Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 2026: Azizi Developments, a leading private developer in the UAE, sponsored the seventh meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival on Friday, January 16th, at the Meydan Racecourse, covering all eight races. Building on its long-standing 9-year partnership with the Dubai Racing Club, this commitment also aligns with the developer’s presence in MBR City, where it is delivering a major master-planned community in Meydan.
The evening’s racing action was led by the G2 Cape Verdi, one of the most prestigious contests for fillies and mares on the Dubai Racing Carnival calendar, which was claimed last year by Choisya. Supporting the headline race is the Vazirabad Handicap, a demanding 2,410-metre test named after the three-time G2 Dubai Gold Cup winner and a key fixture of the night. On the dirt, the spotlight also fell on the Cocoa Beach Stakes, featuring three-year-old fillies competing over 1,600 metres, adding further depth and excitement to the eight-race card at Meydan Racecourse.
Mr. Farhad Azizi, Group CEO of Azizi Group, said: “Our continued support of the Dubai Racing Carnival reflects our long-standing partnership with the Dubai Racing Club and our respect for a sport that holds deep cultural significance in the UAE. Equestrian excellence is an integral part of the nation’s heritage, and this platform brings together communities, athletes, and audiences from around the world. Through our involvement, we are proud to contribute to an event that reinforces Dubai’s position as a global hub for sport, culture, and world-class experiences.”
His Excellency Ali Al Ali, CEO and Board Member, Dubai Racing Club, welcomed the support from Azizi, saying: “We looked forward to welcoming the Azizi team back to Meydan Racecourse on Friday for an exciting evening of racing, headlined by the G2 Cape Verdi – one of our most significant races for fillies and mares.”
“Azizi have been important partners with Dubai Racing Club for several seasons, also sponsoring the G1 Azizi Developments Al Quoz Sprint at the Dubai World Cup meeting. We thank them once again for their support.”
Riviera is part of Azizi Developments’ award-winning portfolio. It is a stylish waterfront lifestyle destination that comprises 75 mid- and high-rise buildings with approximately 16,000 residences.
Designed to introduce the French-Mediterranean lifestyle to Dubai, which is not merely about architectural art but also about a certain ‘joie de vivre’ – a celebration of life, an exultation of spirit, Riviera represents a new landmark destination that is both residential and commercial, with an abundance of retail space. Riviera features three districts: an extensive retail boulevard, a lagoon walk on the shores of its 2.7 km-long swimmable crystal lagoon with artisan eateries and boutiques, and Les Jardins – a vast, lush-green social space.
With its strategic location near the upcoming Meydan One Mall and the Meydan Racecourse – home of the Dubai World Cup – as well as Dubai’s most noteworthy points of interest, Riviera represents one of Azizi Developments’ most coveted projects.
About Azizi Developments:
Azizi Developments is a leading developer based in Dubai, UAE. With more than 45,000 homes successfully delivered to local and international investors and end users of over 100 nationalities, the developer prides itself on its extensive portfolio of modern luxury developments across Dubai’s most sought-after residential and commercial destinations, its construction-driven approach, and its commitment to transparency and customer centricity. The developer makes it its international mission to develop lifestyles and enrich the lives of its residents with a focus on catalyzing the vision and development of the markets that it operates in.
Azizi currently has around 150,000 units under construction, valued at several tens of billions of US dollars. The company is renowned for developing the world’s second tallest skyscraper, Burj Azizi, as well as the master planned communities of Azizi Riviera, Azizi Venice, and Azizi Milan, among various other world-class projects across MBR City, Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Healthcare City, Al Jaddaf, Dubai South, Dubailand, Al Furjan, Dubai Islands, Studio City, Sports City and Downtown Jebel Ali.
About Dubai Racing Club:
Dubai Racing Club (DRC) organises and hosts horseracing at Meydan Racecourse, from November through to April, including the Dubai Racing Carnival and the Dubai World Cup – known as the world’s most spectacular race day.
Formed in 1992, the first races held under rules were contested in March 1992 at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. Today, the Dubai World Cup is the highlight of Dubai’s sporting and social calendar and attracts the best horses and riders from all over the world, with a total prize money of US$30.5 million for the showcase of nine races, including US$12 million at stake in the title contest. The racing season at Meydan Racecourse plays a key role in the international horseracing calendar.
In 2026, the Dubai World Cup will take place on Saturday, 28 March.
About Meydan Racecourse:
Meydan Racecourse is the world’s largest integrated horseracing facility, home of the Dubai Racing Carnival which runs from November until March, and the spectacular Dubai World Cup race day, and centre of the city’s racing action and social scene. The iconic grandstand is a half mile in length and can accommodate more than 60,000 spectators.
