The First Desert Polo: All You Need to Know Right Here

Saudi Arabia’s ancient city of AlUla is in the limelight in 2023. It will once again play host to the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, the world’s only modern polo tournament to be staged in a desert, from Thursday January 26 to Saturday January 28, 2023. Organised by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, Desert Polo is the first modern polo tournament in the world to be staged in a desert environment. 

About AlUla

Located 1,100km 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. The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tickets and packages

You can book different kinds of packages and tickets to the tournament, including a three day access pass. This 3-day access pass allows you to enjoy the high-energy weekend-long tournament from start to finish. You can dress to impress at this exclusive tournament in AlUla and be a part of the celebrations as Adolfo Cambiaso and La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team are welcomed to the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo once again.

Competing teams

The eight competing teams will be led by an expert player from global polo icons, with the world famous La Dolfina Polo Team players back again joined by Facundo Pieres and Gonzalito Pieres and other professional players, while invited patrons and players drawn from both Saudi Arabia and the global polo community will make up the sides.

Putting your best foot forward

Like any sporting event, spectators and visitors not only rejoice in the game, but also in the opportunity to put their best fashion foot forward! Richard Mille is the official timekeeper of the exclusive two-day event (amongst some of the most renowned polo players participating in the tournament was a member of the Richard Mille family and long-term brand partner, Pablo Mac Donough).

“We are proud to be part of this significant event and to support the continuous development of polo in Saudi Arabia. The AlUla region provides the perfect natural stage to witness some of the greatest polo stars on the planet in action,” Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille EMEA.

Make a trip out of the sporting event

The region has some stunning landscapes, and you can see gorgeous images here. You can explore the region and its many attractions, making the desert polo tournament a stepping stone to a great vacation.