Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo

AlUla Desert Polo

View on map
Sports & AdventureAlUla
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration2 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceIts defining feature is the playing surface
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: SAR
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo in AlUla

The Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo is billed as the world's first polo tournament played on natural desert sand rather than turf, staged each January among the dunes and sandstone outcrops near AlUla. International polo teams and high-profile attendees gather for a short, elevated tournament pairing equestrian sport with AlUla's desert scenery.

Polo has been played on grass pitches from Buenos Aires to Windsor for well over a century, but AlUla's organizers set out to do something no established polo circuit had attempted at this level: stage a full tournament on natural desert sand.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Its defining feature is the playing surface: organizers leveled a natural sand pitch in the open desert rather than importing turf, forcing teams to adapt classic polo tactics to a softer, unpredictable ground that changes how the ball rolls and how horses balance at speed

02

The mystery stays covered

Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille, long associated with equestrian sponsorship, lends the tournament its name and high-end profile, drawing international players, patrons, and horses to a location where, a decade earlier, no formal polo infrastructure existed, presenting AlUla's Sharaan and Ashar valley landscapes as the backdrop

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Polo itself has no deep roots in Saudi Arabia

Water and renewal

Living ritual

so the tournament instead borrows from AlUla's push to position itself internationally

The sacred route

Living ritual

pairing a historically elite sport with the region's Bedouin-linked equestrian traditions and its status as a former desert waystation on ancient trade routes

The local code

Living ritual

Falconry displays

Tradition 5

Living ritual

camel encounters

Tradition 6

Living ritual

and Saudi hospitality customs are sometimes folded into the surrounding hospitality program to root the imported sport in local desert culture

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Plan arrival around the route or course in AlUla; closures can make normal travel slower.

What to wear

Smart-casual to elevated resort wear suits the polo-club atmosphere, but modesty norms still apply outside private hospitality areas: shoulders and knees covered, with lightweight layers for...

Safety

At Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, respect barriers, moving equipment and marshal guidance; photos are never worth stepping into active areas.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of AlUla.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

SAR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map26.56 N, 37.96 EOpen in Google Maps

AlUla, Medina Province, Saudi Arabia

Nearest airportULH — Al-Ula
TransportPlan arrival around the route or course in AlUla; closures can make normal travel slower.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of AlUla.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to AlUla via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near AlUla, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearSmart-casual to elevated resort wear suits the polo-club atmosphere, but modesty norms still apply outside private hospitality areas: shoulders and knees covered, with lightweight layers for a January desert day that can be warm at midday and cold once the sun drops. Flat, sturdy shoes are more practical than heels on sand and gravel footing around the pitch.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Saudi Arabia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo?

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo is listed for Past edition: 17–18 January 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo take place?

The festival is listed in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

2 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

AlUla, Medina Province, Saudi Arabia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLvisitsaudi.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusOfficial source linked
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