1998: two-year-old season

Zahrat Dubai made her debut in the Westley Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 1 October. Ridden by Pat Eddery she finished sixth of the twenty-seven runners behind the colt Easaar.

At the end of the season Zahrat Dubai entered the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation and was transferred to the stable of Saeed bin Suroor, spending the winter in Dubai.^[5]

1999: three-year-old season

In early 1999 Zahrat Dubai reportedly ran well in trial races in Dubai^[5] but did not appear as a three-year-old in Europe until 11 May when she contested the Musidora Stakes (a major trial race for The Oaks) over ten and a half furlong at York Racecourse. Partnered by Mick Kinane, she was made the 6/5 favourite with the best-fancied of her five opponents being Barafamy (winner of the Premio Dormello) and Mother of Pearl (Prix Saint-Roman). Zahrat Dubai tracked the leaders, took the lead two furlongs from the finish and drew well clear of her opponents to win by five lengths from Mother of Pearl.^[6] After the race Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said "This is our Oaks filly... we knew she would be very good over today's distance" whilst Saeed bun Suroor commented "she was very relaxed. She blew very hard after the race, so I feel she can improve again for this run".^[7]

In the 221st running of the Oaks Stakes at Epsom Racecourse on 4 June Zahrat Dubai, ridden by Frankie Dettori started the 9/4 favourite in a ten-runner field. She tracked the leaders in the early stages and turned into the straight in third place. She briefly challenged for the lead in the last quarter mile was unable to make any further progress and finished third, beaten three lengths and five lengths by Ramruma and Noushkey. On 31 July the filly was dropped back in distance and matched against older fillies and mares in the Nassau Stakes over ten furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse, a race which was being run for the first time as a Group One event. Ridden by the American jockey Gary Stevens she started the 5/1 third favourite behind Alborada and Cape Verdi whilst the other runners were Kissogram (Sun Chariot Stakes), Lady in Waiting (Middleton Stakes), Juvenia (Prix Marcel Boussac), Alabaq (Pretty Polly Stakes) and Diamond White. Zahrat Dubai took the lead soon after the start made all the running and repelled several challenges in the straight and won by half a length and a neck from Lady in Waiting and Diamond White.^[8] Although Stevens received a two-day ban for careless riding the racecourse stewards ruled that the result was not affected. He commented "It's a personal milestone to get my first Group 1 in Britain... She's a pretty straightforward filly to ride, but it wasn't an easy run... The last furlong she was rolling around, but I felt she won with something left".^[9]

In August Zahrat Dubai moved back up to one and a half miles and faced a rematch with Ramruma in the Yorkshire Oaks in which she was ridden by Dettori. After tracking the leaders she failed to quicken in the straight and finished fourth of the eleven runners behind Ramruma, Ela Athena and Silver Rhapsody. On her final appearance, the filly was sent to France and started second favourite for the Prix de l'Opéra over 1850 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 3 October. After leading for most of the way she faded in the last 300 metres and finished fifth behind Diamond White.