Dubai Sports City will construct country’s largest stadium

Dubai Sports City yesterday announced the development of the UAE's largest stadium that will have a seating capacity of 65,000 spectators, a top Dubailand official said.

"In response to General Shaikh Mohammad's Vision, Dubailand and Dubai Sports City (DSC) have decided to expand one of the large stadia, from its existing capacity of 35,000 spectators to 65,000," Salem Bin Dasmal, chief executive of Dubailand, told Gulf News yesterday.

The UAE's largest stadium, with a seating capacity of 60,000, is located in Abu Dhabi.

DSC, a 50 million square foot master planned development that is part of Dubailand, will host the region's largest sporting facility that includes an outdoor multipurpose stadium, dedicated cricket stadium, dedicated hockey stadium, indoor multipurpose stadium, golf course, comprehensive sports facilities and residential and commercial clusters.

Once completed, the DSC will enable Dubai to host international games and sporting events. DSC is one of 30 projects that are currently in various stages of development at Dubailand, Dubai's Disney-type tourism development that have been either announced by investors or in the pipeline.

Investors have so far signed up 25 projects worth Dh30 billion.

"We have another five major projects that are currently under negotiations, worth a total of another Dh5 billion," Bin Dasmal said.

Dubailand was announced two years ago by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, to increase tourism attractions of Dubai.

Covering three billion square feet, Dubailand will be 10 times the size of Monaco and double the size of Disney World. It is the largest and most innovative leisure and entertainment tourist attraction in the region.

Divided into five themed worlds and comprising more than 45 mega projects, Dubailand will feature state-of-the-art sporting facilities, and world-first concepts, including giant theme parks, eco-tourism resorts, museums, galleries, spas and shopping and recreation venues. Dubailand will open in 2008.

Bin Dasmal said, the tourism profile of Dubai will shift dramatically by 2010 once all the announced projects are realised.

"If Dubai is to meet its target of 15 million visitors by 2010, there will have to be a fundamental change in the type of visitor coming to the city.

"That means we need the infrastructure for more affordable air transport; and package tour operators, as well as an increase in the non-luxury hotel sector," he said.

By 2010, tourism will contribute 20 per cent to the country's GDP, which represents a rise of eight per cent from 2004. That eight per cent is worth approximately $6 billion a year to the UAE economy.

Once completed, Dubailand will have attracted more than Dh50 billion in direct investment.