Team Defender defeated Team AlUla to claim the coveted AlUla Desert Polo trophy
Team Budget won the Subsidiary Final, while Team Dadan took the Wooden Spoon
AlUla Desert Polo once again highlighted AlUla’s rich equestrian history and world-class sports infrastructure
AlUla : The 2026 AlUla Desert Polo reached a spectacular conclusion on Saturday, as two days of elite competition culminated in a thrilling Finals Day at Mohammed Yousuf Naghi AlFursan Equestrian Village, set against AlUla’s iconic landscape.
The Final saw Team Defender crowned champions after defeating Team AlUla 9-8 to lift the coveted AlUla Desert Polo Trophy and bring the tournament to a memorable close. It was a fiercely contested encounter, showcasing the high level of competition that has become synonymous with AlUla Desert Polo since its historic launch six years ago.
The headline match concluded two days of top-class polo at Mohammed Yousuf Naghi AlFursan Equestrian Village, where the world’s first organised desert polo tournament once again delivered an unforgettable spectacle in the heart of AlUla’s extraordinary terrain.
Following the Round Robin matches on Friday, Finals Day saw all six teams return to the field with silverware at stake. The action began with the Wooden Spoon Final, contested between Team Dadan (Nacho Figueras, Babar Naseem, and Faisal AlSudairy) and Team VISA (Cata Lavinia, David Paradice, and Ibrahim AlHarbi). Team Dadan emerged victorious following a thrilling match that ended 9-6.
Attention then turned to the Subsidiary Cup Final, where Team Budget (Jejo Taranco, Venkatesh Jindal, and Dr Hosam Zowawi) faced Team BSF (Jejo Taranco, Venkatesh Jindal, and Dr Hosam Zowawi). The trophy was claimed by Team Budget, who secured a 7-5 victory in an entertaining contest that kept spectators engaged until the final seconds.
The stage was then set for the main event, as Team AlUla (HRH Prince Salman bin Mansour Al Saud, David Stirling, Naveen Jindal) and Team Defender (Pablo MacDonough, Jenny Luttrell, and HSH Prince Eugen zu Oettingen) delivered a final packed with intensity and skill to provide a fitting climax to an unforgettable tournament.
Beyond the action on the field, guests enjoyed a welcoming atmosphere throughout the day, with premium hospitality, live entertainment, and a vibrant event village offering activities for all ages.
Organised by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, AlUla Desert Polo continues to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s rich equestrian heritage while showcasing the culture, landscape, and distinctive character of AlUla.
The event forms part of the AlUla Moments 2025/26 calendar, a year-round programme of events and festivals across sport, entertainment, culture, and heritage. Other top-class sports events in the calendar include the professional cycling AlUla Tour, the popular AlUla Trail Race, and AlFursan Endurance AlUla, the prestigious equestrian endurance race.
