Bob Travel

The Municipality of Dubai is gaining a reputation as a premiere destination for international sports competition. Over the last ten years the region, which is more famous for its stifling desert heat and the many luxury hotels Dubai UAE, has committed itself to building state-of-the art facilities, such as those in Dubai Sports City, and to attracting international talent with large appearance fees and some of the richest purses in sports.

In 2008, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon became the world’s richest long-distance running event. Organizers offered $250,000 for both the men and women winners. There was an additional offer of $1 million for setting a world record. The race is held each year in January.

Golf is popular sport in the UAE. Both the Dubai Desert Classica and the Dubai World Championship tournaments are held each year. In 2009 the European Tour is hosting a “Race to Dubai.” A record $1.66 million will go to winner of this points race between the top 60 money winners that culminates at the Dubai World Championship in November. The total purse is a record-setting $10 million.

The richest horse race in the world has consistently been the Dubai World Cup. Held in March each year, the 2009 World Cup $6 million prize was won by Well Armed. Six other races, some with total prizes of over $21 million are held on the same day. These include the Dubai Duty Free, the Dubai Sheema Classic, and the UAE Derby.

Tennis stars gather in Dubai in February for the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship. This is a hard court tournament featuring both men’s and women’s events. The Legends Rock Dubai tournament is part of the Outback Champions Series. It is held each November and has featured senior tennis players such as Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Michael Stich, Peter McNamara, ang Guy Forget.

Rugby is another popular sport in Dubai. In earl March 2009, the city was host to the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens. This included the first ever Womens’ World Cup Sevens which was won by Australia

Dubai Sports City has partnered with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to create the World Hockey Academy. The Academy will provide local hockey leagues, school tournaments, and coaching programs.

Construction of the academy is entering the final stages of completion. Restaurants and hotels Dubai UAE are eagerly anticipating the academy’s opening as they forecast an increase in business during special events and programs that is much needed in the current economic climate.

Courses in umpiring coaching will feature some of the world’s most respected coaches. the FIH hopes that the classes and programs will encourage the growth of the sport throughout Dubai, the UAE, and the rest of the Middle East.

The facilities include two water-based pitches that are built to international standards and are FIH-certified. They are being fitted with broadcast standard floodlighting in anticipating of attracting major matches and tournaments to the site.

Dubai Sports City is home academies in football, tennis, golf, rugby, cricket, and swimming. It includes some of the best sports facilities in the region as well as a world-famous sports medicine and rehabilitation center.

The 2009 Taste of Dubai wrapped up today (March 14th) at Dubai Media City. The event, which began on Wednesday, March 11th, featured 68 signature dishes by 23 of the finest Dubai restaurants and celebrity chefs from around the globe.

This year’s celebrity chefs included James Martin, Giorgio Locatelli, and a battle between Gordon Ramsey and Gary Rhodes. Visitors staying in a five star hotel in Dubai are likely to have sampled the food of some of the participating chefs. Most of the top hotels sent their best chefs to the event.

The festival included food stalls from local restaurants and a variety of cooking demonstrations as well as entertainment.  The MMI Beverage Theatre and the Taste Marketplace were the main attractions. The event even had its own currency: the della, which had to be purchased at an exchange stall or from roving della boys.

Cooking demonstrations and classes were very popular this year.  The Mark Wilkinson Chefs Theatre offered demonstrations by celebrity chefs. Professional chefs also manned the Spinneys Cookery School to provide lessons to foodies of all stripes.  There was even a Kiddies Kitchen to educate and entertain children.

Several lounges were available for relaxing. The Momotaro Sashimi Lounge served sushi and other Japanese foods and beverages in a quiet setting near the Media City Lake. The Blu Water Lounge was a more contemporary beverage lounge.  In addition there was a variety of live performances on the entertainment stage.