All about Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club
Polo is one of the most popular sports in the UAE. This popularity of this exciting equestrian sport is in large part due to the royal patronage and excellent facilities available in the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan orchestrated the construction of the dedicated Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, which later came under the patronage of his son His Highness Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Let’s discover more about the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, its history, facilities and upcoming events.
About Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club
With an ideal location on the outskirts of the Abu Dhabi – Dubai border, Ghantoot polo club is only dedicated polo club in Abu Dhabi. While it was initially built as a private venue, the club regularly opens its door for the public during polo season. The well-known venue also hosts other events and gatherings throughout the year.
The club encompasses 300 hectares of lush, green grassland and boasts eight well-designed polo grounds. The facility also has stables for over 300 ponies and a 2000-seater grandstand for spectators.
Along with sporting events, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club also hosts music concerts and other festive activities. The club also has a colonial-style clubhouse that includes a dining facility as well as a swimming pool and gymnasium.
History of the Club
The club was built in 1994, based on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as a royal polo facility in the UAE. It is currently the only polo club in the emirate and over the years has played host to the royal families of the UAE as well as visiting dignitaries.
The club is also home to the Ghantoot Polo Team. The team tours the world and has claimed victories at St Mortiz and Sotogrande, which are well-recognised international polo tournaments.
Facilities at the Club
The massive racing and polo club has several facilities for sporting, dining and entertainment.
Polo Fields
There are eight polo fields at Ghantoot club, making it one of the world’s largest polo clubs in the world. All of these fields are built to international standards. These include Royal Grand Stand and Sheikh Zayed Polo Field, Sheikh Zayed Polo Field and Pitch One.
Along with 2000 seats, the Royal Grandstand also has a VIP entrance, a hospitality and catering area, media facilities and a business centre.
Visitors can also book a reserved picnic area near the pitch.
Clubhouse
The heart of the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club is its modern clubhouse. It has an amazing architecture with wooden interiors and a water fountain in the forecourt. There is also a beautiful verandah offering views of Pitch One.
Visitors can relax at the clubhouse, enjoy drinks and food at the bar and restaurant. The clubhouse also has business facilities, making it ideal for corporate meetings and events.
Sponsors’ Marquee
Along with the grandstand and clubhouse, the Sponsor’s Marquee also serves as an event and hospitality space. You can book the place for tea parties, lunches/dinners, photoshoots, wedding receptions and even corporate events.
Helipad
Finally, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club also has a landing area and platform for helicopters, leading up to the VIP entrance to the Royal Grandstand.
Events
The club has a busy events calendar which includes events like the Ghantoot Polo Gold Cup, UAE National Sports Day and HH President of UAE Polo Cup.
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club: Location and Getting There
The club boasts an ideal location between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is located 40 minutes from the Abu Dhabi city centre and 15 minutes from Dubai Marina. The club is easily accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road. For those driving to the club, parking is available at the venue.
- Location: Exit 399, Abu Dhabi -Dubai Rd, Near Al Jazeera Hotel
- Timings: 08:00 am to 04:00 pm
- Contact: +971-2-562-9050
This wraps up our guide to the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club. You can also check out our list of the best cricket and football stadiums in Abu Dhabi that also combine magnificent architecture with world-class sports facilities. This includes the famed Zayed Sports City Stadium, located in Zayed Sports City.
Of course, there are plenty of indoor sporting venues in Abu Dhabi as well where you can enjoy activities like golf, bowling and skating.
