Dubailand to feature world class sports city

"Dubai Sports City is one of the main components of Dubailand project launched by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minster of Defence. We are pleased that local investors will execute the Dubai Sports City, especially since many organisations from within and outside the country showed interest in the project which is mainly a complete group of sports facilities on an international level," said Mohammed Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai Development and Investment Authority (DDIA), during the signing of the contract with investors in Dubai Sports City.

The investors are Abdul Rahim Al Zarooni, Abdul Rahman Falaknaz and Abdul Rahman bu Khater.

"The announcement of this huge project after few days from launching Dubailand, the biggest and first project of its kind in the Middle East, shows the confidence of UAE and regional investors in the local economy and the high potential of the growth of the tourism sector in Dubai," Al Gergawi pointed out.

He said DDIA, which is supervising the execution of Dubailand project through Dubai Tourism Projects Development Company, conducted intensive negotiations with investors and groups from within and outside the country who are interested in the main and sub-projects within Dubailand. "Negotiations on some projects have reached the final stage, and are expected to be announced soon."

The DDIA Chairman said Dubai Sports City would offer its own attractions that will perfectly complement the other elements of Dubailand.

Abdul Rahim Al Zarooni, President of Al Zarooni Group said "we are pleased that Dubai Sports City, in which we plan to execute some projects, will be the first to be announced within Dubailand. This assures our commitment to the local economy and our confidence in the high potential of Dubailand which marks an ambitious vision that aims at establishing the position of the UAE as a highly important destination on the map of international tourism."

He clarified that the "Dubai Sports City project includes cricket, rugby, football, field and track and indoor sports such as basketball, handball, volleyball alongside many complementing facilities varying from golf and cricket academies to other facilities of such kind."

Al Zarooni pointed out that the city would include an outdoor multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 25,000 people. It is designed to host international matches and championships of football and rugby and will be attached to a football academy."

Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Chairman of Bukhatir Investments Limited said "we will consider designing and executing facilities that will be capable of hosting international championships, including the cricket stadium that has a capacity of 25,000 people and is expected to host regional and international events regularly and is attached to a cricket academy."

Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, President of Falaknaz Group, assured that the Dubai Sports City would contribute to placing the UAE on the map of leading sports centers in the world. "Dubai will actually host international events and championships in different sports like tennis, golf, horse racing and others."

The facilities will include a hotel, track fields for running and bicycle competitions, shopping malls, cinemas and stores, medical clinic and other services which will make it more like 'a city within a city'," he added.

Dubai Tourism Projects Development Company, which manages Dubailand, is not only aiming to create a sports complex that ranks among the best in the world, it also want to create champions that compete with the best in the world. That is why Dubai Sports City will have dedicated academies for cricket, football and tennis to train the young to be champions.

Located on the upper west side of Dubailand, the project will have a unique golfing development with an 18-hole championship course, which promises to be truly one of its kind. The Dubai Sports City would also house a world-class golf academy. The development will be golf buggy friendly and will encourage exercise with jogging and biking tracks.

Dubai Sports City is part of an overall 2 billion square feet Dubailand project that will see investments worth AED 18 billion. It is one of the overall project's many facets designed to position Dubai as a leisure, tourism and entertainment capital of the region. The ambitious Dubailand has 45 main projects with more than 200 sub-projects.

Dubai Sports City will also have several projects including an autodrome along with the famous Arabian Ranches project, which was floated last year. Only 60 per cent of the allotted land will be built upon, leaving 40 per cent for natural beauty.

Main Features
Golfing: The Dubai Sports City will have an 18-hole golf course along with a golf club with a world class golf academy.

Club House: A club house will have all leisure facilities including tennis courts and tennis academy, health spa etc.

Cricket: A 25,000-seat capacity stadium for cricket with a cricket academy. This will hold international events.

Rugby, Football And Track & field: A multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football and rugby along with a football academy and a track& field circuit. It will seat 25.000.

Hockey Stadium: A 10,000-seat capacity hockey stadium.

Indoor Stadium: A multipurpose indoor stadium with a seating capacity of 5,000 to 8,000 can be used for sports like basketball, volleyball, handball, net ball, etc. and will be capable of holding concerts and shows as an entertainment centre.

Riding Club: A riding club on a membership basis will be set up offering riding and other equestrian facilities.

Assorted Facilities: Apart from the above, there would also be hotels, jogging/bicycle tracks, boulevards, restaurants, cafes, malls, mini malls, cinemas and retail outlets, medical clinic and other services - to provide a mini-township community.

International bodies like FIFA, WBA and WBF and PGA regulate almost all of the sports that will be encouraged at the Dubai Sports City.

The Dubai Sports City will be built in two phases, with the first four-year phase seeing the construction of sports stadiums along with the golf course and sports-related facilities. The second four-year phase will see the completion of all activities envisaged.