THE British Polo Day Series has returned to the UAE for the fifth successive year, even as Britain’s football legends make appearances in the UAE and St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in a unique Emirati way.
Held in March earlier this year, the British Polo Day 2014 Series, presented by Land Rover, saw Britain’s top young players and polo enthusiasts flying in to the UAE courtesy of Virgin Atlantic. New on the agenda for 2014 was the Middle East’s very first bicycle polo match.The series kicked-off in style at Abu Dhabi’s Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, the private royal club of His Highness Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Dominic Jermey, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the UAE, commented: “The British Polo Day Series is the only global polo network of its kind. British Polo Day is celebrated in more than 10 different countries and, as UK Ambassador to the UAE, I am proud that the UAE is among these – the only such country in the Middle East.” VisitBritain, in collaboration with Harvey Nichols Dubai, has organised a marketing initiative – ‘Sport is Great’ – to showcase football and fashion in Harvey Nichols Dubai from March 20 to May 20.The campaign was officially opened at Harvey Nichols Dubai by Her Majesty’s Consul General to the UAE, Edward Hobart, unveiling its main attraction, UK’s National Football Museum pop-up exhibition, which showcases a wide range of priceless displays, including the Bobby Moore shirt, a life-sized mannequin of Pele, the glorious FA Cup on display throughout the activity, and the Premier League Trophy providing a great photo opportunity for visitors to the store.During the promotion, visitors to Harvey Nichols Dubai may meet and greet famous British football legends who will be making in-store appearances at different times. There’s a chance to win Premier League signed football T-shirts and the grand prize, a trip for two to the UK courtesy of Virgin Atlantic to watch a football match live. Setting the tempo for UAE St. Patrick’s Day festivities this year, Tourism Ireland staged its first ever Irish – Emirati dance exchange in Dubai in front of the Burj Al Arab hotel, as part of its annual ‘global greenings’ festivities.More than 30 traditional Al Ayallah dancers, ranging from 15 to 72 years old, and local school children from the Victoria International School of Sharjah (VISS), performed the UAE’s national dance in the stunning night-time setting of the Burj Al Arab hotel. Joining them were traditional Irish dance students, who clicked and grapevined as the Burj Al Arab lit up in brilliant, emerald green once again on St. Patrick’s Day, as part of the global greening of significant world landmarks.