The Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club is the premier polo facility in the Middle East and the venue for two major international tournaments in 2026. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the resort operates 4 grass polo fields with a capacity of 5,000 spectators. It hosts both the Dubai Polo Gold Cup in January-February and the XIII FIP World Polo Championship in December, bookending the 2026 global polo calendar.
The Al Habtoor Group developed the resort as a world-class equestrian facility, combining polo fields with luxury hospitality. The 4 grass fields are maintained year-round in a climate that requires significant irrigation and care, a considerable investment that reflects the UAE’s commitment to establishing Dubai as a global polo destination. The resort sits in the Dubailand area, with the surrounding desert landscape providing a striking contrast to the green pitches. Winter conditions (January-February and December) bring temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s Celsius, making it one of the best times to play polo in the Gulf region.
Dubai operates in the Asia/Dubai timezone at UTC+4 year-round. There is no daylight saving adjustment, making time conversions consistent across both the January Gold Cup and December World Championship. A 15:00 throw-in is 11:00 in London, 12:00 in Central Europe, 07:00 in Buenos Aires, and 06:00 in New York. Check whatisthetime.now/dubai for current local time.
Hosting both the Dubai Gold Cup and the FIP World Championship in the same calendar year is a significant achievement for Al Habtoor and for Dubai polo. The Gold Cup, now in its 17th edition, has established itself as the strongest tournament in the Middle East at the 20-goal handicap level. The World Championship, bringing national teams from across the globe, raises the venue’s profile to the highest tier of international polo. The combination of these two events positions Al Habtoor alongside Guards Polo Club, Cowdray Park, the National Polo Center, and the Argentine Triple Crown venues as one of the key locations on the global polo map.