The 23rd running of the Dubai World Cup has been scheduled for Saturday, March 31 next year.

This was announced Monday by the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA), who released the fixture list for the 2017-2018 UAE racing season.

The ERA season will offer 62 race dates and opens at Jebel Ali on Friday, November 3, this year.

The curtains go up in Abu Dhabi Racecourse a day later, while Meydan Racecourse will host its first domestic meet on Thursday, November 9.

Sharjah Racecourse gets its season underway on November 11 and Al Ain on November 24.

The international racing season kicks off with the opening Dubai World Cup Carnival (DWCC) meeting at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday, January 11.

In total, the UAE racing season will include 10 meetings at Al Ain Racecourse, 15 at Abu Dhabi Racecourse, 11 at Jebel Ali Racecourse, six at Sharjah and 20 at Meydan.

Malih Al Basti, ERA Board Member, said: “We are pleased to release the fixtures for the 2017-2018 UAE racing season. The schedule offers trainers and race goers a comprehensive season of racing across our five tracks.

“We offer racing for domestic and international horses in both the Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian ranks and look forward to the start of another successful season of racing in the UAE.”