Al Habtoor opens stadium at Cairo university

Cairo: Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, owner and chairman of Al Habtoor Group of Companies, inaugurated the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Football and Track Stadium at The American University in Cairo (AUC) on Saturday.

A soccer match between AUC team and Al Ahly Club's junior team highlighted the inaugural celebration.

A keen sports enthusiast, Al Habtoor donated $5 million (Dh18.35 million) to finance the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Football and Track Stadium, a world-class, Olympic-standard facility boasting a full football field and a 400 metres, 10-lane track.

It is the largest outdoor facility seating 2,000 and provides AUC competitive teams and students with the opportunity to train and hone their skills in the best environment possible.

The facility also positions the university as a prime venue for regional and international competition.

The stadium is part of the AUC Sports Complex that extends over more than 40,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space.

The indoor area includes a 2,000-seat arena main court, a martial-arts arena, which seats up to 300; squash courts, exercise and fitness rooms, a free-weight studio, saunas and steam rooms.

Team collaboration

The outdoor space includes, in addition to Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Football and Track Stadium, an Olympic-size swimming pool; a soccer practice field; tennis, basketball, handball and volleyball courts; and a jogging and cycling track.

"As a community leader, AUC is striving to promote the principles of sportsmanship and team collaboration in Egypt and the region," said AUC President David Arnold.

Impressive

Throughout his impressive and distinguished career in business, Al Habtoor has been an advocate for quality education and health inside and outside Dubai.

In 1975, Al Habtoor founded Al Ittihad School and became the first chairman of its board of trustees. In 1991, he founded the Emirates International School, the first school in the UAE to provide international curriculum to the Emirati and expatriate communities.

Al Habtoor recently established a leadership programme and lecture series at Illinois College to foster young leaders at the university. He has also contributed to medical research in the region and promotes wellness with his personal dedication to fitness and sport.

In addition, he has been a pioneer in bringing polo and women's tennis programmes to the forefront in the region.

Fourteen years ago, demonstrating his pioneering spirit and strong belief in the value of sport participation, Al Habtoor launched the first professional ladies' tennis tournament in the Middle East, the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge.