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UK firm to set up polo club at Dubai land
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Dubai's ambitious Dh18
billion development Dubailand has received a huge boost with the news that
British company Plantation Holdings plans to set up a vast upscale equestrian
and polo facility within the project.
Salem bin Dasmal, chief executive
of Dubai Tour-ism Development Co, which manages Dubailand - he is also the
ddia's deputy director general - welcomed the news.Bin Dasmal said that the
two billion square feet Dubailand has been launched by dubai tour-ism
development co, a subsidiary of Ddia with the aim of providing the most
comprehensive leisure, tourism and entertainment facilities for this region, and
perhaps the world.
"The aim was not only to provide a facility that would
boost tourist flows to Dubai from the present 5 million visitors a year to 15
million by 2010 - but dubai Tourism Development Co has been tasked to facilitate
inward investments.
"We are happy to announce that with international
investors such as Plantation Holdings, we are on the way."
The british
investors will set up the plantation equestrian and polo club at dubailand. "We
are aware that Dubailand is looking for the very best," said Arthur Fitzwilliam,
managing director of Plantation Holdings.
"We promise that the facility,
which we will create, will be a benchmark for the equestrian world. "Dubai
already has internationally acknowledged equestrian credentials. Its horse
training facilities are the envy of many and the Dubai World Cup as well as
being the world's richest horse race is a major social event.
"We intend
to complement and add to that reputation."
Bin Dasmal said the plantation
equestrian and polo club will house one of the world's largest equestrian
facilities, sited on 14.5 million square feet of luxuriously landscaped
grounds.
"There will be air-conditioned stabling for 800 horses and
world-class facilities for show jumping, dressage, cross-country, endurance and
polo along with the recreational riding," he said.
The facility will be
staffed with the best international instructors for all equestrian disciplines.
The four polo fields will enable the playing not only of high goal polo, but
will allow the simultaneous scheduling of beginner games.
The polo
academy will further encourage and develop the growth of the sport amongst the
local population and provide enthusiasts from all over the world an opportunity
to participate in the sport on the arabian Peninsula.
To further enhance
the riding pleasure of the members and their guests, the club will have two
luxurious club houses, one for the equestrian and one for the polo community.
These will house a variety of restaurants and shops for the whole family to
enjoy.
"To enable international visitors to fully appreciate the
facilities at the complex, we have given permission to the promoters to build a
five-star dedicated resort on the grounds, so that enthusiasts can be close to
their favourite sport and also enjoy the other vacation options that Dubai has
to offer," Bin Dasmal said. |
