The UAE has one of the busiest polo seasons in the world, and it runs from roughly October to April, exactly when the weather turns kind. Four clubs between Dubai and Abu Dhabi host the matches, a single national federation sets the rules, and some of the best players on the planet fly in each winter to compete for cups that have been played here for more than a decade.
You do not need to own a horse, or even ride one, to enjoy it. Most tournament finals are open to the public, many are free, and several clubs will put a complete beginner on a pony with a mallet in their hand. This guide covers how the sport works, who runs it, where it is played, and how to get closer to it this season.
How polo works
Polo is played by two teams of four riders who try to hit a small ball through the other team's goal posts using a long wooden mallet. A match is split into periods called chukkas, each about seven minutes long. Players switch to a fresh pony between chukkas, which is why a single team can bring dozens of horses to one tournament.
The number you will see in almost every tournament name is the handicap. Every registered player is rated on a scale that runs from minus 2 for a beginner up to 10 for the very best in the world. Add up the four players on a team and you get the team handicap. A "20 goal" tournament like the Gold Cup means each team's four ratings add up to around 20, which puts it among the highest levels of polo played anywhere. A "2 to 4 goal" event is where newer players and amateurs compete.
In the UAE, the UAE Polo Federation publishes the official handicap list each season. The 2026/27 list has 127 registered players. Six are rated 8 goals, including Argentine stars Gonzalo Pieres, Lucas Monteverde and Antonio Heguy. Emirati players on the list include Mohammed Bin Drai at 3, Habtoor Al Habtoor at 2, and Sheikha Maitha, who captained the first all-Emirati women's polo team, at 0.
Most UAE teams follow the same pattern: a team owner, called the patron, plays alongside three hired professionals. That is why you will often see a 0 goal patron playing next to an 8 goal Argentine.
Who runs polo in the UAE
The UAE Polo Federation is the official governing body for polo in the country. It sets the rules, keeps the handicap list, approves the tournament calendar, coordinates the clubs and registered players, and looks after rider and horse safety.
The federation is chaired by Mohammed Al Habtoor, who also founded the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. Saeed Bin Drai is vice chairman. Polo runs in his family: his father set up Dubai's first polo club in 1974. In those early years, polo in the UAE was played on sand rather than grass. The board also has separate committees for handicaps, tournaments, umpires and discipline.
The federation's website is the best single place to check the season's fixtures, read match reports and watch replays of recent finals.
The four polo clubs in the UAE
Four clubs are affiliated with the federation: three in Dubai and one just inside Abu Dhabi. Each has its own distinct character.
Club | Where | Opened | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
Dubailand, off Al Qudra Road | 2016 | Home of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. Four grass fields, a five-star hotel on site and the busiest public calendar in the country. | |
Arabian Ranches, Dubai | 2006 | Run by Emaar. Two match fields plus a practice field, a polo academy for adults and children, and hosts the Emaar Polo Cup and UAE Polo Federation Cup. | |
Al Aweer Road, Dubai | 1994 | Founded by Ali Albwardy, whose Dubai Polo Team became famous on the English high-goal circuit. Four grass fields on a private estate with a boutique hotel and riding school. | |
Exit 399, Abu Dhabi to Dubai road | 1994 | Built on the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed and run under the patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Eight grass fields and Abu Dhabi's only polo club. |
Ghantoot sits about 15 minutes from Dubai Marina, so all four clubs are within easy reach of most Dubai residents.
Polo pricing
Lessons across the four clubs start at AED 440 for a junior group session and run up to AED 849 for an adult private lesson, with Ghantoot the cheapest for lessons, while Desert Palm’s AED 12,500 annual polo membership costs far less than Al Habtoor’s AED 42,445 plus a joining fee.
The season at a glance
The 2026/27 season is already under way. Al Habtoor Polo Club opened it on 10 October, followed by the Ladies Charity Cup on 24 October and the Halloween Cup, a 2 to 4 goal event, from 26 to 31 October. Next up are the AHPC League in November and the UAE National Day Cup later that month.
