Welcome to the Royal Polo and Equestrian Club, Prince of Wales

I was pleased to hear that Prince William will visit the Kingdom for the first time as the crown prince of the UK. I have known the prince since the early days of our foundation’s flagship event, the charitable GCC Polo Cup, which I founded nearly 25 years ago.

The BMG Foundation Polo Cup began with a conversation between King Charles III and me when he was the Prince of Wales, recognizing the importance of increased cultural and sporting exchanges between Saudi Arabia and the UK. Since then, we have dedicated ourselves to creating a platform for these exchanges while also supporting noble causes.

This annual event showcases the strong connections between Saudi Arabia and Britain in the social, cultural, and charitable fields. BMG Financial Group, through its charitable arm, the BMG Foundation, organized this event, with proceeds supporting charitable organizations in both Saudi Arabia and the UK.

What I admire about the Prince of Wales is his dedication to supporting charities. Prince William is deeply involved in a wide range of charitable and humanitarian causes, with a focus on the environment, mental health, and support for young people.

Among other notable charitable activities, he is involved with the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the main organization for William and Catherine’s philanthropic efforts addressing issues such as mental health, conservation, and early childhood development, as well as the Earthshot Prize — a global environmental project launched under his sponsorship to find and fund innovative solutions to repair the planet by 2030.

Launched in 2020, the Earthshot initiative aims to inspire global efforts to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges. It awards five $1 million prizes each year across five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.

As part of our foundation’s plans, we intend to host our charitable polo cups twice a year — once in London during the summer and once in Riyadh during the fall — especially in anticipation of opening a world-class polo field set within a beautiful landscape overlooking Wadi Safar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is worth noting that Diriyah places a high priority on the environment, integrating sustainability into its core development strategy as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. As a large-scale project, Diriyah employs eco-friendly practices throughout its design, construction, and operations.

For someone who has been organizing prestigious polo tournaments between the two kingdoms for over 20 years, having the Prince of Wales play at the Royal Polo and Equestrian Club in Wadi Safar, part of the Diriyah master plan, once it is completed next year, will be a historic moment for polo fans worldwide.

• Basil M.K. Al-Ghalayini is chairman and CEO of BMG Financial Group.