The Dubai Riding Club, in collaboration with the leadership of the emirate, has announced plans to build on the site of the main Dubai hippodrome in Nad Al Sheba, a specialized town for professionals and amateurs of horse riding, already known as Meydan ("Maidan").
Having accepted the expansion of the facilities of the Nad al-Sheba racecourse, which has been hosting the most expensive Dubai World Cup races in the world for twelve years in a row, the leaders of Dubai decided to do everything on a grand scale.
Meydan, the "riding city", will occupy an area of 7 million square meters. All race tracks for the new Meydan racecourse will be made in accordance with the latest developments. Spectator stands will occupy more than a kilometer in length and will also include a hotel, 10 restaurants, Godolphin Galleries and the Dubai Riding Club, as well as a riding museum.
According to the chairman of the Dubai Riding Club, Meydan should become the best race track in the world, able to accommodate up to 80,000 visitors at a time. The completion of construction is scheduled for 2010.
