Dubai: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, has granted his official patronage for next year’s 25th edition of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The longest-running European Tour event in Asia and the Mena region will celebrate its silver jubilee at Emirates Golf Club from January 27 to February 2,
The event will be attended by all surviving past champions, including the current World No 1 and No 2, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy respectively.
Since the tournament’s 1989 inception, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, promoted and organised by Golf in Dubai, has acted as a catalyst to the city’s growth through sports tourism.
“We feel privileged and honoured to have received the official patronage of Shaikh Hamdan, which underscores the importance of sports in the overall growth strategy for Dubai,” said Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, vice-chairman and CEO of Golf in Dubai.
“We sincerely thank Shaikh Hamdan and all contributing government entities, including the Dubai Sports Council, for their support and look forward to carrying on the journey to realise Dubai’s goal of becoming a solid foothold for sports in the world,” he added.
The $2.5-million [Dh9.18 million] tournament will be preceded by the Champions Challenge, an 18-hole stroke-play showpiece, which will see former winners of the event contest for a share of the $600,000 prize fund on the Majlis course on January 28.
Tickets for the 2014 edition of the event can be purchased online at www.dubaidesertclassic.com. Golf Citizen members stand to receive 25 per cent discounts on tickets via www.golfcitizen.com.
