Dubai: Work on Emirates airline's new state-of-the-art sports complex in Dubai is progressing so well that the first two grass pitches are almost ready for action.
The facility, off the Al Ain Road and close to Dubailand, is due to be completed by November in time to host the world-famous Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens and then the Rugby World Cup Sevens from March 5-7, 2009.
But the honour of playing the first game on the new complex will be handed to the second teams of Dubai Hurricanes and Dubai Dragons who are due to meet there on Friday March 7 with Arabian Gulf Cup games scheduled to take place the following weekend. Temporary buildings hosting changing rooms, showers and toilets are being placed on the site as well as floodlights for training while construction work on permanent facilities moves into top gear.
Huge steps
The complex, off junction 19/20 of the Al Ain Road, is set to become the new home of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union, the body responsible for organising the sport throughout the region, as well as the focal point for virtually all recreational rugby in Dubai following the closure of the Dubai Exiles' facilities.
Gary Chapman, President Group Services and Dnata, Emirates Group, said: "I think we have taken huge steps forward considering work on the new complex did not begin until after the conclusion of the Dubai Sevens in December."
The complex will feature a permanent grandstand with 4,000 seats while each year temporary stands will once again be erected around this permanent structure to enable the Dubai Sevens to host a crowd of 40,000, compared to the maximum capacity of 32,000 at the former facilities of the Dubai Exiles.
Hospitality areas, broadcast and medical facilities and changing rooms also feature in the design as well as a 30-metre wide rugby promenade featuring cafes and food outlets.
