Bentley KSA sponsors desert polo tournament in AlUla

The tournament will take place in stunning settings of sandy dunes, home to many generations of Arab tribes who are known for their skills of horse taming to make their trade trips possible.
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Updated 09 February 2022
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Bentley KSA sponsors desert polo tournament in AlUla

Following the great success of Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo Tournament in 2020, Bentley Saudi Arabia will once again sponsor the event to be held on Feb. 10 in AlUla. Known for its historical and cultural value, AlUla is one of the top cultural and entertainment destinations in Saudi Arabia.

The desert polo tournament is a unique event organized in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation. The event will take place in a breathtaking area where a new chapter of Saudi history will be in the making thanks to horsemanship and the prestigious sport.

The tournament will take place in stunning settings of sandy dunes, home to many generations of Arab tribes who are known for their skills of horse taming to make their trade trips possible amidst the engraved sandstones of the region. The tournament will not only foster this longstanding relationship between men and horseback riding but will also serve as an opportunity for promoting the cultural heritage of AlUla and shedding light on its sporting future.

Peter Smith, general manager of Bentley Saudi Arabia, said: “Bentley’s sponsorship of the Richard Mille Desert Polo Tournament is part of our strategy to support and be present in luxury sports as Bentley Motors has a rich history in supporting such hobbies. The brand has been participating in polo, the traditional field sport globally. It also partook in other opulent sports in the Kingdom such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix and international golf tournaments. Additionally, in partnership with Bentley Golf, it offers a collection of handcrafted, state of the art, bespoke golf equipment on its website for golf enthusiasts.”

The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the organization of the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo Tournament in its second season. Held from Feb. 10-12 in AlUla in cooperation with the Saudi Polo Federation, this event is the only prestigious polo tournament in the world to be staged in a desert environment. It will hold the competition among four teams competing in a specially built arena staged close to Hegra, the first heritage site in Saudi Arabia to be listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Participants in this year’s version of the tournament include some of the world’s leading polo players, including four of the world-famous La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team from Argentina, including Adolfo Cambiaso, the best polo player of all time who has also been named as one of AlUla campaigners.

The 10-handicappers, Pelon Stirling and Pablo Mac Donough, alongside young Saudi talents, will also take part in the tournament.

As one of the high-end events of the annual Winter at Tantora Festival, this unique tournament embodies a new concept of the sport of polo by placing the viewer at the heart of the event in a historic location, where heritage and culture converge.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.