Fixture for the 15th Gold Cup 2024 Tournament Revealed during Annual Press Conference and Live Draw
DUBAI, UAE
05 February 2024 - DUBAI, UAE: During the press conference and live draw held at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort hotel, the official schedule for the Gold Cup 2024 Dubai Open tournament was formally revealed. The event witnessed the active participation of teams, sponsors, and members of the media, marking the beginning of an exciting journey towards the tournament.
The much-anticipated Dubai Open is set to unfold from the 7th to the 24th of February, featuring a competitive 20-goal handicap on its 15th year. This year's edition brings together six formidable teams vying for the prestigious championship trophy, marking a significant showdown among champions.
As one of the flagship events within the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (DPGCS), the Gold Cup holds a distinguished status, acknowledged and certified by the esteemed World Polo Tour (WPT). The tournament operates under the WPT Championship Cup, elevating the competition to one of the most prestigious in terms of points on the global polo stage.
An integral part of the UAE Polo Federation, the tournaments under the DPGCS adhere to the regulations of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA). Every match is conducted under the watchful eye of certified HPA umpires, ensuring the highest standards of play in alignment with international polo regulations. The Gold Cup, within this dynamic series, stands as a testament to the commitment to excellence and sportsmanship within the vibrant polo community of Dubai.
This year’s Dubai Open is set to receive significant support from esteemed sponsors. Bentley takes center stage as the main sponsor, joined by co-sponsors MAK Engineering Consultancy, Kludi (part of RAK Ceramics group) Hildon, and Diamond Lease. U.S. Polo Assn. as the official apparel sponsor, contributing to the tournament's distinctive style and identity.
Adding to the collaborative spirit, Pololine TV and Al Badia step in as valued media partners, amplifying the reach and coverage of the Dubai Open.
Mohammed Al Habtoor, CEO & Vice Chairman of Al Habtoor Group was joined by Joseph Tayar, the General Manager of Bentley Emirates, HE Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, Wassim Haidar, Vice President – UAE Sales at RAK Ceramics PJSC, and Santiago Torreguitar, Tournament Director of the UAE Polo Federation.
Mohammed Al Habtoor, the CEO & Vice Chairman of Al Habtoor Group, expressed pride in announcing the 15th consecutive year of hosting the esteemed Dubai Open by the Dubai Polo Gold Cup organization. He highlighted the upcoming tournament as a gathering of top-tier polo players from across the globe, emphasizing the event as a manifestation of their deep-seated passion for the sport. Al Habtoor eagerly anticipated welcoming not only the players but also their families and fans to partake in the excitement, showcasing the commitment to advancing the "Sport of Kings." He underscored how this longstanding tradition has become a source of pride for the United Arab Emirates.
Participating teams of the Gold Cup 2024 tournament includes:
- Bangash Polo Team by Dodson&Horrell: Patron Haider Bangash
- Dubai Wolves Polo Team by CAFU: Patron Habtoor Al Habtoor
- Ghantoot Polo Team: Patron Nasser Al Shamsi
- Habtoor Polo Team: Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor
- UAE Polo Team: Patron Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
- Mahra Polo Team by AIX Investment Group: Patron Tariq Al Habtoor
MAIN SPONSOR
Bentley Emirates
Bentley Emirates, the largest Bentley Dealer in the world is the. As part of the Prestige Cars Division of Al Habtoor Motors, Bentley Emirates have been the sole authorized importer of Bentley motor cars in the UAE since 1982. Driven by professionalism, quality and high standards, Bentley Emirates continues to serve with utmost confidence and is poised to scale even greater heights.
Bentley Emirates is set to open the doors to its new state of the art showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road the 2nd quarter of this year. This exciting development will be the first of its kind of automobile showroom experience where customers will not only come to see the range of vehicles but as well experience the World of Bentley. Al Habtoor Motors also recently opened the world’s first Bentley Cafe & Boutique in heart of Dubai Marina on the ground floor of Al Habtoor Business Tower. It provides a perfect venue to mirror the elements that make up Bentley's DNA, which has both contemporary and classic elements.
About Al Habtoor Motors - Prestige Cars Division
Part of the well-established, Dubai based business conglomerate Al Habtoor Group, the Prestige Cars Division is the official dealer of some of the world's coveted marques namely Bentley, Bugatti and McLaren in the UAE.
Website: www.dubai.bentleymotors.com
CO-SPONSORS
MAK Engineering Consultancy
MAK Engineering Consultancy is a professional engineering consulting firm, established in 2014 in Dubai, UAE, with an unlimited license, to provide engineering design services for the various market sectors, including industrial manufacturing, corporate owned facilities, educational, hospitality, health care and development services.
