IFZA Gold Cup 2023 (Dubai Open) - Tournament Fixture Announced
Dubai, UAE:
At the press conference and live draw conducted in the Al Habtoor Polo Resort hotel, the IFZA Gold Cup 2023 Dubai Open tournament's schedule was formally unveiled. The event welcomed the participation of the teams, sponsors and media.
The renowned Dubai Open is scheduled to take place from 15th of February until the 4th of March and will be played at 20 goal handicap for the first time since its inception in 2009. This year, the tournament of the champions consists of eight contending teams for the prestigious trophy. The Gold Cup is one of the five tournaments of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (DPGCS) and is recognized and certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT). It is played under the WPT Championship Cup category which is considered as one of the highest competition in terms of points. The tournaments under the DPGCS are part of the UAE Polo Federation, follows the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) rules and plays under the provision of its umpires.
This year’s Dubai Open is supported by International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) as the title sponsor; its main sponsor: Bentley Emirates, Accenture Investment Group and MAK Engineering Consultancy as co-sponsorts: and Diamond Lease, Total Electrical and Mechanical and Hildon.
Mohammed K. Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman & CEO of Al Habtoor Group, Founder of the DPGC Series and Patron of Habtoor Polo team was joined by Martin Pedersen – Chairman of IFZA; Joseph Tayar, the General Manager of Bentley Emirates, Mohammad Al Huraiz, Board Member of the UAE Polo Federation, and Santiago Torreguitar, Tournament Director of the UAE Polo Federation.
The CEO & Vice Chairman of Al Habtoor Group, Mohammed Al Habtoor said, "Once again we are proud to announce that the Dubai Polo Gold Cup organization will be hosting the prestigious Gold Cup (Dubai Open) for the 14th consecutive year. The tournament will bring together some of the finest polo players from around the world and showcase our love for polo. We look forward to welcoming the players, their families, and the fans to enjoy this thrilling display of athleticism and experience our commitment to advancing the Sport of Kings that made us a source of pride for the United Arab Emirates.”
Martin Pedersen said, “At IFZA, we believe in the power of sports to bring people together and foster a sense of community. The Dubai Polo Gold Cup is more than a competition; it is a celebration of the diversity and talent that exists within the UAE. We are proud to be part of this community that celebrates the spirit of competition, partnership, and camaraderie – a spirit that IFZA shares and embodies.
It is truly a privilege for us to be associated with such a prestigious event, and we are committed to making sure that this year's IFZA Dubai Polo Gold Cup will be even more exciting and memorable than ever before. As a title sponsor, our participation in this renowned event is a demonstration of our commitment to supporting and advancing excellence in all its manifestations. We pledge to support not only the Gold Cup but also other initiatives that highlight the unique qualities of Dubai and the UAE, and how we dare to live, do business, and thrive differently.”
Participating teams of the IFZA Gold Cup 20232 tournament include:
- AM Polo Team (Patron: Her Highness Sheikha Alya Al Maktoum)
- Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo Team (Patron: Haider Bangash)
- Clinova Noa Polo Team (Patron: Raja Karim)
- Dubai Wolves by CAFU Polo team (Patron: Habtoor Al Habtoor)
- Ghantoot Polo Team (Patron: His Highness Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan)
- IFZA Habtoor Polo Team (Patron: Mohammed K. Al Habtoor)
- Mahra by AIX Investment Group Polo Team (Patron: Tariq Al Habtoor)
- UAE Polo Team (Patron: Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
ABOUT DUBAI POLO GOLD CUP SERIES
Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (DPGC) was founded in 2009 by Mohammed Al Habtoor, patron of the Habtoor Polo team and President of the Emirates Polo Association DPGC Series started out with one tournament - the Gold Cup Dubai Open - and has expanded into a five series premier Polo Tournaments in the Middle East - the Silver Cup, Gold Cup, Polo Masters Cup, Dubai Challenge Cup and the Dubai Cup.
