Team AlUla won Zone A and Team Defender topped Zone B to set up showdown for the prestigious AlUla Desert Polo trophy
Team BSF and Team Budget will contest the Subsidiary Final, while Team Dadan and Team VISA play for the Wooden Spoon Trophy
AlUla Desert Polo showcases world-class sport and Saudi Arabia’s rich equestrian heritage in an iconic setting
AlUla : The 2026 AlUla Desert Polo began in spectacular fashion on Friday as six elite teams took to the field at Mohammed Yousuf Naghi AlFursan Equestrian Village to deliver a thrilling opening day of world-class polo set against AlUla’s iconic landscape.
The world’s first organised desert polo tournament brings together some of the sport’s finest international professionals alongside Royal dignitaries and distinguished patrons. It is an event that combines elite competition with Saudi Arabia’s rich equestrian heritage in one of the most striking settings in global sport.
Day 1 was dedicated to the Round Robin stage, with the six teams divided into Zone A and Zone B. In the early afternoon session, Zone A saw Team AlUla, Team Dadan, and Team BSF go head-to-head in a series of competitive encounters.
Team AlUla – featuring HRH Prince Salman bin Mansour Al Saud, David Stirling, Naveen Jindal – faced Team Dadan, represented by Nacho Figueras, Babar Naseem, and Faisal AlSudairy, in the opening match of the day. Team AlUla secured a 5-3 victory following an exhilarating contest that perfectly set the tone.
Team AlUla stayed on the field to face Team BSF, comprising Lia Salvo, Alejandro Poma, and Faisal Abunayyan, and booked their place in the final with an impressive 4-2 win led by global superstar Stirling.
Zone A concluded with Dadan against Team BFS, and after a highly-competitive clash that ended 3-3, Team BSF took the victory 2-0 on penalties to claim the runner-up spot.
The late afternoon session shifted focus to Zone B as Team Defender, Team Budget, and Team VISA continued to deliver high-class, entertaining polo.
Team Defender – comprising Pablo MacDonough, Jenny Luttrell, and HSH Prince Eugen zu Oettingen – opened their campaign against Team Budget, led by Jejo Taranco, Venkatesh Jindal, and Dr Hosam Zowawi. After an exciting contest that ended 3-3, it was Team Defender who emerged victorious from a tense shootout by scoring all four of their penalties.
Team Defender then booked their place in Saturday’s final by defeating Team VISA – featuring Cata Lavinia, David Paradice, and Ibrahim AlHarbi – 3-0 to win Zone B. In the concluding match of the day, Team Budget defeated Team VISA 3-0 to finish second in Zone B.
Following the completion of the Round Robin stage, the prestigious AlUla Desert Polo Trophy will be contested by Team AlUla and Team Defender in the showpiece final on Saturday.
Before then, the Subsidiary Cup Final will see Team BSF face off against Team Budget, while the Wooden Spoon Final will be played between Dadan and Team VISA.
Beyond the action on the field, guests enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day, with premium hospitality, live entertainment, and interactive experiences across the event village, including family-friendly activities and dedicated viewing areas that also provided panoramic views of the surrounding scenery.
The action on Saturday begins with the Wooden Spoon Final at 12.35pm, followed by the Subsidiary Cup Final at 2.20pm, before the Final crowns the 2026 champions from 4.05pm. The event will conclude with a prize-giving ceremony celebrating the teams and players.
Part of the AlUla Moments 2025/26 calendar, AlUla Desert Polo reflects AlUla’s growing position as a global destination for elite sport, culture and luxury experiences, while celebrating Saudi Arabia’s deep-rooted equestrian traditions.
It also demonstrates AlUla’s capabilities to host world-class sport while showcasing the region’s spectacular landscapes. Other top-tier sports events include the professional cycling AlUla Tour, the prestigious AlFursan Endurance AlUla, and the popular AlUla Trail Race.
