Jumeirah Golf Estates is already up and running with the Earth course open. Jumeirah Golf Estates is already up and running with the Earth course open.

4 Jumeirah Golf Estates
Dubai’s goal to position itself as one of the world’s leading sporting destinations is already underway with the Greg Norman-designed Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates already opening at the end of 2009 for the inaugural Dubai World Championship, which culminated with the Race To Dubai.

The resort will also house three other courses, Wind, Fire and Water, designed by Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Pete Dye. Members are already playing the Earth course and the Fire course is set to open early this year.

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5 Tiger Woods Al Ruwaya Resort
Continuing the golf theme, despite the recent controversy surrounding international golf star — and now play boy — Tiger Woods, the Tiger Woods Dubai and Al Ruwaya Golf Club is also set to open in 2010.

It will boast an 18-hole championship course with “dramatic elevation changes, lush landscaping, stunning water features and an overall design that will challenge and entertain golfers of all playing abilities”.

Residential and hospitality components will include 197 residences, a boutique hotel, a spa, a fine dining restaurant, a professionally staffed golf academy and the Al Ruwaya clubhouse.

6 THE Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse will open its doors this month playing host to a number of high-profile events including Dubai International Racing Carnival and the Dubai World Cup.

The new racecourse will be able to accommodate 60,000 spectators in the 1.2-km long grandstand. A horse racing museum and gallery, hotels, restaurants and an IMAX theatre are also planned.

Hotel operator Banyan Tree has also been appointed to manage a hotel complex and all-pool villa resort at Meydan.

The racecourse is part of Meydan City, which will also include Horizons — a mixed-use development comprising commercial, residential and retail space, as well as an 80-berth marina; Godolphin Parks — a residential complex and shopping mall; and Metropolis — a commercial, retail and residential development.