The world’s first modern polo tournament set in a one-of-a-kind desert environment, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, has returned to AlUla with a fabulous third edition from AlUla’s Equestrian Village between.
Held in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation (SPF) and taking place during the flagship festival of Winter at Tantora, this year’s Richard Mille Desert Polo got bigger and better than ever. Some of the sport’s best players and biggest names have made their way to AlUla for a tournament unlike any other, including Adolfo Cambiaso alongside his teammates from La Dolfina. The players from La Dolfina have also been joined by Pablo Mac Donough, Richard Mille’s Ambassador.
Featuring impeccable equestrianism, incredible skill, and high-speed action of the highest caliber, the 2024 edition sees eight teams face off in a series of adrenaline-packed matches over four days, set against the stunning backdrop of AlUla’s breathtaking canyons.
Since its debut, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo has morphed into a flagship event in the global equestrian calendar, as well as a mainstay in Saudi Arabia’s sporting calendar. The two editions in 2020 and 2022 have welcomed royalties, dignitaries and invited patrons alongside the best players and teams internationally, including La Dolfina.
While consolidating AlUla’s status as an international polo destination, the tournament has also become a key component of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s (RCU) equestrian commitment to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s long-held historic ties to horsemanship heritage, culture, and the arts.
This time around, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo is once again set to welcome celebrity audiences and avid fans from across the region and around the world, as well as professional female players for the first time such as Nina Clarkin, Lia Salvo and Mia Cambiaso.
With luxury hospitality, live entertainment, and much more alongside an incredible atmosphere and professional polo of the highest order, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo is a ‘must attend’ event offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
RICHARD MILLE ALULA DESERT POLO – THE TEAMS:
SAUDIA: Adolfo Cambiaso, Sayyu Dantata, HRH Sultan bin Khaled Al Faisal.
ALULA: Poroto Cambiaso, Nicky Sen, HRH Prince Salman bin Mansoor bin Nassir Al Saud.
SAB: David Stirling, Alessandro Barnaba, Melissa Ganzi.
BENTLEY: Juan Martín Nero, Adriano Agosti, Lila Pearson.
RICHARD MILLE: Pablo Mac Donough, David Paradice, Yoanna Hanbury.
KHAYBAR: Nina Clarkin, HSH Carl-Eugen Oettingen Wallerstein, HRH Prince Hamza bin Abbas.
TAYMA: Lia Salvo, George Spencer Churchill, HRH Prince Abbas bin Ali.
DADAN: Mia Cambiaso, Nacho Figueras, HSH Anna Oettingen Wallerstein.
Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo will continue as follows:
Friday January 19
Subsidiary Semifinals:
12:30 h: SAB vs. ALULA
14:05 h: TAYMA vs. KHAYBAR
Richard Mille Cup Semifinals:
15:40 h: SAUDIA vs. DADAN
17:15 h: BENTLEY vs. RICHARD MILLE
Saturday January 20
12:30 h: SUBSIDIARY FINAL
14:05 h: RICHARD MILLE CUP FINAL
ABOUT ALULA:
Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of 111 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement. Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Roman Empire after the Roman’s conquered the Nabataeans in 106 CE.
In addition to Hegra, AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages, which has been recently listed on the UNESCO’s memory of the World Register.
Also AlUla Old Town Village, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th century, has been selected as one of the World’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by the UNWTO. Additionally, Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, which are key sites in the story and conquests of Lawrence of Arabia.
For more information, please visit: www.experiencealula.com