TOP OF THE GAME
Golf, horse racing, motor racing, tennis, rugby and sailing – Dubai regularly hosts some of the most prestigious events in the world and the sport-loving emirate has developed into an allround venue, attracting international stars and events that place the city way ahead of the regional game as one of the world’s favourite up-and coming sporting destinations. From traditional pastimes such as camel racing and endurance riding, to international calendar events in the arena of golf, motor racing and even polo, Dubai has developed into a sporting venue capable of competing on a global level, and offers some of the finest facilities to be found anywhere in the world. Naturally, most outdoor sporting activities take place in the cooler autumn and winter months stretching from October through to late March with sporting superstars keen to flock to the Gulf’s most cosmopolitan city to take part in some of the richest events on their respective calendars. But it’s not only the events and tournaments that are of the highest standard; Dubai has also created a number of bespoke sporting venues and facilities that are on par with top venues around the world – and when that gold medal infrastructure is combined with traditional Arabian hospitality, the sporting world is given a winning combination that’s hard to beat. IN
THE SWING
Since opening its first all-grass championship course at the Emirates Golf Club in 1988, Dubai has grown to become one of the most exciting golfing destinations in the world. Today, the Dhs8.8 million (US$2.4 million) Dubai Desert Classic – part of the PGA European Tour – attracts the world’s greatest stars including Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Colin Montgomerie. Each year, approximately 40,000 spectators take advantage of the smaller galleries to get up close to the action and enjoy one of the most popular dates on the Tour’s overseas calendar. The event, which was held from January 26th to February 1st this year and won by Rory McIlroy, is one of the social occasions of the year. But perhaps the biggest golfing highlight of 2009 is the inaugural Dubai World Championship, which will be held from November 19th to 22nd on the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The tournament is the most exciting golfing destinations in the world. Today, the Dhs8.8 million (US$2.4 million) Dubai Desert Classic – part of the PGA European Tour – attracts the world’s greatest stars including Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Colin Montgomerie. Each year, approximately 40,000 spectators take advantage of the smaller galleries to get up close to the action and enjoy one of the most popular dates on the Tour’s overseas calendar. The event, which was held from January 26th to February 1st this year and won by Rory McIlroy, is one of the social occasions of the year. But perhaps the biggest golfing highlight of 2009 is the inaugural Dubai World Championship, which will be held from November 19th to 22nd on the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The tournament is the final competition in the Race to Dubai, which has replaced the European Tour Order of Merit. With a prize fund of more than Dhs36 million, it’s the world’s richest golf tournament. But it’s not just golfing competitions that have Dubai’s golfing fraternity excited. There are plenty of world-class courses for visitors to test their game on. Dubai’s list of courses reads like a who’s who of the golfing world and with courses designed by Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Baker-Finch, Vijay Singh and another by Tiger Woods in the pipeline, it’s little wonder the International Association of Golf Tour Operators has voted Dubai one of the most exciting golfing destinations in the world.
SPORTS TENNIS
Like golf, tennis also attracts the big guns and the annual Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship, held each February, continues to bring in the world’s top players. In addition to Swiss ace Roger Federer and Vegas showman Andre Agassi, the Dubai Tennis Stadium has seen serves, slices and smashes from Tim Henman, Rafael Nadal, Stefan Edberg and Marat Safin. On the women’s front, Anna Kournikova, Williams sisters Venus and Serena, Justine Henin- Hardenne and Amelie Mauresmo have all grunted and groaned across the blue courts as the two events – both men’s and women’s opens – continue to go from strength to strength. This year, the top 10 women and seven of the top 10 men took to the courts from February 15th to 28th, with Venus Williams and Novak Djokovic claiming top honours.
RUGBY
Another cornerstone of the Dubai sporting calendar is an event that doesn’t feature too many wellknown faces, but does pack in three days of heart-stopping action, excitement and non-stop partying. The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens took place in November 2008 with 16 international sides rubbing muscular shoulders with tens of thousands of spectators. As the opening tournament of the IRB Sevens, many of rugby’s powerhouse nations, including New Zealand, South Africa, England, Australia, Fiji and Argentina, flew in to do battle for the prestigious Emirates International Trophy. This year, the standard was raised even further as Dubai hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens from March 5th to 7th. The men’s tournament featured a series of upsets in which underdog Wales took the Melrose Cup. Australia, meanwhile, won the first women’s competition to be held in a Rugby World Cup Sevens.
HORSE RACING
From the rough and ready environment of the Rugby Sevens, the Dubai World Cup takes sport in the emirate to a whole new level. Oozing glitz and glamour, the event is the richest horse race on the planet with a prize purse of Dhs22 million (US$6 million). Along with the Dubai World Cup, there are a further five Thoroughbred Group races and the full action on the sand and grass tracks totals more than Dhs77 million (US$21 million) in prize-money. Last month’s World Cup was the last to be held at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse as next year the sport is set to move to Meydan, a new development spanning seven million square metres and featuring a 60,000- capacity, world class grandstand. As one would expect from Dubai, a city with more than its fair share of horse racing interest due to the world-renowned Godolphin Stables of the ruling Maktoum family, the racing season is more than just the Dubai World Cup, and visitors to the emirate should check local media for race meets throughout the winter months.
WATER SPORTS
From horsepower on land to horsepower of a different kind, namely offshore powerboat racing, Dubai also hosts one of the most glamorous and spectacular water sports in the world. A little over a decade ago, Dubai made its first foray into a sport previously dominated by racers from Europe and the USA. Today, the Dubai Victory Team is widely recognised as the most successful squad in the history of Class One Offshore – the pinnacle of the sport – having racked up a handful of world titles and built boats that have taken other teams to the prestigious Sam Griffith Trophy. Every year, the final rounds of the UIM Class One World Offshore Championship are staged at the Dubai International Marine Club on the coast at Mina Seyahi Dubai hotel.
MOTORSPORT
The Gulf is a hotbed of speed lovers and petrol heads, meaning one of the most popular additions to the sporting scene is the FIA-approved Dubai Autodrome. The track hosts the FIA GT Championship as well as various motorbike events and is equipped for sports cars, touring cars, singleseater car racing and bikes. In addition to a race and driving school, the complex also boasts a superb kart racing facility – the Kartdrome – which offers the easiest and quickest way to experience the thrills of motor racing. On November 1st, Abu Dhabi is to host the final Formula One Grand Prix of the season. The potential championship decider will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit.
WINTER SPORTS
Finally, for the winter sports enthusiast, there’s the multi-million dollar Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates on Sheikh Zayed Road, which brings a 400-metre indoor ski slope to the Middle East, allowing residents and holidaymakers to enjoy a day on the piste while the temperature outside soars. There’s also a new Olympic-sized ice rink, which opened in 2008 at The Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping mall in the Middle East. Already a hit with locals, visitors can head to the state-of-the-art rink and perfect their figure skating technique or even play ice hockey. The spectacular venue, which is the coolest place to hang out any time of the year, is also set to host international skating and ice hockey competitions.