• World’s first organised desert polo tournament returns from 17-18 January 2025
• Six teams will include polo superstars, Royal dignitaries, and international patrons
• Full schedule of matches and events at AlFursan Equestrian Village released

AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 06 January 2025:

The 2025 Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo returns this month promising a weekend packed with memorable experiences, combining world-class polo with captivating entertainment and cultural activities.

Taking place from 17-18 January 2025 at AlFursan Equestrian Village, the world’s first organised desert polo tournament goes beyond the sport by offering a dynamic program of events that bring to life the magic of AlUla while celebrating the sport of polo and Saudi Arabia’s deep connection with equestrianism.

The venue opens at midday on both days, welcoming guests into a lively atmosphere with DJ sets, live music, and immersive entertainment throughout the day. The polo action on Friday will begin from 1.30pm with three successive matches featuring some of the biggest stars in the sport. Following a 30-minute period of surface levelling, which will include live entertainment, three more matches will be played in the late afternoon, starting from 3.45pm. The day will then conclude with a networking meet-and-greet session in the evening.

The polo stakes are raised even higher on Saturday, beginning with the Wooden Spoon Match between the bottom two of the six teams at 12.30pm. That will be followed by the Subsidiary Final at 2.15pm, and the Main Final at 4pm. An awards ceremony to crown the champions and issue prizes will then end another unforgettable year at Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo.

Throughout the two days of competition, guests can explore AlFursan Village, where live performances, interactive activations, and special cultural experiences ensure a thriving hub of enjoyment and discovery. Meanwhile the Kids Zone has a range of activities and games to enjoy.

Additionally, with premium food and beverage options and polo merchandise, the 2025 Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo provides something for everyone.

This year’s tournament will feature an illustrious lineup of polo’s finest players, led by Adolfo Cambiaso, the founder of the famed La Dolfina Team and widely regarded as the greatest of all time. Cambiaso will be joined in AlUla by his children Adolfo “Poroto” Cambiaso Jr. and Mia Cambiaso, while Pablo MacDonough, Nacho Figueras, and Mille Hine will complete the accomplished roster of professionals.

A distinguished group of Royal Patrons will compete alongside the professionals in the tournament, including HRH Prince Sultan bin Khaled al Faisal, HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman al Saud, HRH Prince Abbas bin Ali, HRH Prince Hamza bin Abbas, Earl of Medina Harry Louis David Mountbatten, and Clare Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven.

The team rosters will be completed by International Patrons, with Sarah Siegel Magness, Ploy Bhinsaeng, Mohammed ElSewedy, Miguel Morel, Phillip Muller, and Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi all confirmed to participate.

The six teams – AlUla, Richard Mille, Bentley, Budget SA, Dadan, and Ikmah – will be engaged in two days of thrilling and intense matches competing for the prestigious Desert Polo trophy, all set within the spectacular surroundings of AlUla and the region’s stunning natural landscape.

Organised by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo has become a landmark event to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s equestrian heritage while showcasing AlUla as a premium destination for cultural and sporting excellence.

About AlUla Moments:

The AlUla Moments calendar was launched at the end of 2021 and introduced new festivals and events to celebrate and unlock AlUla’s stories, uncover its secrets, and celebrate local and international cultures. With 7,000 years of continuous human civilisations and home to some of the most sophisticated ancient kingdoms of antiquity, AlUla is no stranger to social gatherings and cultural celebrations.

AlUla Moments calendar comprises of five festivals offering diverse experiences in art, culture, music, nature, wellness, equestrian activities, dining, and astronomy. The AlUla Wellness Festival featuring the latest practices to engage the mind, body and soul; Winter at Tantora, the original AlUla celebration of heritage, culture, fashion and music; the Ancient Kingdoms Festival offers immersive events acknowledging the ancient civilisations that lived in AlUla and its neighboring oases in Khaybar and Tayma; AlUla Skies Festival with the popular hot air balloons and stargazing experiences; and AlUla Arts Festival bringing together contemporary and ancient art events and experiences.

In addition to the festivals AlUla Moments calendar offers a number of marquee events, including AZIMUTH and Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, along with the heritage sports events such as AlFursan Endurance Cup, in addition to world-class fashion, adventure and sporting events.

For more information, please visit experiencealula.com  

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, which has been selected as one of the World’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by the UNWTO.