10 (Abbas 2018a). Emirates Palace was one of the most
expensive hotels to construct.
The Department of Culture and Tourism supports the
sustainable tourism development of the country. The government has launched and is implementing the “green”
tourism and hotel initiatives as well as environment-related
exhibitions and conferences. “Through our licensing procedures, we are able enforce the highest international standards
toward the classification of organizations that contribute to
our growing tourism industry, improving infrastructure and
promoting competitiveness” (Department of Culture and
Tourism 2018). The tourism industry and related government policies further reinforce standards for infrastructure
quality and sustainability. An exemplary cultural infrastructure adds value to tourism and other infrastructure. The
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a unique contribution to
Islamic art one of the largest and most impressive Mosques
in the world. Abu Dhabi has museums on Saadiyat Island,
including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, also present unique architectural
features and quality. The Etihad Museum, the Frame in
Dubai, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Art and Al Noor
Mosque the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum in Al Ain and the
Ajman Museum are landmarks that add value to tourism and
infrastructure.
5.4 Sport Infrastructure
The UAE has some of the most valuable real estate projects
in the world. Except tourism and cultural projects, the UAE
has financed many sport projects. The Yas Marina Circuit is
considered one of the most technological advanced circuits
in the world and the most expensive to build and sold to the
Abu Dhabi government for $1.32 billion (Connoly 2018).
The Yas Marina Circuit is very interesting from various
perspectives. First, it is one of the most sophisticated construction projects. A large part of its sophistication lies on
the sustainable development. It was a major challenge to
preserve wildlife safe, like gazelles and ostriches, while
building the track and surrounding facilities. There was
additional sustainable development in the form of flora.
Notably, a two square kilometers forest was built to preserve
the natural environment on the western shores of Yas Island
(Lewis 2009). Another valuable feature of the Yas Marina
Circuit is that it is a broader project. It adds value by
developing community engagement in health and fitness.
This is an expansion on the sport activity dimension. On
another dimension, Yas Marina Circuit operates the Yas
Conference Center for business events, Yas Central, a hub
for retail offerings and consumer experiences (Yas Marina
Circuit 2018). Sports infrastructure in this occasion has
become a central hub for other sports and numerous other
business activities.
The UAE hosts several major international tournaments
and accordingly it has invested in state-of-the-art faculties. It
provides the best facilities in cricket, football stadiums,
equestrian clubs, tennis courts, racetracks and circuits (UAE
Government 2018b). Some of the sports infrastructure
includes in equestrian sports, the Abu Dhabi Equestrian
Club, the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Sharjah Equestrian
& Racing Club; in Marine sports the Abu Dhabi Sailing &
Yacht Club, the Dubai Marina Yacht Club; in Golf, the
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, the Emirates Golf Club,
Jumeirah Golf Estates. These facilities are of top quality with
international reputation. Godolphin stables and the Meydan
racecourse are also examples of excellence and leadership.
“The [Meydan] project is the culmination of his [His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum]
vision to create not just a venue for horseracing, but an
integrated city that is sustainable, environmentally responsible and one that positions Dubai at the centre of the
competitive global business stage… link the world with the
Emirate of Dubai through international horseracing and
equestrian events, a range of commercial developments,
hospitality, sports, entertainment and amusement services, a
series of state-of-the-art business parks, residential villa
communities, schools, hospitals, business towers with luxury
waterfront developments and shopping destinations. The
centrally located Meydan Free Zone offers a prime location
and ease of incorporation…The portfolio consists of The
Meydan Hotel, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, The
Track Meydan Golf, QUBE Sports Lounge, Meydan Tennis
Academy, Dubai Equestrian Club, Emirates Equestrian
Centre, Dubai Racing Club and the iconic architectural
marvel, Meydan Racecourse, home of the world’s richest
horse race—the Dubai World Cup… remarkable amenities
and facilities including the 711 m tall Dubai One Tower,
Meydan One Mall, a five-star hotel, a civic plaza with
dancing water fountains, an indoor sports facility, a 4 km
canal and a marina” (Meydan 2018).
Meydan racecourse shares similarities with the Yas
Marina Circuit. Both were developed as part of bigger projects. The Yas Marina Circuit is part of a complex leisure
destination project with an estimated cost of $36 billion,
including the Ferrari World, Warner Bros theme parks, the
Yas Mall, Yas Waterworld, Yas Beach, Yas Marina, du
Arena and Forum and many hotels, restaurants and planned
residential and commercial projects (Connoly 2018). The
broader project supported sustainability. It also created new
standards for sustainable development. More specifically,
the Yas Mall project was to gain a Two Pearl score from
energy rating system, Estidama (“sustainability” in Arabic),
the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s (UPC) version of
166
P. Petratos
expensive hotels to construct.
