The Dubai Gold Cup Series – the UAE’s most prestigious polo event – returns for its fifth edition next month, kicking off with the McLaren Silver Cup on February 1.

The series, also referred to as the Dubai Open, hosts some of the world’s finest players and horses in what has established itself as one of the most glamorous and competitive polo tournaments in the Middle East.

The Dubai Open will get underway on Saturday with the start of the Silver Cup. The event’s draw took place on Monday at the Waldorf Astoria in Dubai, with the nine teams – up from six last year – discovering who they face in the group stage.

Newcomers Desert Palm 1 were drawn in Zone A alongside Bin Drai Polo and Abu Dhabi Polo, while Desert Palm 2 – also debuting in the Silver Cup – were placed in Zone 2 with Habtoor Polo and UAE Polo; the third new entry. Finally, Zone 3 saw Zedan Polo, Ghantoot Polo and Mahra Polo drawn together.

Each team play two group matches, with eight of the teams advancing to a quarter-final knockout stage.

The Silver Cup takes place between February 1 and February 15, followed by the Bentley Emirates Dubai Polo Gold Cup, which starts on February 24 and ends on March 14. The Dubai Gold Cup Series is the fourth largest tournament of its kind in the world after Argentina, the United States and Britain.

“From the beginning the idea that we had was to put Dubai on the international Polo map and give it that level,” Director of Polo, Santiago Torreguitar told Sport360°. “In order to achieve that, every year we try to improve.

“The first year, it was only a Gold Cup, the next year we had the Silver and Gold Cup, the following year the tournament was moved to 15 goals then to 16; we are working every year on improving the tournament and getting better players, better horses – the best of everything.”

Given the level of talent that will be on display at this year’s Silver Cup, Torreguitar believes the competition will be too close to call.

“This year with the players that have come in and the new teams it is a very exciting season,” he added. “It will be quite difficult to predict the winner.

“You can definitely look forward to a lot of excitement, beautiful horses and very tight matches throughout the tournament.”

One of the big stars participating in the Silver Cup is three-time Australian Open Lucas Monteverde, who will compete as part of Her Highness Sheikha Maitha’s UAE Polo team.

“I am very excited for the tournament, with Dubai growing in the region as a destination for polo,” Monteverde told Sport360°. “It is the first time UAE Polo has played in the tournament and we will work hard and put in our best possible effort.”

SILVER CUP DRAW

Zone A
Bin Drai Polo
Abu Dhabi Polo
Desert Palm 1

Zone B
Habtoor Polo
Desert Palm 2
UAE Polo

Zone C
Zedan Polo
Ghantoot Polo
Mahra Polo