IN THE desert states of the United Arab Emirates, sand is not in short supply.

But the Crown Prince of Dubai has placed an order to buy lorry loads of it - from Cheshire.

Racing magnate Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has signed a £750,000 contract with a North West company.

The sand will be used as a special surface for his horse riding arena.

Manufacturer Equestrian Surfaces takes the material from quarries in Congleton and Sandbach.

It is then blended with fibres and bound with pure vaseline to provide a more bouncy surface for the horses to ride on.

Sand grains from Bent Farm Quarry, on the outskirts of Congleton, are used because they are much coarser than that found in Dubai and can be bound together more easily.

More than 3,000 tonnes are being exported to the United Arab Emirates to cover the Sheikh's horse exercise and parade rings.

This month 60 boxes, each holding 26 tonnes of the sand, will be shipped out with a further 50 containers to be sent in January.

Philip Bond, director of Equestrian Surfaces, based in Burnley, Lancashire, said: "The Sheikh is a very shrewd man. He would not buy the surface unless he thought he really needed it.

"This is not just sand, it is treated and blended with other fibres. It makes it a lot softer which means that the horses' limbs are not as damaged so they can continue for longer.

"We have been working with the Sheikh for seven years. He has two studs in Britain and we have been providing surfaces for him since then.

"When he decided to build an arena it was on the cards that he would use us."

The Dubai Equestrian Centre is the home of the national team. It has 147 horses, a floodlit arena, riding school, and dressage arena.

Sheikh Mohammed has earned international recognition as a horse owner and is also an accomplished endurance race rider.

Most of these races are well over 120km and take several hours to complete. Over the last three years he has won 12 endurance champion-ships across Europe and the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai has become renowned for its horse racing and many British jockeys train there during the winter.

The Dubai World Cup, held at the famous Nad Al Sheba course in March, has become the richest horse race in the world.

Equestrian Surfaces was formed 12 years ago, has four depots in the country and employs 20 staff.

AND COALS TO NEWCASTLE...?

AS well as selling sand to the Arabs, the region exports vodka to the Russians. In 2001 Huyton-based drinks maker Halewood International expanded into the country known for its love of the alcoholic spirit.

Red Square vodka was launched in Russia, Kazakhastan, Bulgaria and Hungary from a Romanian winery that Halewood owns. The designer drink has been exported around the world including Eastern Europe.