The Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defense, General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has gifted 200 horses to the Arabian Ranches' Equine Center, which will open in December 2003.
The Center, part of the Arabian Ranches development launched by Emaar Properties earlier this month, will be the only facility of its kind in the region to combine horse riding, polo, dressage and show jumping.
With 300 stables, the center will also be the new home for the Dubai Polo Club, which closed recently in Nad Al-Sheba. Fifty of the horses at the Center will be polo ponies. Two turf polo fields, each measuring 300 by 160 yards, will meet international competition standards. There will also be a grass practice field, and arenas for dressage and show jumping, and a shaded grandstand to provide spectators with a prime view of all the equestrian action.
Construction work is set to begin on the stables and the center's clubhouse next month. Aside from a squash court, tennis court, basketball and netball courts, the clubhouse will also have its own swimming pool, restaurant, library, games room and gymnasium. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
