ALULA: This year’s Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo event from Jan. 17 to 20 will see the participation of some of the sport’s top stars, the Royal Commission for AlUla announced on Tuesday.
Held in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, the eight-team event is the sport’s only organized polo tournament in a desert environment.
Ziad Al-Suhaibani, chief of the sports sector at the commission, said: “The Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo has become a catalyst for AlUla’s emergence as a global home for equestrianism and winter polo in its short yet incredible history.
“Its profile and popularity have grown enormously both regionally and internationally and even more foundations for long-term growth and development will be cemented this year.”
Rami Al-Moallim, vice president of destination management and marketing at the commission, added: “We can’t wait for Jan. 17 when the action at Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo gets underway — it’s going to be a brilliant event and anticipation will be even greater following today’s news. The involvement of some of the sport’s elite players amplifies not only its prestige but also its attractiveness within the international polo community.”
Among the athletes taking part is Argentina’s Adolfo Cambiaso, widely considered the greatest polo player of all time. He makes his way to AlUla alongside Juan Martin Nero, David Stirling, and son Poroto — all teammates at the world-renowned La Dolfina club.
Pablo Mac Donough is also part of the Argentinian contingent alongside female players Lia Salvo and Cambiaso’s daughter, Mia. Britain’s Nina Clarkin is the other female player completing the professional lineup.
The royal dignitaries confirmed for the event include Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan bin Khaled Al-Faisal and Prince Salman bin Mansour bin Nassir Al-Saud.
Prince Abbas bin Ali and Prince Hamza bin Abbas are also competing, as are Anna Dettingen Wallerstein, Carl-Eugen Dettingen Wallerstein and George Spencer Churchill.
The international patrons include Adriano Agosti, Alessandro Barnaba, Sayyu Dantara, Nacho Figueras, Melissa Ganzi, David Paradise, Lila Pearson and Nicky Sen.
The tournament is a part of the commission’s commitment to promote the country’s heritage, culture and arts.
