Dubai International Sports
Dubai Sports - Dubai International Sports by Dubai City Guide Summer 2008
Dubai has stolen the international limelight over the past few years and among the many reasons for that is its value as a sporting venue. With the likes of Dubai International Sports City coming up and various international sporting events hosted by Dubai, the city is rapidly gaining popularity as a favoured venue for holding events such as car rallies, tennis championships, golf tournaments, rugby finals, football matches and equestrian races. Dubai’s ruling family is the primary entity involved in creating the ’sporting city’ image, which has escalated to such heights that even hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics was considered for awhile, although the bid didn’t take place.
Football and equestrian sports are the most popular among UAE nationals, while water sports come in at a close second. Golf and tennis are favourites of the Western and European expatriates, while cricket, is followed religiously by the Asian community. Overall, Dubai can be considered as passionate about sports, no matter where each sport originated.
Besides the most popular sporting activities, there’s ice skating, polo, rock climbing, sailing, skiing, shooting, archery and even canoeing for the adventurous. Dubai has advanced facilities and services for sports training and a variety of venues for hosting major international sporting events every year. The popular Dubai Tennis Open, Dubai Desert Classic and Dubai World Cup are evidence for this factor.
Dubai International Sports City
Dubai International Sports City refers to itself as ‘a place where sport is life, champions live, and legends are made.’ Built to international standards, this vast venue will be capable of hosting international football, cricket, rugby, golf, field hockey, tennis and other sporting events. The ultimate aim is to create an exclusive venue for sports training academies, multi-functional sporting facilities, sporting rehabilitation centres and even accommodation for professional players and athletes, all in one location.