The tournament is recognized and certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT) and played under the WPT Championship Cup which is considered as one of the highest competition in terms of points. It awards 125 points to its winners, 65 points to the finalists, 45 points to the semi-finalists and 30 points to all other participating players. The Gold Cup is the only tournament in the United Arab Emirates to be played in this category, alongside the world-class tournaments held in Argentina, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
World Polo Tour Tournament Ranking:
|
Tournament |
Category |
Winner |
Finalist |
Semi-Finalist |
Rest of Players |
|
Silver Cup |
WPT Cup |
60 |
30 |
15 |
8 |
|
Gold Cup |
WPT Championship Cup |
125 |
65 |
45 |
30 |
|
Dubai Challenge Cup |
WPT Challenge Cup |
10 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
The DPGC Series is one of the most important annual tournaments in the region having its home ground in the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, annually attracting VIP’s, dignitaries, local and international media, key opinion leaders, socialites, and celebrities.
TITLE SPONSOR
IFZA
IFZA is the most dynamic and truly international Free Zone Community in the UAE, optimising the country's strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and business-friendly environment. IFZA differentiates itself through its multi-national approach, providing personalised business establishment solutions through its network of Government Authorities and Professional Partners.
Business owners and Employees can also benefit from a wide spectrum of value-added services within the IFZA ecosystem, including but not limited to property solutions, visa packages and training and development. The IFZA Business Park offers a wide variety of cutting-edge office facilities tailored to meet each Licensee’s individual needs and provides a professional, welcoming environment to greet clients, network with other businesses and thrive.
Website: https://www.ifza.com/
MAIN SPONSOR
Bentley Emirates
Bentley Emirates, the largest Bentley Dealer in the world is the. As part of the Prestige Cars Division of Al Habtoor Motors, Bentley Emirates have been the sole authorized importer of Bentley motor cars in the UAE since 1982. Driven by professionalism, quality and high standards, Bentley Emirates continues to serve with utmost confidence and is poised to scale even greater heights.
Bentley Emirates is set to open the doors to its new state of the art showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road the 2nd quarter of this year. This exciting development will be the first of its kind of automobile showroom experience where customers will not only come to see the range of vehicles but as well experience the World of Bentley. Al Habtoor Motors also recently opened the world’s first Bentley Cafe & Boutique in heart of Dubai Marina on the ground floor of Al Habtoor Business Tower. It provides a perfect venue to mirror the elements that make up Bentley's DNA, which has both contemporary and classic elements.
About Al Habtoor Motors - Prestige Cars Division
Part of the well-established, Dubai based business conglomerate Al Habtoor Group, the Prestige Cars Division is the official dealer of some of the world's coveted marques namely Bentley, Bugatti and McLaren in the UAE.
Website: www.dubai.bentleymotors.com
CO-SPONSORS
MAK Engineering Consultancy
MAK Engineering Consultantly, is a professional engineering consulting firm, established in 2014 in Dubai, UAE, with an unlimited license, to provide engineering design services for the various market sectors, including industrial manufacturing, corporate owned facilities, educational, hospitality, health care and development services.
Website: www.mak-consultant.com
Diamond Lease:
Diamondlease L.L.C, a fully owned subsidiary of the Al Habtoor Group, was established in 1996 to offer automotive rental and leasing solutions, as an alternative to owning and maintaining vehicles, to Corporate and Individual customers in the UAE. Diamond lease serves more than 700 companies and multinational conglomerates operating in UAE, handling and managing their transportation requirements.
Diamondlease is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company with a fleet of over 8400 vehicles. It was the first local Car Rental Company in UAE to receive an ISO certification and has proudly held the accreditation since 1999. In recognition of its sound business ethics and outstanding customer service, Diamondlease was one of the first car rental companies to have been nominated as a member of the prestigious Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) in 2003. Diamondlease has been awarded the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Travel Awards being adjudged the “Best Car Rental Company” – Local Brand for 7 years in a row.
Website: www.diamondlease.com
Total EM
TOTAL Electrical & Mechanical LLC. are legends in Industrial Electrification. They deliver projects with integrity and commitment, ensuring high standards of safety and quality. TOTAL Electrical & Mechanical LLC. is a name to reckon with in the field of power system services like high & low voltage, and low current systems. A strong customer focused approach and the quest for top-class quality have enabled them to attain and retain the leadership position of being the best construction service provider in the UAE.
