Arcapita, the leading international investment firm, has been confirmed as title sponsor of the Seniors Tour Championship at Riffa Golf Club, Bahrain from November 10-12, the final event on the 2005 European Seniors Tour schedule.
Every year since 2000 the Seniors Tour Championship has provided a showpiece finale to the Seniors Tour season, when the leading players make one final bid to capture the prestigious John Jacobs Trophy awarded to the winner of the Order of Merit.
Atif Abdulmalik, the CEO of Arcapita commented: “We are pleased to be sponsoring such a prestigious golf tournament that will not only put Bahrain on the international golfing map but also attract new visitors to the Kingdom.”
This year the tournament is taking place at the beautiful Riffa Golf Club, Bahrain’s first international 18-hole grass golf course.
Just 15 minutes drive from the country’s capital Manama, the 6,817 yard par 72 championship course is an oasis of greenery and is widely acknowledged by golfers as a well designed, challenging and immaculately presented course. Designed by Karl Litten – the man behind the world famous Emirates Golf Club in Dubai - and managed by Gleneagles of Scotland, it follows the rolling desert terrain of the valley and features five lakes and 600 date palms.
England’s Carl Mason, number one on the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit for the past two years and a winner of this event in 2003, said: “The players all love this tournament and to have the backing of a company like Arcapita is great news. Everything is poised for an exciting conclusion to the season and from my point of view, I hope to be clinching my third John Jacobs Trophy in Bahrain.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “We are extremely pleased to announce that Arcapita is sponsoring the 2005 Seniors Tour Championship. Given the company’s status as a leading international investment firm, Arcapita is a particularly appropriate partner for this final and decisive event of the 2005 Tour.
“It promises to be a memorable golf tournament and an exciting climax to another successful season on the European Seniors Tour.”
About Arcapita
Arcapita is a leading international investment firm headquartered in Bahrain with offices in Atlanta and London, Arcapita’s three principal lines of business are corporate investment, real estate and asset-based investment. To date, the Bank has completed 42 transactions with a total value of over $8.5 billion and has an equity capital base in excess of $300 million. Arcapita’s mission is to provide innovative and distinctive Shari’ah compliant investment opportunities that generate superior risk-adjusted returns.
Arcapita and Real Estate Investments
Arcapita has completed 19 real estate transactions totaling in excess of $4.7 billion in the industrial/warehousing, multifamily, assisted living, self-storage, and residential development sectors.
During 2004, Arcapita completed its first investment transactions in the Middle East, namely, the development of two golf residential lifestyle communities.
In December 2004, Arcapita formed a joint venture with Bahrain International Golf Course Company (BIGCC) to develop a golf course residential community (Riffa Views) at the Riffa Golf Club and adjacent land. The project is expected to comprise approximately 680 luxury residential villas within a gated and master planned community; a distinguished amenity complex offering a number of indoor and outdoor sports facilities; an enhanced 18-hole championship golf course and academy; and community amenities including parks, commercial facilities, private schools and a mosque.
In September 2004, Arcapita formed a joint venture with Dubai Sports City LLC to develop a golf residential community (Victory Heights) comprising approximately 800 upscale residences on 25 million square feet of land located within the Dubailand project, the Middle East’s first dedicated recreational and commercial sporting city. The properties will be developed around an 18-hole championship golf course to be designed by top-ranked golfer Ernie Els in association with Nicklaus Design.
