Tag Archives: dubai investment news
Is Amir Khan set to appear in Dubai?
Boxing promoters are lining up a major fight between Amir Khan and Devon Alexander in Dubai.Chief executive of Golden Boy Richard Schaefer told the Daily Mail that he will head out to the Middle East to cast his eye over potential venues for the bout between the British and American welterweights.Dubai is becoming a major player in the world of sport and securing the rights to host such a high-profile boxing match would only increase the city's stature.Khan – who competed in the Olympic Games before turning professional – is one of the hottest properties in global boxing at the moment and he hopes to eventually get a shot at the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Junior, who is widely considered to be one of the best pound-for pound fighters of all time.However, the 26-year-old must first overcome Alexander, which will be no easy task.Mr Schaefer suggested that Khan and Alexander will battle it out for the IBF world welterweight title on December 7th.”We have opened discussions with the ruling family of the [United Arab Emirates] who have made it very clear that they are keen to put on a major boxing event,” he was quoted as saying.”This is very exciting for Amir and all of us. If he defeats Devon, preferably in style, the next step for him would be against Floyd.”Dubai is also set to host its first major boxing match later this month, when Chinese star Xiong Zhao Zhong defends his WBC Straw-weight title against the Philippines' Denver Cuello.The encounter will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on June 28th and it will be broadcast to millions of viewers around the world.This will certainly be an intriguing bout, as boxing experts have high hopes for Cuello, who has been likened to fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao.Rumours had been floating around that Pacquiao himself was being lined up for a money-spinning fight in the UAE in late 2013.Although nothing has yet been agreed, the Filipino superstar has confirmed that he is looking for venues outside the US and his team suggested that Dubai is an option. Continue reading
Didier Drogba attends Vogue Cafe launch in Dubai
Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba joined a number of top international models to launch the glamorous Vogue Cafe in Dubai.The establishment is Conde Nast's first restaurant in the region and the company pulled out all the stops to ensure the grand opening was an occasion to remember.Drogba – who played for Turkish club Galatasaray last season – shared the red carpet with renowned models Karolina Kurkova and Petra Nemcova at the glitzy even in the Dubai Mall.The 35-year-old Ivory Coast striker told the National he was glad to be back in Dubai.”I love being here, especially right now when the weather is so bad in Europe,” he was quoted as saying.Drogba made his name playing for Chelsea in the English Premier League, having signed for the Blues from Marseille in 2004.He won numerous trophies during his time at Stamford Bridge, most notably the Uefa Champions League in 2012. The powerful forward scored the goal that took the final against Bayern Munich to extra time and then later stepped up to take the decisive penalty in the resultant shootout. Dubai is accustomed to welcoming such high-profile stars and there is a strong chance you will see a celebrity during your stay in the city, especially if there is a swanky new club or restaurant being unveiled.This is the second Vogue Cafe launched by Conde Nast, as the firm previously opened one in Moscow and the organisation's director of restaurants Stuart Nielsen said plans are in place to expand even further in the UAE.”The Middle East is a very exciting market for us and one that we are proud to be a part of,” he commented.It is fair to predict the high-end Vogue Cafe will be a big hit among the rich and famous holidaymakers who flood into Dubai every year and it will certainly be very interesting to see exactly where Conde Nast opens its next Gulf-based venue. Continue reading
DTCM chiefs outline ambitious tourism plans
Leaders of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) have outlined ambitious plans that are aimed at boosting the number of people visiting the emirate.Chief executive officer of strategy and tourism sector development at the DTCM Dr Ahmad Belhoul told Emirates 24/7 that money spent by holidaymakers currently accounts for five per cent of the city's gross domestic product and he is hoping this will reach double figures by 2020.Although 66 million people are expected to fly into Dubai International Airport throughout 2013, many of this number will be business travellers or merely stopping over on long-haul flights to places like Australia.Dr Belhoul hopes that a wave of exciting new projects – such as the Al Fahidi historical district redevelopment – will encourage more people to stay in the emirate. He is targeting 20 million annual visitors in the next seven years.”The average tourist in Dubai spends [between] $250 and $300 (£164 and £197) per day, with annual income generated at AED 600 million (£107 million). Our plan is to increase this number to AED 840 million by 2015,” he was quoted as saying.In order to reach its target, the DTCM is looking to diversify Dubai's tourism offerings, giving visitors a lot more to explore.Mr Belhoul continued: “In the past, the core strength in tourism has been beach holidays, shopping and sightseeing. To hit the 20 million tourist figure, we are looking at different targets where gaps remain.”The emirate will focus particularly closely on promoting sports and heritage trips and a lot of emphasis is being placed on cultural tourism too.Numerous studies have shown that Dubai is already an immensely popular place to take a holiday and the city was recently hailed as the leading destination in the Middle East at the prestigious World Travel Awards.The emirate will also benefit from the plethora of brand new upmarket hotels and resorts that are being built throughout the area. Continue reading
