Dubai Sports City – the cornerstone project of Dubailand – has announced that 2008 will see completion of several key facilities within the USD 4 billion mega project.
“The Dubai Sports City vision of creating one of the world’s premier sporting destinations is now becoming a reality,” said Khalid Al Zarooni, President, Dubai Sports City.
The first facility at Dubai Sports City that has been completed and fully operational is The Els Club, a 72-Par, 18 hole championship golf course, which is now open for play.
Cricket is also set to receive a major boost, with the opening of the 25,000 seat cricket stadium later this year, with an international cricket event being scheduled for the grand opening. The 5,000 seat hockey stadium will also be completed in 2008, and plans are afoot to stage an international tournament.
By the end of 2008, Dubai Sports City will be the centre point for world-renowned sporting academies including the first purpose-built Manchester United Soccer Schools facility anywhere in the world (which will be housed within the Dubai Sports City Football Academy), the International Cricket Council’s own ICC Global Cricket Academy, followed soon after by the first Butch Harmon School of Golf outside the United States, the first of its kind WorldHockey Academy, and a David Lloyd Tennis Academy.
“We are confident that our facilities will create a lifestyle that encourages people to live, work, and play in an environment that is dedicated to healthy living,” Zarooni added.
The multi-purpose venues and sports academies are a key part of the strategic plan for Dubai Sports City to firmly establish itself as a “must-visit” destination for resident and international visitors.
About Dubai Sports City:
Dubai Sports City (DSC), the cornerstone project of Dubailand, is a $4 billion, 50 million square feet mixed-use development which will be the world’s first integrated sports city.
The development will be built around five major sports venues:
• a 60,000 capacity multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football, rugby, track and field and other sports and non-sports events
• a 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena suitable for all hard court sports as well as concerts and other events and also including a removable ice rink
• a 25,000 capacity cricket stadium, expandable to 30,000, with state-of-the-art facilities for players, match officials, VIPs, spectators and the media
• a 5,000 seat field hockey stadium
• a magnificent 18-hole Championship golf course designed by Ernie Els
In addition to the stadia, Dubai Sports City will feature a series of major sports academy facilities including:
• Dubai Sports City Football Academy, the home of Manchester United Soccer Schools, Dubai
• a David Lloyd Tennis Academy
• a Butch Harmon School of Golf, the first such facility outside the United States
• the International Cricket Council’s own ICC Global Cricket Academy
• the WorldHockey Academy, a first of its kind partnership with the International Hockey Federation
• top class multi-sport training facilities including gymnasium and a 50 metre swimming pool
• a world-renowned sports medicine and rehabilitation centre
Designed as a lifestyle development, Dubai Sports City will also feature comprehensive community facilities including:
▪ Next Generation Country Club and spa facility
▪ a large-scale shopping mall
▪ two retail hubs offering up-scale dining and boutique shopping
▪ a range of schools
▪ medical facilities
▪ community centres
▪ hotels
