Sheikha Alia to lead Ghantoot Polo team against Elite Group Holding in season opener

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Under the patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the club will open its new 2026–2027 sporting season by staging the 17th edition of the Pink Polo event on Saturday, October 31.

Governing partner Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Burjeel Hospitals participating as medical partner, the charity event brings together sporting competitions, a humanitarian message and community activities.

Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum will lead the Ghantoot Polo team on the field against the Elite Group Holding Polo team, led by Ahmed Al Nuaimi.

The exhibition match will headline the event, bringing together polo, sportsmanship and solidarity in support of breast cancer awareness.

Held in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Month, the event will highlight the importance of early detection, regular screening and preventive healthcare, drawing on the appeal of sport and its ability to reach different segments of society. This message is central to the event, which the club continues to organize to raise health awareness and encourage the public to give preventive screening the attention it deserves.

The humanitarian dimension of Pink Polo is reflected in its message of solidarity with women affected by breast cancer and their families, and its emphasis on the importance of community and emotional support throughout treatment.

The event aims to harness public engagement to promote a culture of health awareness and strengthen the role of families and the wider community in encouraging regular screening, adding a humanitarian dimension to participation alongside enjoyment of the sporting and entertainment programme.

The upcoming edition has attracted notable public interest, this reflects the appeal of an event that has become an annual gathering for polo enthusiasts, families and people from all walks of life around a shared message of awareness and solidarity.

The 17th edition will also feature graduates of the “Fares Abu Dhabi” programme, which aims to teach equestrian sports and develop participants’ skills. Taking part gives them an opportunity to engage with the equestrian and polo community and experience the atmosphere of sporting events.

It also connects their educational experience with the values of social responsibility and humanitarian work, while underscoring the role of equestrian education programmes in broadening the base of participants.

The event will also feature extensive participation by the Irish Gaelic Football Association, adding diversity to the sporting activities and fostering cultural and community exchange. A special junior polo match will also showcase emerging Emirati talent.

Burjeel will provide complimentary breast cancer screening services through a dedicated team of doctors and a mobile mammography screening vehicle, helping make preventive healthcare more accessible to attendees. This collaboration between the sporting and healthcare sectors reinforces the importance of early detection, regular screening and community-based health awareness.

The club invited community members, families and sports enthusiasts to attend Pink Polo and participate in its activities, reinforcing its commitment to community engagement, raising awareness and supporting the event’s humanitarian mission.

Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Vice Chairman of the club’s Board of Directors, said that the patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan reflects the event’s significance and the tangible impact it has achieved over the past 16 years. He noted that the initiative underscores the club’s sustained commitment to supporting national disease-prevention initiatives and raising public awareness.

Al Mansouri added that the club’s organizing committees have put all necessary measures in place to ensure the event’s success and have approved a programme of accompanying sporting and entertainment activities designed to deliver its message and maximize its community impact. These efforts are supported by the governing partner Abu Dhabi Sports Council and undertaken in collaboration with partners, as part of the club’s long-standing commitment to delivering meaningful programmes and events in service of the community.