Website: www.mak-consultant.com
KLUDI
KLUDI is a contemporary high-end brand for sophisticated bathrooms and high-quality kitchens. A perfect combination of 100-year tradition as a German fittings specialist and water expert with pioneering innovations and perfectly formed design. KLUDI solutions convince through German engineering and premium quality, high reliability in their function and sustainability in their use, an incomparable and timeless elegance in design
Website: https://www.kludi.com/en/
Diamond Lease
Diamondlease a fully owned subsidiary of the Al Habtoor Group, was established in 1996 to offer automotive rental and leasing solutions, as an alternative to owning and maintaining vehicles, to Corporate and Individual customers in the UAE. Diamond lease serves more than 700 companies and multinational conglomerates operating in UAE, handling and managing their transportation requirements.
Diamondlease is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company with a fleet of over 8400 vehicles. It was the first local Car Rental Company in UAE to receive an ISO certification and has proudly held the accreditation since 1999. In recognition of its sound business ethics and outstanding customer service, Diamondlease was one of the first car rental companies to have been nominated as a member of the prestigious Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) in 2003. Diamondlease has been awarded the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Travel Awards being adjudged the “Best Car Rental Company” – Local Brand for 7 years in a row.
Website: www.diamondlease.com
Hildon Water
Hildon is an English Natural Mineral Water which lies deep within the chalk hills of Hampshire, as a result it is of the highest quality. Bottled at its source on the Hildon Estate in Hampshire and Imported from the UK, it is distributed exclusively by Top Shelf Beverages in the region, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is a proud sponsor and supporter of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2016.
Website: www.hildon.com
Official Apparel Sponsor
USPA
U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the non-profit governing body for the sport of polo in the United States and one of the oldest sports governing bodies, having been founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through over 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores and thousands of department stores, sporting goods channels, independent retailers, and e-commerce, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel for men, women, and children, as well as accessories and footwear in more than 190 countries worldwide. U.S. Polo Assn. was named one of the top global sports licensors alongside the NFL, NBA, and MLB, according to License Global.
Website: uspoloassnglobal.com
Follow @uspoloassn
MEDIA PARTNERS
POLO LINE TV
PLTV is the first online streaming polo site, broadcasting over 25 tournaments LIVE per year around the globe, reaching +200k viewers. The production and edition of exclusive content makes PLTV the most comprehensive polo channel in the world.
Website: https://www.pololine.tv/
Al Badia
Since 2008, Al Badia, the prestigious Arabic venture is devoted to bringing the latest news and views on the equestrian world, Polo sporting and lifestyle. In fact, it is a tribute to the age-old passion for the thoroughbred, an integral part of the rich Arabian culture.
Al Badia focuses a gamut of information on the highly valued sport of horseracing, including information about events taking place in the Arab world and about organizations and services sought by equestrians of all disciplines. Besides being a specialized lifestyle magazine to meet the refined taste of the equestrian community, it features a wide range of information including very exclusive coverages like interviews of the Sheikhs and the who’s who of the Arab world. It targets the crème de la crème of the society and is widely circulated across different regions of the Gulf & Middle East.
Al Badia is a good platform to showcase premium brands, as it has a wide readership comprising sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities, celebrities and the royalty.
Website: http://albadiamagazine.com/
BARNES
The BARNES Dubai agency offers you services of excellence in the most sought-after sectors of Dubai. We offer apartments for sale or for rent. The proposed properties are located in renowned residential areas.
BARNES Dubai supports you during the acquisition of your property, advises you, and provides you with its services in legal and tax advice. We pay particular attention to the ethics of real estate transactions, so we make the respect and trust of our customers a priority.
Website: https://www.barnes-dubai.com/
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Dubai Sports Council:
Dubai Sports Council is the official government body responsible for the development of the sport sector in the Emirate of Dubai. Under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and its 14 Board Members; the Council supervises the work of nine local clubs in Dubai, six of which practice a variety of individual and or team sports, such as football, handball and archery; in addition to the chess club and a club devoted for those with special needs.
Since its inception in 2006, with the vision of creating a unique sporting community, the Council organizes various annual major Sports Championships and Conferences, in cooperation with multiple International/National sports bodies and Dubai Government Entities, such as the Dubai International Sports Conference, Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup and the FINA Diving World Series; in an attempt to enhance the culture, knowledge and expertise of professionalism in all aspects of the field; from the overall preparation and/or execution of the event.
Dubai became the first Arab and Middle East city to host the Sport Accord International Convention in 2010, and stages the annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, the most prestigious Award of the Middle East Region. Though the Council works on various major international sports events, it does not overlook the importance of spreading the awareness of a healthier, more active lifestyle locally; and in order to achieve such objectives, physical activity programs and initiatives, such as the Dubai Pulse Physical Activity program, the Furjan District Championships and the Dubai Beach Soccer League, have all been designed to target the various communities within the Emirate.
Website: www.dsc.ae
UAE Polo Federation
The UAE Polo Federation is the official governing body of the sport of polo in the United Arab Emirates. The association has been organized to promote the game of polo with the goal of improving the sport, coordinating the activities of its affiliated clubs and registered players and providing rules, handicaps and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, including the safety of participants.
Website: www.uaepolofederation.com/