There are few places in the world where you can still feel like a true explorer today. Especially the region around AlUla is still completely unknown to tourists worldwide. The oasis was once an important junction along the Frankincense Road, where all sorts of peoples came together. This is now to be revived, with a rarely experienced hospitality, many young people who are open to new things, and a country that is gradually opening up to the world. In many historical sites, a sea of selfie sticks spoils any illusion of the undiscovered, but in AlUla, home to the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, deep in the desert in the northwest of the country, you’ll feel like an archaeologist from ancient times. Even though AlUla ticks all the boxes of a global vacation destination for any bucket list — burial sites of 7,000-year-old civilizations, stunning rock formations and canyons, a variety of adrenaline-pumping sports and state-of-the-art art installations — the city almost never appears on the radar of global tourism.
The event, hosted by the Royal Commission for AlUla in collaboration with the Saudi Polo Federation and Richard Mille, was the second edition of the exciting two-day tournament, which was first held in 2020. As a dedicated promoter of this prestigious sport and its development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Richard Mille played a central role in the inaugural edition of the desert tournament as Official Timekeeper, alongside Bentley and other notable partners. Together with the Royal Commission of AlUla and the Saudi Polo Federation, Richard Mille’s vision is to establish the historic city as a premier venue for polo fans worldwide, and has therefore expanded its commitment to this landmark tournament as title sponsor and timekeeper. As a result, the high-profile annual event now bears the name Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo.
Pablo Mac Donough, one of the best polo players in the world, competed alongside his teammates Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling and Juan Martin Nero in a purpose-built venue near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra. A member of the Richard Mille family and partner of the brand since 2011, the 10-goal polo legend will wear his RM 53-01 Pablo Mac Donough tourbillon throughout the tournament, guiding one of four teams through the action-packed matches. Each of these teams, made up of invited guests and patrons, had to demonstrate the precision, pace and team spirit required by the ‘King of the Sport’ as they battle it out for the first-ever Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo Trophy.
“The 2020 tournament was a milestone for both Richard Mille and the Saudi Polo Federation. This year, we wanted to deepen our commitment to further promote the development of this sport in Saudi Arabia. We had the opportunity to see some of the best polo players in the world in action, against the magnificent backdrop of the AlUla region. This is an exciting moment for the international polo community. I was proud to watch the games to see who would win the first-ever Richard Mille AlUla Desert Trophy,” said Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille EMEA.
“It was a great honour for us to start another season of AlUla Desert Polo with Richard Mille as a partner. As a promoter of this powerful sport, the brand is a perfect fit: two legendary masterpieces between progress and tradition meet here. I am also looking forward to the return of Richard Mille partner Pablo Mac Donough, who will lead the Richard Mille polo team at our tournament in AlUla. I am sure that he will inspire many of our young Saudi players as a great role model.” – Amr Zedan, President of the Saudi Polo Federation.
Also in 2022 there have been unforgettable weekends on site, inspired by the spectacular backdrop of the AlUla Oasis. AlUla with its millennia-old archaeological treasures, natural beauties and magnificent monuments is located on the ancient incense road between South Arabia and Egypt. The area became a thriving center for economic and cultural exchange thanks to the fertile oases that provided an excellent foundation for a flourishing civilization.
Even if some events like these desert polo tournaments still seem a bit strange to the world, that’s where you want to go!
More about the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Trophy: https://www.richardmille.com/page/first-desert-polo-tournament
Editor’s Choice
The “De Luxe Banyan Tree” opened its doors in the oasis city of AlUla in October 2022 and made its debut in Saudi Arabia, bringing laid-back luxury to the AlUla desert. With its fascinating blend of history, culture and adventure set against a stunning million-year-old desert backdrop, the oasis city of AlUla captivates visitors from all over the world. Inspired by the nomadic architecture of the Nabataeans, who had one of their most important places of activity at the gates of the city in Hegra, the tent resort is intended to create a connection to the roots of the region.
