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Al Habtoor Group invests in Royal Windsor polo tournament

Khalaf al Habtoor, Chairman of the Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group, has announced a new sponsorship deal with Guards Polo Club and its Royal Windsor Cup tournament. This will be the Group’s first foray into UK polo sponsorship, but it is no stranger to the sport. Several members of the family play, including Rashid and Mohammed Al Habtoor and the family is a major force behind Dubai’s burgeoning polo scene.

The Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup is the oldest tournament at Guards Polo Club. It was first played for in the Club’s inaugural year in 1955 and has been played for every year since when there has been polo at Smith’s Lawn, the home of Guards Polo Club. It is the leading medium-goal tournament in the country and attracts more than 20 teams every year. Prestigious winners in the past include HRH The Prince of Wales, who took the honours with his own Windsor Park team. This year’s event will be played from 1 – 22 June.

The Al Habtoor Group’s motto is “The best way to predict the future is to create it”. This ties in perfectly with Guards Polo Club’s own ethos and so the two organisations will now move forward to create a high-class tournament which will attract the leading medium-goal teams in the world. Charles Stisted, CEO of Guards Polo Club, said on announcing this historic deal: “Guards Polo Club is delighted to further cement its relations with the Al Habtoor Group and looks forward to working with them to create an outstanding tournament of first-class polo.”