Dubai Waterfront swings in with Desert Classic support

The $2.4 million tournament, which will feature three of the world's top five golfers - Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els - in the 120-man line-up, will be the 17th staging of the PGA European Tour event.

"Dubai Waterfront is proud to be sponsoring the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic," said Khaled Al Huraimel, General Manager - Madinat Al Arab, Dubai Waterfront Company.

"World class events such as this are integral to the international recognition of Dubai as a major, international city. Golf is a key component of our city's tourism offer, with the Dubai Desert Classic being central to this.

"Dubai Waterfront is constructing the world's largest waterfront development, is destined to become a landmark for Dubai, a supremely master planned city which will attract people from all over the world. Working hand in hand, events such as the Dubai Desert Classic and developments such as Dubai Waterfront continue to propel the city into the international spotlight and are perfect examples of the vision of Dubai."

Sponsored by Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL), the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic is already attracting unprecedented media interest with films crews and journalists from as far afield as Argentina and New Zealand already looking to cover what has become an established fixture on the PGA European Tour overseas calendar.

"Having companies like Dubai Waterfront support the Desert Classic simply underlines how global the tournament has become in terms of players, world reach and exposure," said Mohammed Alabbar, Chairman of Golf in DUBAI (GiD), the organisers and promoters of the Dubai Desert Classic.

"Not only is the tournament the richest ever staged in the region, it also features three of the world's top five golfers making it the envy of many other Tour events in Europe and the US. It promises to be the best and strongest line-up ever seen in the Gulf."

Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor, CNN International, Nakheel Dubai Waterfront, Emaar and Samsung as co-sponsors, other Desert Classic 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.