Jumeirah Golf Estates is ready to take its vision to the rest of the world.
The Dubai-based group is in talks to create residential golf communities in places like Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Croatia and South Africa, having experienced great success with its Dubai model.
The announcement came as the group the flagship project within Istithmar Leisure unveiled Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia, Australian hero Greg Norman and course design legend Pete Dye as the team who will design the fourth course, Wind, at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Scheduled for completion in 2009, Wind joins Fire and Earth designed by Norman and Water, designed by Vijay Singh, in creating one of the world's leading residential golf developments.
Alan Rogers, CEO of Istithmar Real Estate, said: "This is part one of what I believe will become one of the largest leisure companies existing in the world.
"We are initially looking at Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Croatia and South Africa. It will mix resort and residential.
"We have already bought the Victoria & Alfred waterfront in Cape Town so we would want to incorporate a golf course there.
"Private companies have approached us. Our aim is to announce our first international golf course in March or April. This is a very exciting time for us." David Spencer, CEO of Jumeirah Golf Estates, added: "The exciting thing for us is that the development of Jumeirah Golf Estates has had a global impact with other developers who are approaching us, not for investment, but for expertise.
"To have the expertise under one roof that we have makes us a truly unique golf development company.
"Who would have thought 10 years ago that probably the most exciting development golf company would be based in Dubai? We are firmly established on the map."
By Alam Khan
© Emirates Today 2007
