IMG to Help Design Two Courses At Dubai Golf City


Thani Investments, a Dubai-based company, has announced that IMG, the sports marketing and management company, has signed an agreement with Thani to design two of the world class championship courses at Dubai Golf City.

Dubai Golf City is one of Dubaifs major projects. It is planned to be one of the top-10 global tourist destinations by 2008. IMG, through its sports partnerships, will work with BENAA, the property development subsidiary of Thani Investments, to develop the Oasis course and a world first in golf course design.

Dubai Golf City will cover 55 million square feet and contain:

Five themed golf courses;
A five-star luxury resort and spa inspired by Arabian architecture;
700 mansions and luxury villas;
18 themed golf villages containing 2,750 townhouses and chalets.

Construction of the £1 billion development is scheduled to start in 2006, with completion in 2009. Dubai Golf City envisions hosting major golfing championships as well as being a holiday destination for golfers and non-golfers alike.

Dubai Golf City's five signature courses will follow a themed approach, including the Oasis, Desert, Wadi and Parkland courses. The fifth course, the details of which are yet to be revealed, will be the first of its kind.

With 55 million square feet of lush greenery planned, Creative Kingdom, the design company behind gThe Worldh and gThe Palm Islands,h will assist in designing the development.

IMG, the world's largest sport management company, manages a number of top golfers, including Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia.

Commenting on the deal with IMG, Abdulla Saeed Al Thani, chairman of Thani Investments said, "Thani is delighted to be working with a world-class partner like IMG. The championship courses planned with IMG will be the most challenging, enjoyable and memorable designs and will become a central attraction to Dubai.

"Other course planners are being consulted at the moment and we look forward announcing further partners in the near future,h continued Thani. "Through the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, I have been able to develop numerous opportunities for Thani Investments, of which Dubai Golf City is a key development to make the Emirate a leading tourist destination."