Doha: For the first time in Qatar’s history, the thunder of hooves and the crack of mallets will echo through the heart of the capital when Polo Al Marsa takes centre stage at Old Doha Port on December 11–13.
The groundbreaking 3-on-3 exhibition tournament, organised by the newly established Qatar Polo Club, marks the official introduction of polo as a competitive sport to the country and signals Qatar’s ambition to place itself firmly on the global polo map.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Director General of the Qatar Polo Club, Fuad Al-Mudahka, explained the thinking behind the event. “Polo has always been seen as the sport of kings and, yes, it is traditionally elite,” he acknowledged. “But we want to change that perception in Qatar. By bringing a fast-paced, spectator-friendly version right into the centre of Doha, we are making the sport accessible and exciting for everyone.”
Polo Al Marsa is a shortened arena-style format played on a compact field, allowing crowds to stand just metres from the action, a stark contrast to traditional outdoor polo, which is usually staged on vast private estates far from urban areas.
The choice of the re-purposed Old Doha Port terminal park, still buzzing with post-World Cup energy, is deliberate. “This venue lets us blend sport, tourism and culture in one spectacular waterfront setting,” Al-Mudahka said. “It’s the perfect platform to showcase Qatar’s vision after hosting the FIFA World Cup.”
The tournament has already secured a place on the official Qatar Calendar and is set to become an annual fixture for at least the next five years, supported by strategic partners Visit Qatar and Qatar–Argentina/Chile Years of Culture.
Four teams, Doha, El Museo, Buenos Aires and Santiago, will compete over two days for the Polo Al Marsa Cup. Each side will feature a unique family flavour: father-and-son pairings from the polo world combined with emerging Qatari talent.
Headlining the international contingent is Argentine superstar Pablo Mac Donough, one of the world’s top-ranked players (currently contesting the prestigious Argentine Open, often called the “World Cup of polo”), who will bring his son to Doha immediately after the Buenos Aires season ends.
Joining him is Chilean star José Donoso and his son. Every team will include at least one Qatari player, offering local riders the chance to compete alongside, and learn from, some of the biggest names in the sport.
Al-Mudahka, himself a horseman of 15 years who discovered polo while studying at Loughborough University in the UK, stressed that grassroots development is central to the club’s long-term vision.
“We have already invested in manpower,” he revealed. “Four Qatari players with strong equestrian backgrounds have been sent to training camps abroad, and we have just returned from an exhibition tour in the UK that received excellent feedback.”
A permanent Qatar Polo Club facility is under construction in the Al Mazroua area and is expected to open within two to three years. By then, the club aims to have 12–15 home-grown players ready to form multiple domestic teams, plus a fully functioning academy for juniors and beginners.
“Polo is the only team equestrian discipline,” Al-Mudahka emphasised. “You cannot practise 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.”
Membership of the club, which operates under the Ministry of Sport, will soon be open to the public with no prior horse ownership required. “All you need is a love for horses and the right attitude,” Al-Mudahka said with a smile.
While prize money is not the focus, “most polo players are already wealthy; they compete for prestige and the cup”, spectators can expect traditional polo rituals such as divot-stomping at half-time, best-dressed competitions and an electric atmosphere as Qatar embraces a sport steeped in royal heritage yet ready for a new, inclusive chapter.
As the sun sets over Doha’s waterfront this December, Polo Al Marsa will not only crown its inaugural champions but also fire the starting gun on what the Qatar Polo Club hopes will become a thriving polo culture across the Gulf. In the words of its Director General: “We are not just hosting an event — we are planting a seed that will grow for generations.”
