Qatar to Build World-Class Polo Club
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While all eyes were fixed on the inaugural Qatar Polo Tournament, where Polo Al Marsa took center stage at Doha's Old Port from December 11th to 13th, a much larger undertaking was quietly moving forward just a few kilometers away. Qatari authorities are building what promises to be the most modern polo club in the Middle East and one of the most advanced globally.
In an exclusive interview, Qatar Polo Club General Manager, Fuad Al-Mudahka, explained that the Arab nation aims to become a global polo reference point and the preferred alternative for Europeans looking to escape the winter. Qatar offers high-quality polo alongside a complete, attractive destination.
This "all or nothing" approach is characteristic of Qatar, demonstrated by the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup. Following this ambitious line, the Qatar Polo Club was founded even before its physical facilities were established. Without a club, fields, or stables, an executive committee for the Emirate’s polo was organized, and just a handful of players joined the dream of introducing the sport to the desert nation a few years ago.
The initial focus was on training local players, which led to the Qatar Polo Team being sent to England and Argentina to participate in training sessions and learn from the best in the sport. Simultaneously, and while the main club is under construction, the groundwork was laid to organize what is undoubtedly a brilliant promotional strategy for polo in the country: the innovative 3-on-3 exhibition tournament, Polo Al Marsa. This event marks the official introduction of polo as a competitive sport in Qatar and signals the country's ambition to firmly place itself on the global polo map.
The tournament took place in a fast-paced, arena-style, reduced format on a special synthetic grass field at the terminal park of Doha's Old Port, which remains vibrant with post-World Cup energy. "Polo has always been seen as the sport of kings, and yes, it is traditionally elitist," Al-Mudahka acknowledged. "But we want to change that perception in Qatar. By bringing a fast, spectator-friendly version right to the center of Doha, we are making the sport accessible and exciting for everyone." Al-Mudahka, who discovered polo while studying at Loughborough University in the UK, added this emphasis on accessibility.
The two-day Polo Al Marsa event has already secured a place on Qatar's Official Calendar and has signed a five-year contract with strategic partners, including Visit Qatar and the Qatar-Argentina/Chile Years of Culture initiative.
Al-Mudahka emphasized that grassroots development is fundamental to the club's long-term vision. The Qatar Polo Club is being built in the Al Mazroua area, just a few kilometers from the city center.
Rising from the desert, the master plan includes two fields in the first stage and four in the second. This permanent facility is expected to open within two or three years. By then, the club aims to have 12 to 15 local players ready to form multiple domestic teams, in addition to a fully operational academy for juniors and beginners. Polo will be complemented by other equestrian disciplines, and the development of an adjacent racecourse is not ruled out. The ultimate idea, as sources from the Emirate of Qatar told POLOBIZ, is to create a true "Equestrian City."
The facilities will feature apartments and houses for players and high-comfort accommodation for staff and grooms, as well as climate-controlled stables, equine pools, horses-tracks, and work arenas for the horses. It will also boast illuminated fields and a digitalized, advanced technology irrigation system. The field conditions and irrigation will be computer-controlled. Future plans include the construction of themed hotels and restaurants centered around the sport of polo.
For safety, the club will have specialized clinics for equine care, as well as first-aid facilities for any incidents during play or training.
"Polo is the only team equestrian discipline, Al-Mudahka emphasized: "You can't practice it alone; you need opponents. That is why we will actively support other Qatari entities to create their own teams so we can establish a genuine local league."
Club membership, which operates under the Ministry of Sport, will soon be open to the public, with no prior requirement to own a horse.
As the sun sets over the Doha coastline this December, Polo Al Marsa has not only crowned its inaugural champions but has also launched what the Qatar Polo Club hopes will grow into a thriving polo culture throughout the Gulf. As its General Manager summarized: "We are not just organizing an event; we are planting a seed that will grow for future generations."
