• • Mohammed Al Habtoor, during the Gold Cup in Dubai
  • A happy Mohammed, winner of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup
  • Greeted by HM Queen Elizabeth II, at Guards Polo Club
  • Mohammed and brother Rashid, in UK
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Mohammed Al Habtoor

Chairman of the Gold Cup Series and big promoter of polo in Dubai

"There are many high goal players who want to play in Dubai"

By PoloLine

Mohammed Al Habtoor is one of the most enthusiastic promoters of polo in Dubai. He is the Chairman of the Gold Cup Series, that has been settled three years ago at the Habtoor's family club, Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. Starting as a 12-goal, the competition has grown up both playing-wise and organization-wise, and currently, it is one of the most prestigious events in the Middle East. The growth of the Gold Cup Series has been so big, that attracts a large number of attendance, who enjoy excellent games, and have the opportunity to see teams comprised by both local players and from other countries. Without doubts, the biggest attraction of the 2012 edition of the tournaments at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club was Nachi Heguy, who become the first high-goal player who played in the Gold Cup Series.

Not only that: the Gold Cup, that had Mohammed's team, Habtoor, as the 2012 winners, have just received the certificate to enter the World Polo Tour, in the category Challenge Cup. Therefore, the Gold Cup became the first tournament of the region that awards points for the international ranking of polo.

PoloLine met up with Mohammed Al Habtoor, in Dubai, to talk about many issues, among others, the growth and the big success of the competitons at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, and his plans for the near future.


What are the changes that featured the Gold Cup Series in 2012?
When we started, a couple of years ago, the Gold Cup had 12-goal teams. Now, we are very competitive as we have 15-goal teams, which means that teams like Zedan, Bin Drai, Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi bring in their very best horses from Argentina, England... 
There are many people who still don't know how polo in Dubai is. What can you tell about the organization and horsebreeding in Dubai?
There are three clubs in the UAS: Ghantoot, which belongs to Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Ali Albwardy's Desert Palm; and our Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. 
 
At first, the Gold Cup was a 12-goal competition; then, raised to 15 goal. What can we expect for the next years?
We have plans to take the Dubai Gold Cup to high goal, that means 20 goal. But the problem in Dubai is that we don't have enough fields; we can't play in clubs that have only two fields. We will see, anyway, next year we will have 16-goal.

This year you had Nachi Heguy, who became the first high-goal player to play the Dubai Gold Cup. Have you talked to him?
He told me that he would come to play in Dubai anytime and that he would prioritize coming to Dubai during this time and not play anywhere else. This is because it's a place that's close to the city, plus there are many tournaments around. In Dubai  you have everything much closer - the city, the beach, and the weather is just beautiful. You can do anything you want. There are many high goal players who want to come.
 
Are there any plans to do high goal exhibitions, just like last year?
That was the second time we did the King's Cup Exhibition match. The first was a 18-goal match and after that we did a 26-goal game. The idea is do a benefit game, because it gives the best image of Dubai as well as to the polo players who want to improve and buy horses.

You have the same polo manager as Santa Maria Polo Club, Santiago Torreguitar.
Yes. We went to Spain to play medium goal in the last three years. Santiago has always been so nice with us, he does a great job and he is very professional. He was the person we needed.

Do you plan to expand the Habtoor organization in England?
Yes; in fact, it's two years we have plans to buy fields there, have stables... We do have plans, but I can't confirm much right now, until have everything in my hands. 

So, you were in Sotogrande, Palm Beach, England, but not yet in Argentina...
Well, I am a bit lazy to travel there!!!! (laughs). Seriously, the trip to Argentina it's very long, but I plan to go  with the idea to see more horsed; improve my horses' quality, get them for high goal as well as I prepare myself to play in that level.

Can you describe the patrons, who are your friends, in a couple of words?
They are always ready to help, they are not demanding, they always want to come, and appreciate what we did for polo in Dubai. That's what we need.

Read the complete interview in the next issue or PQ International