Emirates to build new sports venue

Emirates confirmed that it has been asked by the Government of Dubai to proceed with the provision of a new facility in response to the recently announced Meydan project. The Meydan project will involve the extensive redevelopment of a large amount of land, including the area that currently occupied by the Dubai Exiles Rugby Football Club and Dubai Country Club.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: "Emirates, known globally for its support of sporting events, is building this facility to not only meet the demands of the annual Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens but to also take the sport as a whole in Dubai to a new level."

"With Dubai being selected as the host of the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009, the new Emirates sporting facility will provide the infrastructure necessary to put on a global event of this magnitude."

The new sports facility will be located on the Al Ain Road, just past Dubailand. It will consist of six full size pitches and whilst this means there will be a new home for the Dubai Rugby Sevens, the unique attributes that make the Dubai Sevens so popular will be retained in the way the facility is designed.

Sheikh Ahmed went on to say "The 2007 Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens will take place as planned from the 29th November to the 1st December at the Dubai Exiles Rugby Football Club; it is intended that from 2008 onwards the event will relocate to the new facility."

A managing body will ultimately be established which will ensure the reasonable needs of all rugby clubs and the rugby community, of all ages and all nationalities, are catered for and, whilst there may be a certain amount of upheaval in the short term, in the longer term rugby, and the rugby community, will be the winner.

In addition to rugby, this facility will also offer a wide range of sporting pastimes with swimming pools, tennis courts and squash courts all included in the plans. Members of the Dubai Country Club will be welcome to use the facility on similar membership terms as they have today at the Dubai Country Club.