US tycoon Donald Trump says that his new super luxury Dubailand championship golf course will raise the game of the sport in the region.
Speaking exclusively to The National, Mr Trump, 66, the president of the Trump Organisation and the star of the US hit series The Apprentice, said he had returned to fronting property development in Dubai after a previous attempt to brand a skyscraper hotel on the Palm Jumeirah stalled, because he found Dubai "sensational".
Earlier this week, Mr Trump announced that he would be fronting Damac's 7,205 yard par-71 Trump International Golf Course located off Umm Suqeim Road next to Dubai Properties Group's Mudon project.
The announcement came more than two years after plans to develop a 300-room hotel with Nakheel were scrapped.
"Developments don't always go as planned and the world economy has experienced volatility," Mr Trump said. "Golf is a significant part of my life as well as a business for me, and I am excited about the new championship course in Dubai.
"We are looking forward to presenting a beautiful and challenging course for those who love golf. No one will be disappointed. It will be the highest level of luxury," he added.
Under an agreement with Damac, Mr Trump will supply branding to the course, provide technical services and manage and operate the course for a 25-year lease.
He will not own a stake in the project.
The new course will be located close to the stalled par-72 Tiger Woods-designed golf course that was planned by the Dubai Holding subsidiary Tatweer and Tiger Woods Design for Dubailand and was originally scheduled to open in September 2009.
Trump's course is part of a 28 million square feet project set to be developed by Damac that will also include hundreds of villas, townhouses and apartments as well as a 30,000 sq ft state-of-the-art clubhouse including a luxurious spa and a high-tech training centre where body sensors analyse golfers. swings.
Ziad El Chaar, the managing director of Damac Properties, said that the Dh150m budget for building the golf course alone would be five times higher than that of developing a standard golf course which usually costs about Dh30 million.
He said that membership fees to the exclusive course were likely to be about the same price of those at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in Florida, which are currently advertised at US$18,000 a year plus an initiation fee of $450,000.
"Membership of this golf course is going to be more expensive than any other golf course in Dubai. We know this for sure," Mr El Chaar said.
Akoya by Damac, named after one of the most exclusive pearls, will cover 28 million sq ft on Dubailand.
A first phase of 200 villas, semi-detached houses and apartments is due to be launched shortly and is expected to be followed by nine more phases.
Damac said the project would have an estimated development value of Dh9 billion and that it intended to finance half of the scheme through off-plan property sales.
It added that it would also possibly seek bank loans to finance the project due to its size.
lbarnard@thenational.ae
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Community Shield info
Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)
Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Referee Bobby Madley
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London