The full 2026/27 calendar has not been published yet, but the season tends to follow the same shape every year. Here is how last season ran, according to the federation's tournament list:
Tournament | Level | Club | 2025/26 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
UAE National Day Cup | 10 goal | Al Habtoor | 25 to 30 Nov 2025 |
Sir Winston Churchill Cup | 8 to 10 goal | Al Habtoor | 6 to 13 Dec 2025 |
Sultan Bin Zayed Cup | 6 to 8 goal | Ghantoot | 11 to 28 Dec 2025 |
UAE Polo Federation Cup | 10 goal | Dubai Polo & Equestrian | 5 to 17 Jan 2026 |
18 to 20 goal | Al Habtoor | 10 to 24 Jan 2026 | |
Emirates Polo Championship | 10 goal | Ghantoot | 20 Jan to 1 Feb 2026 |
Gold Cup | 20 goal | Al Habtoor | 28 Jan to 14 Feb 2026 |
10 goal | Dubai Polo & Equestrian | 3 to 15 Feb 2026 | |
Ghantoot International Polo Championship | 20 goal | Ghantoot | 21 Feb to 8 Mar 2026 |
Dubai Challenge Cup | 8 to 10 goal | Al Habtoor | 7 to 14 Mar 2026 |
The headline months are January and February, when the high-goal Silver Cup and Gold Cup bring the world's top professionals to Dubai. The Silver Cup officially opens the UAE's high-goal season, and the Gold Cup counts toward the World Polo Tour rankings.
Last season, Dubai Wolves by Thera won the 17th Gold Cup, while Habtoor Polo took both the Ghantoot International Polo Championship and the 9th Dubai Challenge Cup, edging Jehangiri Polo 7 to 6.5 in the final.
How to get involved
Watch a match. Al Habtoor Polo Club welcomes spectators to its tournaments, and its big final days are proper social occasions: IFZA's Party at the Polo drew more than 4,000 guests the season before last. Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club is open to non-members for events, lessons and meals. Desert Palm has traditionally been more private, so check before you go. Can't make it in person? The federation links to a live stream of major matches.
What to know on match day. Arrive before the first chukka, bring sunglasses and a hat for afternoon games, and join the half-time tradition of walking onto the field to stamp down the divots, the clumps of turf kicked up by the ponies.
Try it yourself. You do not need your own horse. The polo academy at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club teaches adults and children, starting with an introduction to polo and moving on to group lessons, stick and ball practice and instructional chukkas on club horses. Al Habtoor Polo Club runs its own academy, and Desert Palm includes lessons as part of its membership. Being comfortable in the saddle helps, so many beginners take a few riding lessons first. Clubs set rules such as maximum rider weight and protective eyewear, so ask when you book.
Follow along. The federation posts results, handicaps and fixtures on its website and on Instagram.
Some quick FAQs about UAE polo
When is the polo season in the UAE? The season runs from October to April, when the weather is cool enough for horses and players. The 2026/27 season opened at Al Habtoor Polo Club on 10 October 2026.
Who governs polo in the UAE? The UAE Polo Federation is the official governing body. It sets the rules, publishes player handicaps, approves the tournament calendar and coordinates the clubs. It is chaired by Mohammed Al Habtoor.
How many polo clubs are there in the UAE? Four clubs are affiliated with the federation: Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club and Desert Palm Polo Club in Dubai, and Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club near the Abu Dhabi and Dubai border.
Is there polo in Abu Dhabi? Yes. Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, founded in 1994, is Abu Dhabi's only polo club. It has eight grass fields and hosts tournaments such as the Emirates Polo Championship and the Ghantoot International Polo Championship.
What is the biggest polo tournament in the UAE? The Dubai Gold Cup is the headline event. It is a 20 goal tournament played at Al Habtoor Polo Club in late January and February, and it counts toward the World Polo Tour rankings. The Silver Cup, also 20 goal, opens the high-goal season in January.
What does "20 goal" or "10 goal" mean in a tournament name? It refers to the team handicap. Each player is rated from minus 2 for a beginner to 10 for the best in the world, and a team's four ratings are added together. The higher the number, the higher the level of play.
Can I watch polo in the UAE? Yes. Al Habtoor Polo Club welcomes spectators to its tournaments, and Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club is open to non-members for events. Entry and hospitality arrangements vary by event, so check the club's website before you go.
Can I watch UAE polo online? The UAE Polo Federation links to a live stream of major matches on its website, and posts videos of recent finals in its video gallery.
Can beginners or children learn polo in the UAE? Yes. Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club runs a polo academy for adults and children, with introductory lessons, group lessons and practice sessions on club horses. Al Habtoor Polo Club also has an academy, and Desert Palm includes lessons with membership.
Do I need to know how to ride before learning polo? It helps a lot. Being comfortable in the saddle makes learning the game far easier, so many beginners take riding lessons first. Clubs also have rules such as a maximum rider weight and protective eyewear, so ask when you book.
