Jumeirah Golf Estates takes big step forward with prestigious international property award

Dubai's premier residential golf development learned it is to be recognised as one of the Best Developments in the Middle East, with an additional award for Best Interior Design for its luxurious Fireside by Greg Norman villas.

The awards add to the 2007 CNBC Arabian Property Award for Best Golf Development won by Jumeirah Golf Estates.

David Spencer, chief executive - golf of Leisurecorp, the parent company of Jumeirah Golf Estates, said:

"This is a fantastic achievement for us. Last year, we were named the best golf development in the region; this year, we've taken a big step forward. We love golf - but today, we're being recognised for going beyond golf. Jumeirah Golf Estates is now seen as one of the best residential developments on the international stage. Since we first started planning Jumeirah Golf Estates, we've aimed to make sure that every detail is perfect, from the greens on one of the world's most exciting new golf courses, to the interiors of every single home overlooking that course. So I'm doubly proud that we are being recognised for the interior design at Fireside. This is a community designed by Greg Norman and he has brought the world-class, world-beating abilities to these homes that he brings to everything."

The awards will be presented at a glittering gala dinner to be held at The Madinat in Dubai on 19 October.

The CNBC Arabia Property Awards 2008 recognise the highest levels of achievement in a range of fields in the Arabian property industry.

Entries were judged by a panel of professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is second to none and unsurpassed by any other property awards.

Chaired by Eric Pickles, British Shadow Secretary of State, this year's judges included Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes magazine; Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents; Phil Spencer, property expert and presenter of Channel 4's Location and Relocation TV shows; Imtiaz Farookhi, chief executive of the National House Building Council; Christopher Hall, past president National Association of Estate Agents; Wilhelm Harnish, Master Builders of Australia (MBA); Thijis Staff, International Consortium of Real Estate Agents Association (ICREA); Alejandro Escurdero, SIMA; Kirkor Ajderhanyan, French Real Estate Federation (FNAIM); Omer Ghani, director of sales, CNBC Arabia; Ed Binkley, BSB Design USA; Samantha Braniff, Sydney Morning Herald; Raul Curiel, chairman, European Operations, Aukett Fitzroy Robinson; Tyler Clay, FIABCI USA; Hans-Ulrich Berendes, FIABCI Germany; Oliver Richards, founding partner, ORMS Design; Christian Kalin, partner, Henley & Partners Zurich; Graham Norwood of the Daily Mail; David Hoppit, property writer; Jill Keene, editor of International Homes magazine; Diana Yakely, chairman British Interior Design Association; and Tad Zurlinden, Association of Relocation Professionals.

Jumeirah Golf Estates will now be entitled to display the CNBC Arabian Property Awards' logo in its marketing materials.

This symbol of excellence will be recognised and appreciated by the public who are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the properties they seek to buy.

Jumeirah Golf Estates has brought together the world's leading golf and course design superstars, to create Dubai's premier residential golf community.

Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and "the father of modern golf course design", Pete Dye, are working on creating one of the world's most distinctive golf developments.

Four courses - Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind - will pay tribute to the power of nature, each employing the distinctive characteristics of its own surroundings to deliver a unique challenge.

They will be surrounded by the most desirable residential communities in Dubai, with luxury homes characterised by beautiful space both inside and out.

In November 2007, Leisurecorp announced that Jumeirah Golf Estates would be home to the richest tournament in world golf, the Dubai World Championship, from November 2009.

Since then, interest in homes on the development have spiked event more.