Dubai World Cup Diaries: Welcome to the Big Show

Tonight was an absolutely magical experience, and I’m so excited to share it with you. The Thursday evening before the Dubai World Cup is traditionally the welcome party for the participants of the races, the sponsors, and (luckily for me!) the media. This year, the event was being held in the new District One, which is the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s new luxury development located near the track. When the hour for the shuttle busses came, I grabbed my invitation and headed down to meet my friend and colleague Acacia Courtney for the ride over.

Party time with @acacia_courtney and @mndahan in #Dubai! #DWC16 #DubaiWorldCup
A photo posted by Penelope P. Miller (@penelopepmiller) on Mar 24, 2016 at 6:49am PDT

District One is still under construction, but when it’s finished it’s going to be a massive area filled with luxurious houses, a meandering canal, and so much more. An architectural mock-up was on display for all to see, and it’s definitely going to be an impressive destination when it’s completed.

We got to District One just as the sun was beginning to set, and were met by tinkling fountains and beautiful vistas surrounded by flowering trees. 

I also loved that I was greeted by a dessert tray right when I got to the party even before dinner began. Since I don’t believe that a little chocolate has ever spoiled my appetite, I was in heaven!

I was also delighted to meet a falcon; the bird of prey is the symbol of the United Arabic Emirates, representing survival, honor and sportsmanship. It was a privilege to be able to see such a breathtaking animal up close, and Acacia and I took turns holding the falcon to pose for photos. 

Other guests took the opportunity to meet the falcons as well – it was too interesting an experience to pass up! 

Full confession: I went back for round two with the falcons later on in the night. They were just so cool! Look how excited I am: 

Thanks Melanie Martines for the photo! 
We then moved further into the party, where a massive tent was set up overlooking a manmade lagoon. Guests mingled, chatting about the upcoming races and took in the incredible views of the downtown Dubai skyline:

Naturally, my next move was to head toward the buffet – I really, really love food; and also I hadn’t eaten much since I scarfed down some breakfast during training hours this morning. I was so glad I had an empty stomach, though, since the food was absolutely delicious. Plus, I was obsessed with the beautiful ice sculpture of the Dubai World Cup trophy!

I heaped my plate with the assorted tasty treats, and then found the coolest candy in the world: 3D printed gummy worms! A vendor at the party had a machine that could make gummy candy print into any shape you wanted; plus, the paper the confection is printed on is made of ultra-fine paper-thin icing, so it’s edible as well. 

In honor of the party, the printer was making the candy into the Dubai World Cup logo. How cool is that? 

I don’t know whether I want to dine on this amazing creation or keep it forever. Let’s be real, though: there’s a solid 75% percent chance that I’ll start eating it before I’m even done writing this blog.
Very soon, it was time for the entertainment portion of the evening to begin. In the lagoon, antique pearl boats suddenly lit up as dramatic kettle drum music struck a beat. 

A violinist soon joined in, and then dancers took the stage to perform with a light projection show that seemed to move with their bodies and gestures. 

Soon, performers dressed as jockeys and wreathed in flowing fabric joined the dance, using wind machines to make the material billow behind them. 

All the while, the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building that rises high over Dubai’s financial district, changed colors in time with the music played at the event. It was truly a spectacle, and not something I’ll ever forget seeing. 

Finally, a fireworks show that rivaled most Fourth of July extravaganzas I’ve seen lit up the night sky, giving spectators a thrill as the night exploded into glitter. 

With the show over, it was time for me to head back to the hotel to reflect on the amazing experiences I’ve had so far and how much I have to look forward to in the next two days leading up to the Dubai World Cup.

Thank you so much for joining me, and I’ll be back tomorrow with even more action out of Dubai and all of the World Cup excitement.