Dubai, Mar. 6, 2006 (WAM) -- Dubai Sports City, the world's only purpose-built sports city, today announced that it has awarded thecontract for the construction of its world-class cricket stadium.

The main contractor is a joint venture between Alpine Bau Deutschlandand Belbadi Engineering (Alpine-Belbadi). The contract commences immediatelywith anticipated completion of the project in the first quarter of 2008.

The total cost of the cricket stadium when finished will be AED 300 million.

The cricket stadium will be one of the most advanced of its kind in theworld and the International Cricket Council (ICC), the world governingbody of cricket, has been involved in all stages of the design processto ensure that the stadium meets the relevant specifications for hostinginternational cricket fixtures.

The 25 000 seat stadium, which is expandable to 30,000, will have state-of-the-artfacilities for players, match officials, VIPs, spectators and the media.

It will feature a unique roof structure based on the traditional Arabictent framework and will become a landmark throughout Dubai Sports Cityand Dubailand. The pitch is being built by expert pre-qualified contractorsin line with ICC standards.

Announcing the award of the construction contract for the first of thefour planned stadia at Dubai Sports City, Khalid Al Zarooni, Presidentof Dubai Sports City, acknowledged the tremendous vision of His HighnessSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Ministerand Ruler of Dubai and his success in projecting Dubai on to the worldstage as a major global sporting, leisure and tourism hub.

U Balasubramaniam, CEO of Dubai Sports City, speaking at the press conferencesaid: "The stadia at Dubai Sports City will set a benchmark for sportingvenues in the region and beyond. We are working with the best architectsand contractors to ensure that the cricket stadium complies with the standardsset down by the global governing body of cricket. As I am sure you know,the Emirates Cricket Board is currently bidding for major internationalICC cricket events and the cricket stadium at Dubai Sports City formsa central part of that bid.

"Our ambition is for Dubai Sports City to become a global centre of excellencefor cricket - we will not only have the best cricket stadium in the worldbut we will also host the first ever ICC Global Cricket Academy underthe helm of Rodney Marsh as Director of Coaching."In concluding Balasubramaniam said : "We must not forget that for themost part the evolution and growth of cricket in the Emirates can be attributedto one of the Dubai Sports City partners, Mr Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, withoutwhose dedication and patronage cricket would not enjoy the support andprofile it has in the region today."Sir Clive Lloyd, veteran cricketer, ICC match referee and ex-West Indiescaptain who attended the press conference as an honorary guest of DubaiSports City, was lavish with his praise: "Dubai Sports City is an amazingproject and I have seen nothing else like it. It really pleases me tosee a venture that is so dedicated to the growth and development of cricketat all levels, and where better than Dubai with its geographical advantageat the centre of the cricketing world.

"I shall personally be following the progress of this breathtaking development- I am sure the cricketers of today and tomorrow will find this a fantasticvenue in which to play cricket." David Richardson, General Manager, Cricket, at the ICC, said: "At itsprevious home in London, the ICC had a fantastic cricket ground - Lords- outside its office window and it is good to know that when we move toDubai Sports City there will once again be a great stadium next to ourheadquarters.

"As well as our office we are also developing the ICC Global Cricket Academyat Dubai Sports City. This will become the centre of excellence for worldcricket bringing together the skills and facilities to allow cricketersincluding juniors, coaches, umpires, curators and administrators to developtheir abilities. I am sure the stadium will complement these facilities" Dr Thomas Schmidt, General Manager of Alpine Bau Deutschland AG, UAE branch,said:" Dubai Sports City is an incredible project and it is a great honourfor us to have been awarded this contract. Alpine-Belbadi has formeda joint venture to execute this prestigious project. The joint venturerelies on the international expertise of Alpine who recently built theMunich Stadium where the opening game of the FIFA World Cup Championship2006 will be performed."Mr Werner Maluck, Director of Belbadi Engineering, commented:" BelbadiEngineering and its daughter company, Emirates Belbadi Contracting arealready well-established in the UAE. We will lead the joint venture whichcombines local and international expertise, this is a very exciting projectfor us." The cricket stadium has been designed by world renowned architects Gerkan,Marg und Partner (GMP), who are also famous for their work on the reconstructionof the Berlin Olympic Stadium (75,000 seats), the Commerzbank Arena inFrankfurt (48,000 seats) and the Rheinenergie stadium in Cologne (46,200seats).