Dubai Duty Free offers total Classic support

Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said: "Dubai Duty Free has supported the Dubai Desert Classic since it was first held in 1989 and we are proud to be associated with this very successful event. This year, the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Dubai Desert Classic overlap by a few days, which serves to highlight the tremendous choice of top class sport that is staged here in Dubai."

Sponsored by Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL), the $2 million Dubai Desert Classic will take place at the Emirates Golf Club's Majlis Course from March 4-7 at the same time as the world's leading tennis stars are battling it out in the Dubai Tennis Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium. And the head of the award-winning organization believes Dubai's sporting public are in for an action-packed week of sport.

"We have players such as Justine Henin-Hardenne, Venus Williams and Amelie Mauresmo taking part in the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open from February 23-28, while players like Roger Federer, Tim Henman and Mark Philippoussis will be playing for the men's title just as golfers of the calibre of Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington are arriving for the Classic," added McLoughlin. "There aren't many other cities that can attract stars like this over the course of a couple of weeks."

It promises to be a hectic couple of months for Dubai Duty Free, which has played a key supporting role in the golfing community for many years. This year at the 15th Dubai Desert Classic, it will once again be an Official Supporter of the PGA European Tour event.

"The Dubai Desert Classic is firmly established as one of the country's top sporting events and it is fitting that key businesses like Dubai Duty Free enjoy a high profile within it," said Mohammed Buamim, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Desert Classic Executive Committee, organisers and promoters of the event.

"We're delighted that they have chosen to once again support the Desert Classic during what promises to be quite a busy and exciting few weeks."

The world of golf is familiar territory for Dubai Duty Free. The annual Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup is an established highlight on the sporting calendar of international duty free and aviation industry representatives, while on the local scene, Dubai Duty Free is also a keen supporter of golfers across the board. It is a corporate patron of the UGA Junior Development Programme and sponsors the Dubai Duty Free UAE Nationals Cup, Dubai Duty Free Golf Cup and the Dubai Duty Free Seniors Cup.

Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Desert Classic, CNN International, The World by Al Nakheel, Arabian Ranches by Emaar and Samsung as co-sponsors, other sponsors include Emirates as official airline and Hole In One Sponsor, official caterer, hotel and challenge match sponsor Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, official courtesy car BMW, and event newspaper Gulf News.