Dubai's newest sporting facility

RUGBY: Emirates Airline unveiled Dubai's newest sporting and social facility in time for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7's. The Emirates funded purpose-built complex boasting state-of-the-art sporting facilities will be Dubai's new home of Rugby from next year (2008).

Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said: There is great excitement at the prospect of taking the Dubai Rugby 7's to a dramatic new level, while still preserving the special character and atmosphere that makes the tournament so unique. Emirates is proud to establish a new home for rugby which will be pivotal to the development of the sport in the UAE and the Gulf region while supporting the needs of the community".

The complex located near Dubailand will feature a main pitch which will have a permanent 10,000 seat stand, while the second pitch will be located in a bowl, enclosed on three sides by grassed embarkments capable of holding a crowd of 15,000.

Work on the rugby centre is already under way and is due to be completed by November next year (2008) in time to stage the Dubai 7's and then the 2009 IRB 7's Rugby World Cup involving 24 men's and 16 women's teams which is being held in the Emirates for the first time.

The unveiling of the new yet unnamed sporting venue follows the recent announcement that the Dubai 7's will move from the Dubai Exiles Rugby Club in Al Awir after 38 years.

With the new ground, Emirates, said that they will be able to welcome 40 to 50,000 rugby fans and make the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7's the biggest 7's tournament in the world. At the moment they have over 150 teams taking part but could total to more than 200.

There will be hospitality areas, medical and broadcast facilities, a world class media centre as well as changing rooms and a promenade featuring food outlets and cafes etc.

The remaining five rugby pitches will be separated by a two-storey 80-metre long rugby clubhouse with a rooftop entertainment area as well as family facilities, including a swimming pool.

The clubhouse will become the new home of Dubai based senior, junior and women's rugby teams and also include the headquarter's of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU). This will feature 12 changing rooms, food and beverage outlets and training rooms.

In addition to rugby, the other facilities will include for sports like a gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, netball courts, sports hall and squash courts and plans are also under way to develop a number of cricket pitches too.