Few industries sit at the intersection of cultural heritage, national prestige, and serious commercial investment quite like the equine sector in the UAE. Horses here are not simply livestock, they are a centuries-old symbol of Bedouin identity, a tool of diplomacy, and the foundation of a thriving modern industry that draws money and attention from across the globe.
The scale of that industry is striking. According to Equerry & Co¹, annual spending by equestrian clubs in the UAE averages AED 367 million (around USD 100 million), and approximately AED 2.1 billion (close to USD 570 million) is spent each year on training racehorses alone. That investment flows through an entire ecosystem: veterinarians, nutritionists, breeders, transport specialists, and bloodstock agents all depend on a steady supply of well-bred horses.
Globally, the sector is expanding fast. According to Mordor Intelligence³, the global horse feed market is valued at USD 16.04 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 21.66 billion by 2030, with the UAE named alongside the US, UK, and Australia as a key driver of demand for premium equine nutrition. At the same time, the global equine healthcare market is projected to grow from USD 4.56 billion in 2025 to USD 10.40 billion by 2033, according to Grand View Research⁴, signalling sustained long-term investment in the animals at the heart of this industry.
For entrepreneurs, the UAE is one of the most attractive places in the world to enter this space. Demand for quality horses is constant, the infrastructure is world-class, and the cultural importance of the Arabian horse means government support for the sector runs deep.
Who is this for?
0142.01 - Raising of horses and other equines
Under this activity, you are in the business of raising and breeding horses, donkeys, mules, and hinnies from birth through to the point they are ready for sale, competition, or transfer. That includes the full cycle of keeping, feeding, conditioning, and reproducing equines for any commercial purpose (racing, endurance sport, showing, breeding stock export, or working animal supply).
Crucially, it includes racing horses specifically, meaning a breeding operation focused on producing thoroughbred or purebred Arabian racehorses sits squarely within this classification.
In the UAE, this is not a niche pursuit. The Arabian horse is a national symbol, and the country has built one of the most sophisticated equine ecosystems in the world around it, from government-supported studbooks to internationally televised race meetings with prize money exceeding USD 30 million.
There is one important boundary to this classification, however.
If your business is operating a racing stable (taking horses in for training, managing race entries, and running competitive operations on behalf of owners), that is a separate activity and falls outside this group. The same applies to riding stables offering lessons or horse hire. This license covers the raising and breeding side of the business: producing the horses, not running them in competition or offering them as a service to others.
In short: if you are bringing horses into the world, growing them, and selling or transferring them, you are in. If you are training or racing horses on behalf of clients, that is a different business.
Third-Party Approval:
No third-party approval is required for this business activity.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance:
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirement.
Reference
¹ Equerry & Co — Equine Industry in Asia & the Middle East: Market Trends, Growth & Investment Opportunities — https://www.equerryco.com/blog/equine-industry-asia-and-middle-east
² Emirates Arabian Horse Society / World Arabian Horse Organization — UAE Registration Statistics — http://www.waho.org/united-arab-emirates/
³ Mordor Intelligence — Horse Feed Market Share, Size & Growth Outlook to 2030 — https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-horse-feed-market
⁴ Grand View Research — Equine Healthcare Market Size, Share & Growth Report 2034 — https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/equine-healthcare-market-report
