Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
With the Abu Dhabi Challenge returning to Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club for a third successive year from September 30 to October 3, spectators are being invited to experience everything Al Ain has to offer – with entry to the tournament free of charge.
Staged along with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), and supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the HotelPlanner Tour event offers golf fans four days of world-class competition.
That offering has never been stronger, with Al Ain Region named Arab Tourism Capital, underlining its standing as one of the country's leading visitor destinations.
There will be plenty to watch inside the ropes too. Former European Ryder Cup star Chris Wood and current Road to Mallorca number one Christofer Blomstrand are among those confirmed to compete, alongside UAE-based favourites including David Horsey and Adri Arnaus, with the Abu Dhabi Challenge the final opportunity for players to secure their place in the Tour's two season-ending events in China.
"I'm really looking forward to coming back home to play in Al Ain again,” said Arnaus. “It's a really good track in amazing condition and the facilities are great. It's a cool place for the Tour to visit too, with a lot for spectators to do in the area, so it's well worth making a day or a weekend of it."
Known as the Garden City of the Emirates, Al Ain is the country's largest inland city, sitting approximately 160 kilometres east of Abu Dhabi and 120 kilometres south of Dubai.
A 4,000-year-old settlement and the UAE's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a green oasis set against the vast expanse of the Rub al Khali, the world's largest continuous sand desert.
The birthplace of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, includes famous places such as Al Ain Oasis and Jebel Hafeet mountain, the UAE’s second highest peak.
History lovers and families will appreciate the ancient forts, souqs and heritage villages that Al Ain Region has to offer, including the UNESCO-listed Al Ain Oasis, Al Jahili Fort and Qasr Al Muwaiji, while families are well served by Al Ain Zoo and the waterpark thrills of Al Ain Adventure.
The tournament venue is a destination in its own right. The Championship Course, a par 70 stretching to 7,117 yards, brings water into play on the majority of holes, with several fairways bordered by Al Ain's horse racing track. Its signature hole is the par-5 10th, which at 678 yards is the longest par-5 in the Arabian Gulf.
Beyond the course, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club offers world-class facilities across equestrian, shooting, rugby and cricket, all within one venue.
On behalf of the hosts, the Al Ain club’s general manager Mohammed Al Nasseri, hailed the tournament’s international prestige and its important role in the continued growth of golf across the UAE and the wider Middle East.
