In just two days, as the world tunes in to watch its most valued hoofs tear down the new turf for a $10 million (Dh36.7m) purse, Dubai will unveil another landmark achievement – Meydan. With two tracks and facilities that scream luxury, it has set the benchmark too high for any other country to follow. Proud residents have long waited this moment and while milliners' cash registers ring and designer store owners sing in glee of March's timely windfall. A 1,750m all-weather 'tapeta' track and a 2,400m turf track will then take a hammering for the next couple of hours until all the $26.25 million set aside for the day have been handed to jockeys, trainers and horse owners.
With cultural delights such as traditional folkloric entertainment, shisha, belly dancers, henna and an Arabian souk to a falcon display, horse and camel shows and rides, Arabic bands, and Dabka dancers, this literally is Arab world on a platter. At Dh1,000 a pop for those parading as adults and Dh250 for children, it obviously attracts the deep pockets. All 6,000 of them. When you make your way to your seat you may not realise that you're strutting through the comfort of a 1.6 kilometre long Grandstand, but when you eventually reach trackside, you are guaranteed to stand and marvel. You'll be one of 60,000 guests curiously observing what the world's first five-star track side hotel looks like. Pan right and you'll see the Sky Bubble lounge under an iconic crescent roof with an unbelievable 360 degree view, turn left towards the track and those that didn't attend the Sting concert will catch their first glimpse of a 107m LED screen. Yes, it is this planet's largest.
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