Desert Classic keeps DUBAL in the sporting spotlight

As well as four of the world's top ten players, the 17th Desert Classic - to be held over the Emirates Golf Club's Majlis Course from February 2-5 - will also have a unprecedented prize-fund of $2.4 million as DUBAL marks its 16th consecutive year of support for the tournament in record style.

DUBAL Chief Executive Officer Abdulla Kalban said the company's sponsorship of the PGA European Tour event helps promote the name of Dubai Aluminium to a world-wide audience as well as the company's key target and market audiences.

"Initially, the Dubai Desert Classic was seen as an odd event to feature on the European Tour," he added. "But over the years, it has firmly established itself as one of the key dates on the calendar, so much so that we and the tournament's organisers - Golf In DUBAI (GiD) - were asked to bring the date forward to accommodate the top stars who all want to play in Dubai."

"To us, that is a positive statement that we are backing a sporting event as good as anything in the world."

But while DUBAL is delighted with the quality of the field taking shape for the 2006 event, the company firmly believes in supporting the sport at grass roots level and will again provide sponsor invites to two Gulf players, one amateur and one professional.

"Of course there will be Ryder Cup stars, Major winners like Tiger Woods and Ernie Els and a host of rising European Tour stars but DUBAL is also keen that our qualifiers enjoy the experience of playing at the highest level and we thank them for their continued support and sponsor invites," said Mohamed Buamim, Vice Chairman of Golf in DUBAI (GiD), organisers and promoters of the Dubai Desert Classic.

To establish the identities of the two qualifiers who will rub shoulders with the best in the world, a 36-hole qualifying tournament will take place on January 15 with the leading professional and top scratch amateur going through to the four-day event.

Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Desert Classic, CNN International, Arabian Ranches by Emaar, Nakheel, 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 Bank National Bank of Dubai; official courtesy car BMW; and event newspaper Gulf News.

Tickets for the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic can be purchased online from the official website .