Dubai Festival City, the ‘city-within-a-city’ being built on the banks of Dubai Creek is to have a Four Seasons Golf and Country Club, which will incorporate the recently opened, Robert Trent Jones II designed, 18 hole Al Badia golf course. The country club’s identity was unveiled in Dubai today by David Glanville-Williams, Managing Director, Dubai Festival City and Antoine Corinthios, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
The new Four Seasons Golf & Country Club at Dubai Festival City will open early in 2007. It will include the Al Badia golf course and its iconic clubhouse and associated facilities, tennis and squash courts as well as beauty, spa, massage, wellness and lifestyle rooms.

“With this development the championship Al Badia course becomes the 11th in the Four Seasons prestigious international golf portfolio and our first golf offering within the Middle East,” said Corinthios. “This is a truly magnificent facility which will enhance Dubai’s inbound tourism appeal and which will be marketed internationally through the Four Seasons global network.”

The Al Badia golf course recently opened for pay-and-play, and has received tremendous feedback. The clubhouse will overlook the 9th and 18th greens and will have commanding views across the golf course, to the Creek, and on to the striking skyline of Sheikh Zayed Road. Membership at the Four Seasons Golf and Country Club, Dubai Festival City, will be limited, the Al Badia golf course, however, will continue to offer pay-and-play opportunities.

Designed by international consultants Wimberley Allison, Tong & Goo., the clubhouse will have restaurants, lounges, a pro shop and banqueting facilities. The surrounding terrace will have vantage points with dramatic views of Dubai.

The Four Seasons Golf and Country Club announcement comes on the heels of last year’s signing between Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the Al-Futtaim Group, developers of the 1,600 acre Dubai Festival City, for the management of a luxury waterfront hotel at the down-town, mixed-use destination.

“This further alignment with the prestigious Four Seasons brand is a significant development for Dubai Festival City, which will offer across-the-board facilities for residents, tourists and business travellers alike,” said Glanville-Williams.Ê

Work on the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai, the first Four Seasons property in the UAE, commences this year and is due for completion late 2006.

To be built at an initial development cost of US $191.8 million, the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai will have 250 rooms and villas, a destination spa, five restaurants and a range of conference and banqueting facilities.

With its waterfront location, only two kilometres from Dubai International Airport and its proximity to Dubai’s business hub, the hotel is expected to become one of the most important in the Four Seasons six-strong Middle East property portfolio.
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