The 2024 Dubai Pro wrapped up with four bodybuilding champions walking away with hefty cash prizes. In an unprecedented announcement made to Instagram on July 29, 2024, the 2025 Dubai Pro revealed that the overall prize money has increased to $500,000, the third-highest payout in the IFBB Pro League behind the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.
The prize money on display at the 2024 Dubai Pro attracted some high-profile names to make a pit stop in the United Arab Emirates. In the Men’s Open headliner, Behrooz Tabani outlasted a stacked lineup to take home a total of $100,000. Classic Physique champion Breon Ansley netted an impressive $60,000, Erin Banks, a former Men’s Physique Olympia, secured a $40,000 check, and Men’s 212 Bodybuilding talent Angel Calderon left the country $20,000 richer.
Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger announced earlier this year that the 2025 Arnold Classic will award a staggering $500,000 to its Open winner. To provide additional context, the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition dispensed over $1.5 million to its participants and $400,000 was reserved for the Men’s Open winner, Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford.
2025 Dubai Pro Set to Award Over $500,000 To Participants, 3rd Highest Pay Structure Available in IFBB Pro League
In light of the event’s success last weekend, the annual Dubai Pro has revealed it will increase its overall prize money to $500,000 next year, leaving its pay structure behind only the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.
“Exciting new developments are on the horizon next year.
More than 500,000 $$ for the winners
Stay tuned for more!” o2_gyms shared via Instagram.
2024 Dubai Pro Prize Money
- Open Bodybuilding — $100,000
- Classic Physique — $60,000
- Men’s Physique — $40,000
- Men’s 212 Bodybuilding — $20,000
Questions about whether Mr. Olympia will remain the number one bodybuilding show in the world have circulated ever since Schwarzenegger increased the Open prize money to $500,000 at the 2025 Arnold Classic. Although bodybuilding veteran Shawn Ray believes Olympia will follow suit with a prize money increase, that has yet to materialize. Ray also believes the Mr. Olympia contest should relocate to Dubai because it would offer the sport new growth.
Other icons of the sport, such as Flex Wheeler, suggested that Mr. Olympia is on track to become ‘secondary’ to the Arnold Classic due to its boosted payout next year. Of note, the Mr. Olympia features all 11 IFBB Pro divisions; thus, it’s responsible for more athletes on its roster.
The 2025 Dubai Pro will return to the United Arab Emirates next year with additional hype thanks to revamped prize money. Considering that Pro shows are starting to raise the stakes for next year, do you think Mr. Olympia will boost its prize money structure on the horizon?
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