The Race to Dubai got off to a promising start for Sergio Garcia as the Spaniard won the HSBC Championship earlier this month in Shanghai, China.
The Race to Dubai got off to a promising start for Sergio Garcia as the Spaniard won the HSBC Championship earlier this month in Shanghai, China.

A true challenge to world's best



William Johnson looks at the 'Greatest Show on Earth' as countdown begins for championship carrying the richest purse in golf history DUBAI // They are calling it "The Greatest Show on Earth" and with good reason, for not only will the Dubai World Championship carry the richest purse in golfing history at $US10million (Dh37m) but the showdown will take place on a desert oasis designed by the former world No 1 Greg Norman and christened Earth.

Earth is one of four exciting new courses being constructed at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and it is now complete and lying fallow in readiness for the visit of 60 of the world's best golfers to compete for a record first prize of $2m in exactly a year from now. To mark the date of Nov 19, Norman has spoken in detail about the demanding closing stretch measuring 56 yards short of one mile that he has constructed to test the mental and physical ability of those who come in contention for the bumper prize on the final afternoon in 12 months' time.

Norman inspected his creation and reflected: "The Earth course I conceived almost four years ago is rapidly taking shape and is looking more championship-worthy each day. "I am delighted with the way the team at Jumeirah Golf Estates has realised the vision I had for Earth, which will provide the world's best with a true challenge and a fitting climax to The Race to Dubai." David Spencer, the chief executive (golf) at Leisurecorp, the Dubai company who are investing $100m over five years in the European Tour which they have renamed The Race to Dubai, said: "Earth is a tribute to Greg's attention to detail and the enthusiasm and expertise of the internationally assembled construction team."

wjohnson@thenational.ae

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Price: from Dh498,542

On sale: now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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ESSENTIALS

The flights 

Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes. 

Where to stay 

The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A