The 17th edition of the Pink Polo Festival 2026 successfully merged sports with health and community awareness, coinciding with the global Pink October movement for breast cancer awareness. Under the gracious patronage of His Highness Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, the festival witnessed the crowning of the Ghantoot team as champions of the Pink Polo Cup 2026, presented by Elite Holding, the official sponsor of the club. This year’s event attracted an audience of over a thousand spectators and featured extensive participation from health, sports, and community institutions, solidifying its position as one of the significant awareness-raising sports festivals in the UAE.
Ghantoot Team Clinches Victory
The highlight of the festival was the final match, where the Ghantoot team, led by Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum, triumphed over the Elite team with a score of 8-3. Sheikha Alia showcased her skills by scoring three goals, earning her the title of Best Player in the final match, while the horse “Congrijo” was awarded Best Horse.
A Memorable Awards Ceremony
During the awards ceremony, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Hamdan Al Nahyan presented the Pink Polo Cup 2026 trophy to the Ghantoot winners and the runners-up, celebrating their achievements in front of esteemed guests, including HE Virgil Thomas Methen, Ambassador of Ireland to the UAE; HE Saeed bin Hofan Al Mansouri, Vice Chairman of the club; and Ahmed Ali Al Nuaimi, the club’s Executive Director. The referees, Felipe Laurenti and Charlie Tay, were also acknowledged for their contributions in officiating the final match.
Encouraging New Talent
The winning Ghantoot team, alongside Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum, comprised players Ali Al Merri, Sabine Scheiffer, and Sandra Schneider, while the Elite team included players Youssef bin Dismal, Mohammed Khalid, Fahd Al Qubaisi, and the lady player Alia Al Khatal. The match displayed an impressive level of competition that reflected the participants’ skills.
In addition to the main event, the festival hosted a friendly match between the Ghantoot Polo Academy team and the Ghantoot Junior Polo team, underscoring the club’s commitment to developing young players’ skills and providing opportunities for emerging talents.
Health Initiatives Make an Impact
On the health front, the festival’s accompanying medical initiatives received a warm reception from visitors. The mobile mammogram unit from Burjeel Breast Care Centre and Burjeel Cancer Institute, the official medical sponsor of the Pink Polo 2026, attracted numerous women seeking early detection and health education services.
The “Health” tent, run by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, also saw high participation, offering medical consultations, public health advice, and influenza vaccinations. Over 70 medical examinations were conducted throughout the festival, highlighting the growing community awareness of the importance of regular screening and early detection.
Supporting Young Equestrians
The graduation of members from the “Faris Abu Dhabi” programme was another significant highlight of the festival. The Ghantoot Club celebrated the participants in this programme, designed to teach horsemanship skills and foster a new generation of riders, thereby enhancing the connection between younger generations and the equestrian traditions embedded in UAE culture.
Organised by the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club with the support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, this programme aims to discover and develop young sporting talents while preserving the UAE’s sports heritage, ultimately contributing to the sustainability of equestrian sports.
Community Engagement and Family Fun
The festival also featured extensive participation from children at the MST Sports Academy, with a variety of age-appropriate activities and competitions that blended sports with entertainment, enhancing the festival’s family and community-oriented atmosphere.
An engaging contribution came from the Irish Gaelic Football Association in the Middle East, which hosted a women’s match during the festival’s opening, showcasing the depth of the Ghantoot Club’s partnerships with various sports institutions, both locally and internationally, and its commitment to fostering sporting and cultural collaborations and expanding community engagement.
Successful Outcomes and Future Aspirations
Ahmed Ali Al Nuaimi, the Executive Director of the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, stated that the successes achieved by the 17th Pink Polo Festival reflect the vision of His Highness Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He emphasised the commitment to ensuring equestrian sports play a significant role in humanitarian, awareness, and charitable efforts, alongside their development and preservation.
“The Pink Polo Festival stands as a proud sports and community initiative for the Ghantoot Club, successfully establishing itself over seventeen editions as a platform that merges polo with a noble humanitarian message aimed at raising awareness about breast cancer and encouraging early detection, embodying His Highness Sheikh Falah bin Zayed’s vision of utilising sport to serve the community,” said Al Nuaimi.
He further highlighted the impressive turnout of over a thousand attendees, the enthusiastic participation in medical initiatives offering more than 70 examinations, the graduation of participants from the Faris Abu Dhabi programme, and the wide engagement from sports and health institutions as positive indicators of the festival’s growth and community impact.
Al Nuaimi added that the Pink Polo Festival also marks the annual kickoff of the polo season at the Ghantoot Club, granting it a special significance on the club’s sports agenda, and reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to enhancing its initiatives and programmes to elevate the club’s role in both the sporting and community spheres.
The festival also witnessed significant involvement from the pink car owners’ community in the UAE, as the vibrant pink cars added a celebratory tone supporting breast cancer awareness initiatives, alongside the “pink market,” which attracted visitors with various activities and family-friendly entertainment that fostered public interaction.
Overall, the festival’s outcomes, encompassing competitive sports, health initiatives, youth development programmes, and broad community engagement, reflect the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club’s success in presenting a comprehensive model for sports events driven by humanitarian and awareness-oriented dimensions. This aligns with the UAE’s esteemed position in equestrian sports and demonstrates the capacity of sport to enhance quality of life, promote health awareness, and reinforce social responsibility.