The Department of Culture and Tourism supports the
sustainable tourism development of the country. The government has launched and is implementing the “green”
tourism and hotel initiatives as well as environment-related
exhibitions and conferences. “Through our licensing procedures, we are able enforce the highest international standards
toward the classification of organizations that contribute to
our growing tourism industry, improving infrastructure and
promoting competitiveness” (Department of Culture and
Tourism 2018). The tourism industry and related government policies further reinforce standards for infrastructure
quality and sustainability. An exemplary cultural infrastructure adds value to tourism and other infrastructure. The
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a unique contribution to
Islamic art one of the largest and most impressive Mosques
in the world. Abu Dhabi has museums on Saadiyat Island,
including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, also present unique architectural
features and quality. The Etihad Museum, the Frame in
Dubai, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Art and Al Noor
Mosque the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum in Al Ain and the
Ajman Museum are landmarks that add value to tourism and
infrastructure.
5.4 Sport Infrastructure
The UAE has some of the most valuable real estate projects
in the world. Except tourism and cultural projects, the UAE
has financed many sport projects. The Yas Marina Circuit is
considered one of the most technological advanced circuits
in the world and the most expensive to build and sold to the
Abu Dhabi government for $1.32 billion (Connoly 2018).
The Yas Marina Circuit is very interesting from various
perspectives. First, it is one of the most sophisticated construction projects. A large part of its sophistication lies on
the sustainable development. It was a major challenge to
preserve wildlife safe, like gazelles and ostriches, while
building the track and surrounding facilities. There was
additional sustainable development in the form of flora.
Notably, a two square kilometers forest was built to preserve
the natural environment on the western shores of Yas Island
(Lewis 2009). Another valuable feature of the Yas Marina
Circuit is that it is a broader project. It adds value by
developing community engagement in health and fitness.
This is an expansion on the sport activity dimension. On
another dimension, Yas Marina Circuit operates the Yas
Conference Center for business events, Yas Central, a hub
for retail offerings and consumer experiences (Yas Marina
Circuit 2018). Sports infrastructure in this occasion has
become a central hub for other sports and numerous other
business activities.
The UAE hosts several major international tournaments
and accordingly it has invested in state-of-the-art faculties. It
provides the best facilities in cricket, football stadiums,
equestrian clubs, tennis courts, racetracks and circuits (UAE
Government 2018b). Some of the sports infrastructure
includes in equestrian sports, the Abu Dhabi Equestrian
Club, the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Sharjah Equestrian
& Racing Club; in Marine sports the Abu Dhabi Sailing &
Yacht Club, the Dubai Marina Yacht Club; in Golf, the
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, the Emirates Golf Club,
Jumeirah Golf Estates. These facilities are of top quality with
international reputation. Godolphin stables and the Meydan
racecourse are also examples of excellence and leadership.
“The [Meydan] project is the culmination of his [His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum]
vision to create not just a venue for horseracing, but an
integrated city that is sustainable, environmentally responsible and one that positions Dubai at the centre of the
competitive global business stage… link the world with the
Emirate of Dubai through international horseracing and
equestrian events, a range of commercial developments,
hospitality, sports, entertainment and amusement services, a
series of state-of-the-art business parks, residential villa
communities, schools, hospitals, business towers with luxury
waterfront developments and shopping destinations. The
centrally located Meydan Free Zone offers a prime location
and ease of incorporation…The portfolio consists of The
Meydan Hotel, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, The
Track Meydan Golf, QUBE Sports Lounge, Meydan Tennis
Academy, Dubai Equestrian Club, Emirates Equestrian
Centre, Dubai Racing Club and the iconic architectural
marvel, Meydan Racecourse, home of the world’s richest
horse race—the Dubai World Cup… remarkable amenities
and facilities including the 711 m tall Dubai One Tower,
Meydan One Mall, a five-star hotel, a civic plaza with
dancing water fountains, an indoor sports facility, a 4 km
canal and a marina” (Meydan 2018).
Meydan racecourse shares similarities with the Yas
Marina Circuit. Both were developed as part of bigger projects. The Yas Marina Circuit is part of a complex leisure
destination project with an estimated cost of $36 billion,
including the Ferrari World, Warner Bros theme parks, the
Yas Mall, Yas Waterworld, Yas Beach, Yas Marina, du
Arena and Forum and many hotels, restaurants and planned
residential and commercial projects (Connoly 2018). The
broader project supported sustainability. It also created new
standards for sustainable development. More specifically,
the Yas Mall project was to gain a Two Pearl score from
energy rating system, Estidama (“sustainability” in Arabic),
the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s (UPC) version of
166
P. Petratos