Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

2 0 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T he weekend after British Polo Day Abu Dhabi, on Friday 25 March – the eve of the world-famous Dubai World Cup – British Polo Day Dubai brought a touch of quintessential British equine heritage to the Emirate in partnership with Mohammed Al Habtoor, the Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Al Habtoor Group at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. Once again, the event kicked off withCavalry &Guards Camel Polo. Swapping camels for pedals, Hackett Rest of World beat Taylor Morris UAE 3-0 in Brompton bicycle polo. In the RJI Capital Oxbridge vs Shangri-La Dubai Gulf Polo match, there was outstanding play by ten-year-old Lucasito Monteverde, playing alongside his father, and twelve-year-old Saif Al Ghurair, with the Oxbridge team narrowly winning 3-2. Max Kirchhoff of the winning team proudly completed a triple-crown playing in all camel, bike and equine polo events. Jack Richardson collected the bespoke-commissioned British Silverware RJI Capital Plate presented by James Houghton and Gerhard Hecker for the RJI Capital Oxbridge Polo Team. In the main fixture, the Royal Salute British Exiles vs Bentley Habtoor Polomatch, theHabtoor teamcame out victorious 6-2 with Marcos Panelo and Guillermo Cutino scoring all goals and brothers Ahmed Al Habtoor andHabtoor Al Habtoor providing some strong support. Giselle Houghton and Mr Ghazi Al Madani from the Dubai Sports Council presented the British Polo Day Cup to Habtoor Al Habtoor for the Bentley Habtoor Polo Team. The sprightly Poderoso, ridden by Guillermo Cutino, was named Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Best Playing Pony by Marc de Panafieu, the talented Saif Al Ghurair picked up the Holland & Holland Shot of the Day presented by Steven Lamprell, and lucky guest Tracie Williams won the Harrods Luck of the Draw presented by none other than the Harrods Green Man. TomHudson, British Polo Day’s Co-Founder, and UAE resident, gives Simply Abu Dhabi an exclusive interview: What is new for British Polo Day in 2016? There are two very exciting developments: RJI Capital has become British Polo Day’s title partner, and Bentley has become a new partner. What do you look for in a title partner? With Ron Wahid of RJI Capital and his amazing team, we have had a meeting of minds. RJI Capital recognised that with a global platform for like-minded individuals with a passion for polo and a proven commitment to philanthropy, the BPD-RJI partnership demonstrates our shared values. It allows us to bring together key decision-makers and influencers in a unique environment where business meets pleasure through polo. We have been able to become much more than just a polo event. Can you give us an example? It was a real privilege to welcome back to British Polo Day Abu Dhabi H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who is the new UAE Minister of State for Tolerance, and introduce her to Baroness Scotland of Asthal, who is the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. They are two of the most powerful women on Earth, and it was interesting talking to them about their new roles and the part that sport and business have to play in the Middle East and Commonwealth. We were pleased that British Polo Day Abu Dhabi provided the platform and forum for these sorts of exchanges. How did the partnership with Bentley come about? The launch of the new Bentayga, combining unparalleled luxury with sporting ability and off-road performance, was perfect for a British Polo Day partnership. The launch provided the catalyst for conversations with Robin Peel, the Head of Bentley International Marketing and Communications who immediately saw the synergies between the brands. Our partner in Dubai, Mohammed Al Habtoor, is also Bentley’s local partner and a great friend of British Polo Day so it could not have worked better – great teamwork! What other brands do you work with? We celebrate the best of British and the top brands and companies in our host countries. Along with RJI Capital and Bentley, we work very closely withHarrods – the GreenMan was flown out by Etihad and is a familiar sight for many. Other international brands are the likes of Jaeger-LeCoultre whose history is intertwined with polo, as the iconic Reverso was specifically made for polo players so that they could flip the face to protect it from flying balls. In addition, with Royal Salute, Hackett London, Justerini & Brooks, Charles Russell Speechlys, British Silverware, Global Partnership Family Offices, Holland & Holland, True Luxury Travel, Charles McDowell Properties, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Etihad, Brompton, Clinova, TaylorMorris Eyewear, Billionaire.com, D.RHarris &Co, Floris and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts – we couldn’t ask for better partners who all bring something special to the British Polo Day experience. It is not just about the brand partnerships, is it? Philanthropy is hugely important for us. At our 50th British Polo Day, taking place in Great Britain in June, we will hopefully break through our target of US$2 million raised for good causes. In each country we raise money for two charities, an international charity and a local charity, both of which mean something to our patrons and partners. Do people fly out for British Polo Days? Yes, absolutely – often it might be someone’s first visit to the host country, and we try and give them the best possible experience. In the UAE, we combine the events themselves with, for example, desert safaris and the Dubai WorldCup. Our events in India are truly spectacular, with HH Maharaja of Jaipur and HH Maharaja of Jodhpur both generously hosting us and showing us everything that Royal Rajasthan has to offer. Which other British Polo Days are you excited about this year? There are two that I am looking forward to in particular. One is returning to St. Tropez where we originally held an event in 2012, but the club has since been totally renovated so it should be a completely different experience. The second is the award winning Nihiwatu on Sumba Island. Nestled in the jungle on a remote Indonesian island, British Polo Day brought polo there for the first ever time last year, and I am excited about taking my family there this year, especially as Emirates now flies to Bali direct! Finally, not forgetting the actual polo, what do you see as the future for polo in the UAE? I see two very exciting developments. The first is the development of the new St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club. This will redefine polo-living, with a 136-key St Regis Hotel as well as more than 150 villas. There will also be a state-of-the-art polo academy with four polo fields and a riding school with 500 stables. This development, costing AED1 billion, I believe will change the face of polo in the UAE. In addition, there is an exciting development with the next generation of players. Before British Polo Day Dubai, HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, herself a great polo player, asked if two of the best polo playing youngsters in the UAEmight play, the ten-year-old Lucasito Monteverde and the twelve-year-old Saif Al Ghurair, and I said of course as they are the future. Likewise we have arranged for the younger generation of the Al Maktoum and Al Nahyan family to have polo lessons, and I see, as often in the region, where they lead, others will follow. The UAE has already catapulted itself into the top four polo destinations in the world, so it will be interesting to see what the next few years bring! B R I T I S H P O L O D A Y A B U D H A B I & D U B A I TomHudson and Ed Olver welcome HE Sheikha Lubna al Qasimi TomHudson with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, Richard Draycott and HE Philip Parham