Monday, Feb 08, 2016

Dubai: The Al Habtoor Group of companies has reiterated the family’s commitment towards supporting sports in the UAE.

“The entire Al Habtoor family actively practices some sort of sport. I have my grandchildren who all ride horses as this sport is so much a part of our Arab heritage. Over the years we have played our part in promoting several events and teams in football and basketball, while being the first ones in the Gulf region to organize a tennis tournament for women,” Khalaf Al Habtoor, the patriarch of the group told Gulf News.

“We have earmarked more than $1 billion (Dhs 3.67 billion) for creating new infrastructure for sport in the UAE. First, we have the Habtoor Polo Resort and Club (adjacent to the Emirates Road and the Dubai-Al Ain Road) and then we have the Al Habtoor City along Shaikh Zayed Road. Both these facilities will further boost sport in the country,” he related.

Spread over six million square feet, the Al Habtoor Polo and Resort Club which is due for completion in 2017, includes a five-star hotel, a polo club, a state-of-the-art polo academy and a riding school with 500 stables. The Al Habtoor City along Shaikh Zayed Road consists of three hotels on one plot along with three luxury residential towers and at least four tennis courts, one of which will be with a fully covered and air-conditioned.

“Any sort of sport activity gives us great returns and that is why we believe in promoting sport. We are particularly excited about the tennis courts at the Al Habtoor City as they will be a huge boost for the game here,” he added.

By Alaric Gomes Senior Reporter

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