Masar Godolphin, the academic and experiential scholarship programme operating under the patronage of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today welcomed its inaugural class of future leaders.

Places on this prestigious programme were offered to eight outstanding and ambitious young Emirati men and women aged between 23 and 30 who demonstrated a genuine passion for horseracing and who have the ambition and commitment to develop both personally and professionally.

The course will run over 10 months in Dubai, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and include a mix of both academic and practical modules, offering participants a unique and unrivalled opportunity to embrace their equestrian heritage with the aim of becoming the business leaders of the future.

John Ferguson, Chief Executive and Racing Manager for Godolphin, said, "Masar Godolphin represents yet another demonstration of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s enduring passion for horse breeding and racing, and his continued commitment to the creation of a sustainable future for both the industry and the individuals involved in it. Masar Godolphin participants will be privileged to experience many aspects of horse racing and breeding in both Europe and the UAE, preparing them incredibly well for a future in this most exciting and demanding business.

"We remain indebted to the continued commitment and support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, and we are privileged to be able to extend this opportunity to the next generation of Emiratis," he added.

Hugh Anderson, Managing Director for Godolphin in the UK and Dubai, said, "The love of horses is part of the DNA of Dubai and this was reflected in the large number of outstanding applications we received from UAE nationals who wanted to immerse themselves in the world of thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. Competition for places was tough and we faced a difficult but welcome challenge in trying to select the eight members of the inaugural class. I believe that those who have been selected will be excellent flag bearers for Masar Godolphin and we look forward to working with them over the next ten months."

The participants of the Masar Godolphin class of 2017 are Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi, Amna Banihashem, Ayesha Al Fugaee, Hasna Ali, Hussain Al Marzouqi, Ibrahim Aqil, Muna Al Mazrouei and Sultan Al Ameri.