Muhammad Al Habtur is a representative of a well-known family in Dubai, which owns hotels, car dealerships, real estate companies and many other enterprises and organizations. But in his daily work, Muhammad always finds time to play polo. It is about this sport and the prospects for its development in the UAE that our conversation went into ....
Muhammad, recently the 3rd annual Polo Championship, organized by the Al Khabturov family, was held in Dubai. The main players in the championship were you too ...
We play in two teams: two Argentines, me and my brother, as well as our sons. That is, two fathers and two sons come out, plus two Argentines. Usually we play against each other. Muhammad's team versus Rashid's team. Recently played with one team from Russia. But the Russians are still not very good at polo. Here are the Argentines - yes. The Argentines created a certain balance in our team, and therefore we won the game against the team from Russia.
There is such an unwritten rule in polo - never say that you are a good player. People must say this, you are bad or good. Because, as soon as you say that you are a good player, the opposing team will immediately find someone stronger. Therefore, I always say that my level is "0" or "-1". I saw the game of many who claim that their level is "2", but the game shows that it is "0", by force. And I always play like "0". And in London, and in Palm Beach, and in Florida, and in SortGrande. And if someone comes and says no, you are no longer “0”, you are “1”, immediately a letter will be sent to all polo-clubs in the world with information that Muhammad Al Habtur has already reached level “1”. So I'm waiting for me to appreciate and tell others about it.
When did you start playing polo, and at what age is it better to start playing?
I started late because I was involved in other sports. I came to polo in 2000. My brother Rashid has been playing polo for almost 20 years. But now we are playing on the same level with him, so I don’t worry. He is not better than me. Maybe I started training more correctly. In my opinion, to start playing polo is somewhere around the age of eight to nine years. At first it will not be a polo, but the study of certain skills: how to stay in the saddle, control a horse, hold a club correctly, and also learn how to perform club hits on a ball, not sitting on a horse, but standing on the ground. My brother’s son is already playing with us, and he is only 11 years old. My son is 12 years old, and he also plays in our team. They started training early, so at the age of 17-20 they will become real professionals. My brother and I started working late, so we’re unlikely to become professionals anymore.
Is there any upper age limit for playing polo, as in gymnastics, for example, where do you need to leave at the age of 25? Does not exist, there are many people who play polo in their 50s and 60s. For example, Cater Hermes, one of the owners of Hermes House, is still playing. I played with him five years ago, then he was 75 years old. And I must say that he played very well.
Where did the UAE polo tradition come from?
The UAE started playing polo just twenty years ago. In fact, this game was not born in Dubai, and not in the UK, and not in Argentina. Initially, polo, or rather, in its prototype, was played in Persia (Iran), in areas bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan. But then in this game there were no clear rules. Both 30 and 40 players on horseback and with special sticks in their hands ending in a rope loop to drive the ball could go on the field. Then, when the British made this region their colony, they introduced the rules that are used in polo to this day. The Argentines picked up the game from the British. Today, it is the Argentines who are considered the best polo players in the world.
Ask why?
In England, members of the royal family, aristocrats, and senior military officials traditionally played polo, just for fun. They played in Argentina because it was work. The British, French, and Americans hired good players to join their teams, and they paid well for it. Thanks to the Argentines, many national polo teams have won international championships. In short, Argentines are the best players in the world. In second place, I would call the British and Americans.
It is believed that polo is an expensive sport. What place would you give polo compared to horse racing, golf, diving or skiing?
Polo is the most expensive pleasure of all that you have listed, except for horse racing. Since, in both cases, you must buy an expensive horse and keep it. But in horse racing, having bought a horse, you look at how he acts and how the jockey controls him. You do not have direct contact with your horse. If you are the owner of a football club, like your famous Roman Abramovich, then you just sit in the stands and watch how others play. And in polo you, having bought a horse, become part of the team in which you yourself play.
Does a polo player teach his horse certain skills during the game?
The horse must be specially prepared for playing polo. We do not breed or breed such horses in the UAE. We are buying ready-to-play horses from Argentina. And these are not purebred Arabian horses, but half-breeds. Polo is not only an expensive game, but also a very risky and traumatic game. One mistake can cost a player health, or even life.
Today we own the best stables in the UAE for keeping horses for polo at our Al Hawalidge farm. The complex includes 65 stables, all with air conditioning. There are rooms for grooms, which carry out daily horse care. We do not have special hostels for employees. Our grooms live side by side with animals, because they need to be watched like young children. For example, if a horse falls, it will not be able to rise on its own and may die. Therefore, it is necessary that people are always nearby. We even have night shifts for grooms. Thus, we observe and care for animals around the clock. Moreover, we do not rely on chance and do not hire just grooms. We have very experienced professionals from Argentina, during the polo season in the UAE - from October to April. During this time, they prepare assistants for the summer, and they themselves fly with us to Europe, since the polo season begins there. This year we will participate in two polo tournaments in London, in one championship in Sort Grande in Spain, and our polo manager organizes the polo match in St. Tropez in July. Therefore, in the summer we will be very busy.
In Russia today there are serious polo clubs that hold competitions?
There is only one called Moscow Polo Club. They invited us to their place. We have already played with the team of this club on our field, now we are called to Moscow. Maybe they want to recoup (laughs)? We will definitely go, there are very good guys. Most of the time they live in Europe, but they have their own business in Russia.
And for you personally, is polo a hobby or a business?
Only a hobby. We do not earn on the game of polo.
How many polo teams are there in Dubai?
There are about 100 good polo players in Dubai today. My brother and I do not always play in our own teams against each other, but the audience likes to watch Rashid Al Habtur and his team play against Muhammad. Once, when my brother and I played in London, Queen Elizabeth II, handing us the Cup, asked Rashid: "Do you always compete with your own brother?" We replied, “Yes!” Then she invited us to London to play again, as she enjoyed the game very much. Therefore, on June 21 of this year we will play polo again for the Queen of England.
In our club we can assemble three teams, for this we need at least 12 players, but we have more of them. Next to us there is another polo club - Plantation, they have two teams, Desert Palm has four or five teams, and the Ghantoot Polo Club also has four or five teams. So, we have someone to play in the UAE with.
Have you ever planned to host an international polo festival similar to the annual Horse Racing Carnival in Dubai?
Such events require huge investments. So far, everything that we do to develop polo in this country, we finance from our own pockets. Polo, as well as horse racing, is a very attractive sight. When the races take place in Dubai, many people from all over the world come here. Moreover, wealthy people, horse owners, fans, and so on.
People who like polo can be even richer. For example, two days of playing polo in London cost a team about two million dollars. Not everyone can afford it.
To hold a large festival here and invite people from all over the world, players and spectators to it, you need a lot of money. The reverse side of the coin - all guests will spend a lot in the city - live in hotels, go to restaurants, have parties and receptions. And this is an advantage for Dubai. Therefore, I believe that the government should join us in order to organize something similar in Dubai, as it is happening all over the world. We are not saying that all expenses should be borne by the state, but the government can make and finance an advertising campaign, pay for the transportation of horses for foreign teams, for example. By the way, for our part, we can provide horses for playing locally, as transporting animals costs a lot of money. This could be an interesting marketing move for Dubai. I believe that Dubai can become one of the most popular sports destinations. And this future is not far off.
Thank you Muhammad, we wish you new victories and achievements.
