Heirs and (His) Grace

With the Royal Salute UAE Nations Cup 2016 making its mark on Friday, we spoke to long-term patron the Duke of Argyll Torquhil Ian Campbell

A firm favourite in Dubai's social calendar, the eighth Royal Salute UAE Nations Cup culminated its weeklong tournament on Friday at an unusually chilly Per Aquum Desert Palm Resort.
As the clouds, wind and unseasonably brisk temperatures rolled in earlier on in the day, a few guests were unsure the afternoon's sport would go ahead. Societal spirit prevailed, however, and a record-breaking crowd witnessed the Desert Palm team, led by local polo aficionado Ali Albwardy, emerge as champions.
Polo is often deemed 'The Sport of Kings' as a result of attracting the attention of nobility across the globe. This competition was once again attended by Royal Salute ambassador His Grace, Torquhil Ian Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll. A long-time visitor to the UAE, the Duke of Argyll's seat is Inveraray Castle, an ancestral home surrounded by 50,000 of rural estate open to visitors in the summer. 100,000 tourists are expected this year alone.
"Dubai is an amazing place and an important city for luxury products," Campbell told us on the marriage between the sport and his brand. "To bring out a sponsored polo match to Dubai is a perfect fit."
The UAE Nations Cup was established in 2009, at the time the only polo meet in the country to include international teams. Over the years the competition has piqued the interest of and encouraged more emirates-based players to join in.
"This year had far more of a local flare than when we first started," Campbell added. "The fact Ali Albwardy was playing made it tricky for everyone on the field as always."