One of the most eagerly anticipated social and equine sporting events of the year, the British Polo Day, presented by RJI Capital, returns to the UAE for the first of its 2016 events.

Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai will play host to the tournament that is a celebration of British craft and heritage that debuted in the Emirates in 2009.

For the first time this year, British Polo Day will also showcase the cricketing skills of their players, pitting Eton against Harrow in a friendly but fiercely-competitive match between two of the union’s most historic schools.

On Friday, British Polo Day Abu Dhabi takes place at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, the private royal polo ground of HH Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

With guests including members of the ruling family and the British Ambassador, this black-tie evening will commence with a reception, followed by two matches, which will be an interesting variant of polo. The Cavalry team will take on the British Army Guards in an opening game of camel polo.

Later, the InterContinental UAE team and Hackett Rest Of World team will then indulge in a game of bicycle polo.

The highlight exhibition polo match of the evening – The British Polo Day Plate – will feature some of the region’s top players as the home team seek to maintain their annual victory against the visiting Royal Salute British Exiles