Website: https://www.totalem.org/
Hildon Water:
Hildon is an English Natural Mineral Water which lies deep within the chalk hills of Hampshire, as a result it is of the highest quality. Bottled at its source on the Hildon Estate in Hampshire and Imported from the UK, it is distributed exclusively by Top Shelf Beverages in the region, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is a proud sponsor and supporter of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2016.
Website: www.hildon.com
MEDIA PARTNERS
Polo Line TV:
PLTV is the first online streaming polo site, broadcasting over 25 tournaments LIVE per year around the globe, reaching +200k viewers. The production and edition of exclusive content makes PLTV the most comprehensive polo channel in the world.
Website: www.pololine.tv/
Al Badia:
Since 2008, Al Badia, the prestigious Arabic venture is devoted to bringing the latest news and views on the equestrian world, Polo sporting and lifestyle. In fact, it is a tribute to the age-old passion for the thoroughbred, an integral part of the rich Arabian culture.
Al Badia focuses a gamut of information on the highly valued sport of horseracing, including information about events taking place in the Arab world and about organizations and services sought by equestrians of all disciplines. Besides being a specialized lifestyle magazine to meet the refined taste of the equestrian community, it features a wide range of information including very exclusive coverages like interviews of the Sheikhs and the who’s who of the Arab world. It targets the crème de la crème of the society and is widely circulated across different regions of the Gulf & Middle East.
Al Badia is a good platform to showcase premium brands, as it has a wide readership comprising sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities, celebrities and the royalty.
Website: www.albadiamagazine.com/
Sport360:
Founded in 2010, Sport360 is a premier digital publisher and sports consultancy in the Middle East and Nnorth Africa. Initially launched as a newspaper in the UAE, the brand also quickly established itself in the digital realm by creative innovative online platforms that have attracted more than 10 million followers.
Sport360 has launched an in-house, content-marketing studio in response to an increasing client demand for unique and inspiring content. We help brands have a deeper engagement with their target audience and provide the opportunity for clients to tell their story to the Sport360 audience in an authentic and creative way. In addition, Sport360 has an events division catering to the diverse consumer and business segments in the Middle East. Some of these events include the Sports Industry Awards (SPIA) to recognise and reward excellence, plus mass-participation events including the Beach Run Series.
Website: http://www.sport360x.com/
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Dubai Sports Council:
Dubai Sports Council is the official government body responsible for the development of the sport sector in the Emirate of Dubai. Under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and its 14 Board Members; the Council supervises the work of nine local clubs in Dubai, six of which practice a variety of individual and or team sports, such as football, handball and archery; in addition to the chess club and a club devoted for those with special needs.
Since its inception in 2006, with the vision of creating a unique sporting community, the Council organizes various annual major Sports Championships and Conferences, in cooperation with multiple International/National sports bodies and Dubai Government Entities, such as the Dubai International Sports Conference, Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup and the FINA Diving World Series; in an attempt to enhance the culture, knowledge and expertise of professionalism in all aspects of the field; from the overall preparation and/or execution of the event.
Dubai became the first Arab and Middle East city to host the Sport Accord International Convention in 2010, and stages the annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, the most prestigious Award of the Middle East Region. Though the Council works on various major international sports events, it does not overlook the importance of spreading the awareness of a healthier, more active lifestyle locally; and in order to achieve such objectives, physical activity programs and initiatives, such as the Dubai Pulse Physical Activity program, the Furjan District Championships and the Dubai Beach Soccer League, have all been designed to target the various communities within the Emirate.
Website: www.dsc.ae
UAE Polo Federation
The UAE Polo Federation is the official governing body of the sport of polo in the United Arab Emirates. The association has been organized to promote the game of polo with the goal of improving the sport, coordinating the activities of its affiliated clubs and registered players and providing rules, handicaps and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, including the safety of participants.
Website: www.uaepolofederation.com
