Julius Baer, the leading Swiss private bank, inaugurated the 2017 Julius Baer Gold Cup (Dubai Open) during the press conference held today at The St. Regis Dubai at Al Habtoor City in the Astor Ballroom.
The UAE’s premier polo tournament will take place between 18 February and 10 March, 2017. For the third consecutive time, Julius Baer is the title sponsor for the Dubai Gold Cup 2017, part of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series.
The Swiss bank is also the team sponsor for Julius Baer Team by Habtoor. The highly-anticipated event will be held at its new home ground at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, Dubai’s first luxury polo and equestrian community located in Dubailand.
Highlighting the importance of the tournament on the sports agenda, a total of nine teams will vie for this year’s title, including UAE Polo Team led by Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
A live draw was conducted to determine the order of play, after which Cesar Ruiz, Polo Director of the Julius Baer Gold Cup, announced the tournament fixtures in the presence of sponsors, team patrons, players and the media.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the Julius Baer Gold Cup (Dubai Open), an 18 goal handicap competition, is part of the Gold Cup Series.
Julius Baer Gold Cup teams
Played under HPA rules and in its eighth edition, the tournament is the highest handicapped tournament in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, ranking it among the best polo tournaments worldwide. The event has drawn over 20,000 visitors since its launch in 2010.
Mohammed Al Habtoor said, “This year we are more excited than ever about the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series as it is being played at its new, permanent home ground – the Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club. This world-class equestrian resort provides enviable facilities for competitors and spectators.”
Winners of the 2017 Julius Baer Gold Cup will be awarded with iconic timepieces worth half a million dirhams, while Subsidiary Cup winners will receive a Bentley car for the period of one month.
Participating teams
Julius Baer Gold Cup Fixtures.
Picture of the day II from #dubai #goldcup @DubaiGoldCup #presentation @StRegisDubai pic.twitter.com/5tSwHgCBnG
— PoloLine (@Pololine) February 7, 2017
