East heritage and therefore carries a strong legacy, they form a very small part of the US$300 billion global equine industry. The region’s equine industry is fairly new and is becoming more organised. The Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum is helping the industry to restructure, reorganise and reshape to become more effective.
The UAE and GCC equestrian market will continue to grow in the coming years with the new initiatives by Dubai Racing Club and Dubai Equestrian Club and through greater integration with the global equine industry players.
Manufacturers and suppliers of equine industry products from all over the world – the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, European Union countries, Russia and China – are meeting with buyers and stable-owners in the GCC to conclude long-term deals to continuously supply new products.
The two-day event hosts a series of panel discussions and presentations on industry issues and opportunities and participants will have the opportunity to win more than 250 giveaways and prizes.
Dubai Racing Club is hosting an enhanced racing calendar for the 2021/22 season, which includes a four-race ‘Jumeirah Series’ on turf launched for the Classic generation, plus an exciting new race for Super Saturday. The addition of new races increases the total prizemoney for the racing season to over $40 million.
Major General Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Board Member and General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club and Dubai Racing Club, said, “This event has brought various equestrian suppliers and procure products that will help all the players in this growing industry. The regional and international suppliers are showcasing their best offerings at this exclusive gathering of equestrian professionals from across the GCC.”
Dubai Equestrian Club and Dubai Racing Club, the two largest horse racing organisations in the Middle East, joined hands to host the Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum at the Meydan Racecourse, the largest horse-racing hub in the Middle East.
Noel Greenway, Managing Partner, Great Minds Event Management, said, “The high level of success of the Dubai Equestrian Procurement Forum, is a result of a great teamwork that brought the industry stakeholders closer that will change the industry and help it grow faster.
“Organising the second edition in quick succession demonstrates the strong commitment by all stakeholders and participation to the region’s equine industry and also reflect the market opportunity for all suppliers.”
Dubai has a legacy of horse racing, having hosted its first flat race in October 1981 in the Nad Al Sheba area. This led to the creation of Dubai Racing Club in 1992 and the flagship Dubai World Cup meeting in 1996, which strengthened the UAE’s and Dubai’s profile as a global racing hub. The local horse racing sector took another leap forward in 2010 with the opening of the iconic Meydan Racecourse, which became the new headquarters of the Dubai World Cup with a capacity to accommodate more than 60,000 spectators.
Table
The Market is spread as follows:
USA : $102 billion
Europe : $133 billion
Canada : $16 billion
Australia : $5 billion
UK : $6.2 billion
Ireland : $1.3 billion
China : $1.58 billion
| Region | Full time employed | No. of horses |
| USA/Canada | 460,000 | 9.2 million |
| Europe | 400,000 | 6 million |
| UK + Ireland | 85,000 | 0.9 million |
| Australia | 26,000 | 1.2 million |
