A Catch Up With Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club

With so many options for brides-to-be in the region looking for their dream wedding venue, it’s easy to focus on the new five star hotels that seem to be opening every single week. However, some of the more established and perhaps ‘out of town’ properties can also offer couples a private, luxurious and unique setting for their big day.

We spoke to Jessica Shaw, Lifestyle Events Manager at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, and Ryan Bagnas, Lifestyle Events Executive, to find out more about the history of Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club, and what they can offer for brides-to-be in the region. Enjoy!

Above: Jessica Shaw, Lifestyle Events Manager at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, and Ryan Bagnas, Lifestyle Events Executive.

How long has Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club been established and what makes your venue unique when it comes to hosting weddings?

Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club opened its doors in 2006 and immediately became everyone’s favourite escape from the city. The property itself has unique characteristics; this, combined with its charm – there is a beautiful feel to Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.

You don’t have to be a lover of horses to come here; whether you are or not, we challenge you not to stand back and marvel at the horses running on the beautiful green fields. It really is something special to see.


What made you decide to work in the events and hospitality industry?

We have both worked in hospitality for our entire careers albeit in different departments prior to moving over to Lifestyle Events. In the hospitality industry, specifically in Lifestyle Events, there are no two days the same; there are no two clients the same and at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, no two events are the same! We get to meet new people and work with them creatively every day.

What do you love most about your job?

We both agree that being in Lifestyle Events and being fortunate to work at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, which is so diverse, allows us to explore our love of creative events and work so closely with our couples.

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing hard work pay off at an amazing event with happy couples at the end. To stand back and watch the couple take their first dance or just witness them relaxing and enjoying their evening with big smiles is worth more than any ‘thank you’ could ever express.

Do you have any exciting weddings happening at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club soon? What are you most looking forward to about 2018?

We attract such a diverse range of clients here at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club that we always have something going on! We have couples who we have known for 12 months and couples that we only meet weeks before their big day for weddings large and small.

We started 2018 with a bang and have already executed some fantastic weddings. Our favourite so far was a couple hosting post-ceremony cocktails on the terrace with a polo match on the field playing ‘team bride’ versus ‘team groom’. We are already planning weddings with couples taking advantage of our Summer Wedding Packages as well as couples getting a head start on their year-end bookings so there is much to look forward to this year!

Describe the experience a bride-to-be will have when hiring Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club for her wedding…

We are a team that is passionate about what we all do respectively and this is evident in everything the couple and their guests will experience; from the first meeting to the big day. At the Polo Club, we are a more intimate team than in some of the larger hotels and we feel that this gives us an edge, especially when it comes to the personal touch.


How do you manage trust from your clients? After all, it is the most important day of their lives…

From the very first meeting, we like to get to know our clients and we like to see this as the start of a journey that we are going on together. We will always guarantee to be open and honest with clients; whether this is regarding transparency of rates or what is achievable. There is no use going on this journey with the clients knowing that they are going to be disappointed at the end; we want to see a great result as much as they do.

If you could give one piece of advice to our readers (brides-to-be) what would it be?

Personalise, personalise, personalise! It may not be the latest trend, it may not be what everyone else is doing or what is all over social media, but it is you and your partner’s day to make your own.

What budgets do you cater for?

We do have Wedding Packages; however, we are more likely to create a bespoke package with a couple according to what they want. The multiple venues we have at the club, each suiting different sizes of parties affords us to be flexible to accommodate most budgets. Whether you are planning an intimate family celebration or a grander soiree there is a venue to suit every occasion and size.

Thanks, Jessica and Ryan! For more information about Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, head straight to their website.