Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (Retired gate 3), Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (retired Gate 3), Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (eliminated Gate 3), Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (retired Gate 1), Shaikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum (eliminated Gate 3), Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya (retired gate 2) and Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (retired Gate 3). Riding Mashmi (Magic Glen Tulgar), an eight-year-old bay gelding, Shaikh Mohammad was in the top 10 throughout, but did not want to push his horse hard and decided to pull out.

Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, riding Cherdina, who was leading between the third and fourth stage, also retired. Princess Haya Bint Hussain of Jordan was also out of contention when her horse got eliminated after completing three stages.

Dusty winds persisted throughout the ride, making it difficult for both the rider and horse.Visibility was also restricted to just a few metres through much of the race. Almost all the top riders in the UAE were in the starting line-up when the ride got off to a mass start at 5.30 am.