Female racehorse ownership grows in the UAE as syndication widens access

Women are taking a larger role in UAE racehorse ownership as syndication lowers the barrier to entry and broadens participation in thoroughbred racing. RaceX says the shift is being driven by growing interest from first-time female owners and a changing view of ownership as an experience, not just an investment.

Why it matters: - Female participation in racehorse ownership is expanding in the UAE, adding new money, new audiences and a broader ownership base to the sport. - Syndication is making ownership more accessible by letting multiple participants share a horse and the race-day experience. - A wider owner pool could strengthen the long-term health of UAE racing by bringing in people who are motivated by access, community and engagement, not just financial return.

What happened: - RaceX said women are becoming more visible in UAE racehorse ownership as awareness of syndication grows across the region. - Jennifer McShane-Bary, founder and CEO of RaceX, said ownership enquiries from women are increasing. - RaceX recently added Asaassi (FR), a European-performed thoroughbred now based in Dubai and trained by Marwan Al Baidhaei. - The horse has drawn interest from a diverse group of prospective owners, including women entering racehorse ownership for the first time.

The details: - The UAE has positioned gender balance as a national priority through the UAE Gender Balance Council, which was established in 2015. - The UAE Gender Balance Strategy 2026 aims to reduce gender gaps and increase women’s representation in decision-making roles. - Dubai Women Establishment says women make up 66% of public sector employees and hold 30% of leadership positions. - Women represent more than 40% of workers in education and at least 35% in healthcare, according to Dubai Women Establishment. - Oxford Brookes University research found women owners represented among leading ownership groups in flat and jump racing. - Industry studies have identified syndication as an important route for attracting new and more diverse participants into racing. - Similar growth has been reported in Australia, where ownership initiatives aimed at women have brought more first-time owners into the sport through syndication. - McShane-Bary said many women are drawn to ownership because they want to follow a horse’s development and be part of the sport’s experience. - Modern owners are also looking for stable visits, trainer engagement, race-day participation and behind-the-scenes access. - The UAE racing scene includes internationally recognized venues such as Meydan, Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali and Sharjah racecourses.

Between the lines: - The shift suggests racehorse ownership is moving away from an exclusive model tied to large investors, racing families and industry insiders. - RaceX’s messaging frames ownership as an experiential product, which may resonate with first-time participants who want direct involvement rather than pure speculation. - A female owner, Gyunay Alieva, said RaceX ownership deepened her appreciation for racing and reflected a broader opening of the sport to women. - Alieva pointed to milestones such as this year’s Kentucky Derby, which featured its first female winning trainer and a female owner among the connections. - Industry observers expect shared ownership to keep expanding globally, with women playing a larger role in shaping thoroughbred racing’s future.

What's next: - RaceX expects interest in syndication to keep growing as more people discover shared ownership models. - The company expects more women to enter UAE racehorse ownership as access widens and the sport continues to diversify. - Broader ownership participation could help the UAE racing industry build a larger, more engaged community around the sport.

The bottom line: - In the UAE, racehorse ownership is becoming more open, more social and more diverse — and women are increasingly central to that shift.