The March 28 Dubai World Cup card, a $35 million event highlighted by the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), has been called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dubai media office released the news March 22.

"To safeguard the health of all participants, the higher organizing committee of the Dubai World Cup 2020 has decided to postpone (the) 25th edition of the global tournament to next year," read a statement issued from the office's Twitter account Sunday morning.

The March 28 card is the highlight of the racing season in Dubai and features six group 1 events and three group 2 contests. Organizers had planned to hold the card without permitting spectators, but rising concerns over the virus caused them to call off the card entirely.