Dubai World Cup 30th Edition Set for Record 40 Broadcasting Nations

Racecourse Media Group has secured a record 40 international broadcasters for Saturday's 30th running of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, delivering live coverage of the $30.5 million fixture to audiences in more than 150 countries — the widest international distribution in the event's three-decade history.

The marquee race, the $12 million Emirates Airline-sponsored Dubai World Cup, sits atop a card featuring six Group 1 contests. French-trained Calandagan, ranked at the top of official world rankings after closing last season with victory in the Japan Cup, heads a field that also includes Forever Young and Ethical Diamond.

His Excellency, Mr Ali Al Ali, CEO of Dubai Racing Club, called the broadcast reach a reflection of the race's growing footprint. "The 30th running of the Dubai World Cup is a milestone for Dubai and for international racing. To see the event carried live by a record number of broadcasters is a testament to its global stature and the exceptional quality of the horses it attracts," he said. "Our collaboration with RMG and HBA means we will share this great sporting occasion with millions of viewers around the world and to showcase the very best of Dubai on one of racing's most important nights."

Dubai Racing Club appointed Racecourse Media Group as its distribution and production company, with RMG's agency HBA Media handling international rights. RMG, working in conjunction with Timeline TV, is producing all broadcast services including the World Feed programme, anchored by Nick Luck on the ground in Dubai and Rishi Persad from a UK-based studio.

Broadcasters can select from three feed configurations: the full World Feed, a Track Feed that allows networks to insert their own presentation, and a condensed 90-minute programme built around the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic. The event will also stream live on Twitter for the first time and will be distributed across airlines and cruise lines.

The broadcaster roster spans every major racing market. In the United States, Fox Sports, FanDuel, and NYRA will carry the card. ITV holds UK rights, while Viaplay and Setanta Sports cover broader European audiences. ESPN and Disney+ serve South America and the Caribbean. In Asia, Green Channel, Abema TV, and NetKeiba carry the race for Japanese viewers, while Hong Kong audiences can watch across TVB, Cable TV, Now TV, and HKJC TV. Sky Thoroughbred Central and Trackside cover Australasia, and Dubai Racing Channel and Yas TV anchor the MENA region.

Seb Vance, Director of International TV Distribution at RMG, said the collaboration delivered an unprecedented outcome: "Working with His Excellency Mr Ali Al Ali and his talented team at Dubai Racing Club, RMG and HBA Media are delighted to deliver the widest international distribution in the event's 30-year history."

Major General Expert Mohammed Issa Al-Adhab, General Manager of Dubai Racing Club, pointed to the volume of first-time broadcast partners as a marker of the event's expanding global appeal. "The unprecedented interest is reflective of the global appeal of the Dubai World Cup — one of the great occasions on the sporting calendar," he said. "We are delighted RMG and HBA Media has secured a record number of broadcasters from all around the world, including a number of first-time broadcasters."

With Calandagan set to face an international field under the Meydan lights, the 30th edition arrives carrying both competitive weight and a television audience to match.