Tigers' Dubai tee-off 'progresses'

Rebecca Bundhun

• Last Updated: June 15. 2009 9:47PM UAE / June 15. 2009 5:47PM GMT

The 6th hole of the Tiger Woods Dubai course: the project is at least six months behind schedule. Philip Cheung / The National

Developers behind Tiger Woods Dubai, the multimillion-dirham golf-themed project in Dubailand, moved yesterday to shore up confidence following delays and questions over the final scope of the enterprise.

When it was launched, the company had planned for 22 palaces, 100 luxury villas, a 360,000 square foot hotel and 75 mansions to be included in the project all around a championship 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and academy.

But last week Tiger Woods sparked new questions about the project when he told Associated Press that the opening, originally scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, had been delayed by at least six months and that work had been suspended due to the economic downturn.

Media reports have also suggested that the property element of the project had been delayed indefinitely.
Yesterday, Tatweer, Tiger Woods Dubai’s developer, said progress was being made at the site, but declined to provide a completion date and did not mention plans for other aspects of the project.

“We are entirely committed to completing the project to the highest standards of quality,” said Abdulla al Gurg, the project director of Tiger Woods Dubai. “The opening timeline will be announced closer to the opening date.”
The company behind the project, Tatweer, which is a division of Dubai Holding, said yesterday that “consistent progress” was being made on the 18-hole championship golf course.

“The Tiger Woods Dubai is an essential part of Dubai’s strategic plan to drive tourism to the region and will be completed in line with the new market demand,” said Mr al Gurg.

So far, three holes on the Al Ruwaya Golf Club have been grassed, detailed shaping has been completed on 10 holes and the others have been roughly shaped, while a general manger for the course was appointed in February.
The statement said construction was progressing on the streams and lakes, which would make up 30 hectares of water features.
The course already has more than 2,200 trees imported from countries around the world, and will eventually have more than 11,000.

The golf project is part of the Dh235 billion (US$64bn) Dubailand development, which will eventually include theme parks, resorts, shopping malls and sports facilities.
Bryon Bell, the president of Tiger Woods Design, said: “We are very pleased by the progress that continues to be made at Al Ruwaya and are looking forward to celebrating the course’s full completion.”

According to the original plans, the development will include a golf academy and a 145,000 square foot clubhouse.

Tatweer announced last year an agreement with the Lebanese designer Elie Saab for the interiors of the hotel at Tiger Woods Dubai, including 90 suites and 14 bungalows and a 10,000 sq ft oasis-style swimming pool, as well as a spa.
It also signed up the Michelin three-star chef Guy Savoy for a restaurant, his first in the Middle East, at the hotel.

rbundhun@thenational.ae