DUBAL notches up 21st sponsorship of Omega Desert Classic

A major sponsor of the event since 1992, Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL) this year celebrates its 21^st year of corporate support for the annual Omega Dubai Desert Classic Golf Tournament (the Omega DDC). DUBAL’s involvement is not only a remarkable demonstration of the company’s long-standing commitment to investing in Dubai’s most enduring international sporting event, but also its determination to promote the social and economic development of the city and Emirate. 

So says Khalid Buhumaid (Vice President: Corporate Relations & International Affairs and official spokesperson of DUBAL), who states, “Through our involvement, the Omega DDC has evolved from a relatively unknown into a world-class sporting tournament, which attracts the world’s top golfers. The growth of the event has raised international awareness of and interest in both our country and our company.” 

Widely acknowledged as the industrial flagship of the UAE, DUBAL was established in 1979. Today, DUBAL’s Jebel Ali complex has the capacity to produce more one million metric tonnes of molten metal per year — thus ranking it the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter using pre-baked anodes. The company also owns 50 per cent of Emirates Aluminium Company Limited (“EMAL”) smelter development in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, where the first phase of construction is completed and the entire 750,000 metric tonnes per year production capacity has been commissioned. Construction of EMAL Phase II, which will increase EMAL’s total production capacity to 1.3 million tonnes per year, began mid-2011. In addition, DUBAL holds shares in upstream development projects. 

As an entirely state-owned enterprise, DUBAL is passionate about the socio-economic growth of Dubai and its people. “We consider it our privilege to invest in the growth and development of the Dubai economy,” explains Buhumaid. “Over and above our substantial direct and indirect contributions to the economy, DUBAL actively supports community-based initiatives that fulfil the broader goals of the Dubai government by donating time, financial resources and expertise to a broad range of events and activities, especially in education and social welfare. Generous sponsorship is also provided to high profile sports tournaments and trade events that showcase Dubai’s superb tourism and business infrastructure to international audiences while demonstrating the city’s innovative and cosmopolitan atmosphere.” 

Buhumaid adds that the Omega DDC provides an excellent forum for consolidating the partnerships nurtured with DUBAL’s customers over the course of the company’s 32-year history. “Every year, we invite our customers from across the world to Dubai, to attend the Omega DDC as our guests. We leverage the event to build on our existing long-term, loyal relationships, many of which have endured since DUBAL’s inception,” he says. “We also invite our local suppliers, bankers and other local business associates to the event, as a gesture of our appreciation for these business partnerships.” 

A four-day PGA European Tour-sanctioned tournament, the Omega DDC 2012 will be played at the Emirates Golf Club from 9 to 12 February.  As in prior years, several DUBAL guests and company representatives will participate actively in the Pro-Am Tournament immediately preceding the Omega DDC 2012. “A comprehensive social programme has been arranged for DUBAL’s guests during their stay in Dubai, providing ample opportunity to experience our traditional Arabian hospitality,” concludes Buhumaid. “We are also hosting a DUBAL Golf Day at the Emirates Golf Club immediately after the Omega DDC, for a small field of selected guests.”