POLO IN DUBAI The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series has wrapped up its latest season with resounding success. Each year the tournament reaches new heights. 2015 marked the first time ever that the World Polo Tour (WPT) upgraded the Tournament from "Challenge Cup" to the highly coveted "WPT Cup", meaning winners received 60 points. The 18 goal handicap competition is now the highest handicapped event in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, ranking it among the best polo tournaments worldwide. First founded by Mohammed Al Habtoor in 2009, the tournament has grown in tandem with the city of Dubai. It is now the premier regional polo competition of the year, and attracts VIPs, society figures, and senior corporate executives from across the GCC. The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (Dubai Open) is now one of the largest tournament of its kind after Argentina, US and the UK. The event is broken down into two tournaments; The McLaren Silver Cup, which was won by Ghantoot for the second year running, and the Julius Baer Gold Cup, which was claimed by Zedan polo for the first time. The Zedan team included Pablo Mac Donough, who is a two-time "Triple Crown Champion with La Dolfina". Habtoor Polo, led by Mohammed Al Habtoor, won the Hildon Cup this year, which is part of the McLaren Silver Cup, while Abu Dhabi Team took the Bentley Cup, which is played alongside the Gold Cup. A total of 10 teams took part in the competition, including UAE Polo Team, whose patron is Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai Gold Cup Series, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, is played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA). The founder of the event, Mohammed Al Habtoor, said, "The Dubai Gold Cup Series gets better and better each year. In a short space of time, The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series has become the highest handicapped tournament in the region. The tournament, which started off as a 10-12 goal handicap in 2010, to a 16 goal handicap in 2014, has now increased even further to an 18 goal handicap this year. This shows that Dubai is now firmly on the world map as a polo destination." Separately, 2015 marked the start of a new polo tournament, organised by Mohammed Al Habtoor, The Dubai Cup 2015, a medium goal competition for teams between 8-10 goals, and the winners were Bin Drai Polo. Mohammed Al Habtoor added, "Credit has to go to all the patrons and the teams, who have supported the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. We have received tremendous support from the participating teams over the years which has helped the growth of the sport in Dubai to a whole new level. We have big plans for the future for both the Dubai Gold Cup Series and Dubai Cup. In addition, in 2016 we'll open the St. Regis Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club. This will be a great new addition to the Dubai polo circuit and the equestrian community as a whole."