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Discuss this article (9 Comments)Meydan City project set for review amid downturn
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 05 October 2009
MEYDAN PLAN: An artist's impression of the Meydan racecourse project.
Development plans for Dubai’s Meydan City, the mega-project surrounding the new racecourse, may be reassessed due to market conditions, the developer said on Monday.
While the AED10bn ($2.72bn) Meydan Racecourse would be completed in time for the Dubai World cup horse racing event in March 2010 the developer said, it may "reassess" its plans for the surrounding 200m sq ft area, consisting of residential, retail and commercial space.
“After Cityscape and after [the building] of the grandstand we will see where we stand. We will see what the market needs and we will reassess our plans," said Mohammed Al Hathboor, project development manager of Meydan Group.
Related: Meydan axes racecourse contract
“If any changes are required with the development we will study it accordingly,” he added about Meydan City, due for completion in stages over the next six to ten years.
Meydan City will feature four sub districts spread over a vast area that will include business parts, waterfront residential developments and the Godolphin Tower, in the shape of a racehorse.
The Meydan Racecourse and Grandstand will form the centrepiece of Meydan City.
So far, the Meydan Group, the master developer of the entire project, has sold 145 plots of land to smaller real estate companies. It has not sold any residential units to investors.
Al Hathboor added that the plots it has sold to sub developers would not downsized even if Meydan did scale back parts of Meydan City.
Despite sacking their main contractors - WCT of Malaysia and UAE-based Arabtec - in January, which involved the cancellation of a AED4.77bn contract, Al Hathboor insisted the racecourse would be ready for the Dubai World Cup in six months.
All equine facilities would be ready for the first race at the course on January 28, he said.
READERS' COMMENTS
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Response to JB
Posted by Paul Welsh, Ystradgynlais, Wales on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 20:00 UAE time
"Paul your comment about the club EK were building for DCC and Exiles is completely wrong. The clubhouse is there for the Rugby clubs of Dubai, AGRFU, IRB to use not just Exiles"
My apologies, I have re read what I said and would like to clarify. I meant the club being built (not sure what is happening with it now) by the grass banked pitch, next to the main pitch. This was meant to be a club like facility but nothing to do with the rugby. I believe it was for Emirates staff. This was what we were offered memberships for. Lucky we never took EK up on it!!
I am sure EK spent a lot of money etc but I am sure that by charging for the facility they will eventually get this back.
Good luck to all who use it. I cannot wait when there will be other options viable options available.
Posted by Paul Welsh, Ystradgynlais, Wales on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 20:00 UAE time
"Paul your comment about the club EK were building for DCC and Exiles is completely wrong. The clubhouse is there for the Rugby clubs of Dubai, AGRFU, IRB to use not just Exiles"
My apologies, I have re read what I said and would like to clarify. I meant the club being built (not sure what is happening with it now) by the grass banked pitch, next to the main pitch. This was meant to be a club like facility but nothing to do with the rugby. I believe it was for Emirates staff. This was what we were offered memberships for. Lucky we never took EK up on it!!
I am sure EK spent a lot of money etc but I am sure that by charging for the facility they will eventually get this back.
Good luck to all who use it. I cannot wait when there will be other options viable options available.
Billy-Spot on
Posted by Paul Welsh, Ystradgynlais, Wales on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 16:59 UAE time
JB, dont get me started on the whole 7's/Meydan/Emirates thing. I was at the World Cup 7's and it was tremendous, Wales won so of course I would say that. I am not doubting that a grand job was done to get it together but why did it need to happen like that?
As mentioned by Billy and Richard, because there is a lack of affordable sporting facilities where people are not doing the usual here recently of trying to make a buck out of everything, do you think people would trundle out on the Al Ain road on a Monday night if something was closer? Of course not. I wonder what will happen to the prices there soon?
"Fact EK did offer use of the facility to DCC but they were told by a certain person on the DCC committee to stick it, we're getting our own grounds (not fact)."
EK did offer limited use of the facility to DCC and Exiles members, very limited and it was not open to all, only the first few hundred. Keep in mind DCC had a membership of over 3000 (Fact). Certain person on the committee did most certainly not put it as rudely as you but politley declined the offer for the sake of the members (fact).
I for one look forward to the return of the non profit making DCC where community spirit and friendship return over the current greed perpetrated by many companies and organisations with not a care for the customer as they know there is no competition.
Posted by Paul Welsh, Ystradgynlais, Wales on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 16:59 UAE time
JB, dont get me started on the whole 7's/Meydan/Emirates thing. I was at the World Cup 7's and it was tremendous, Wales won so of course I would say that. I am not doubting that a grand job was done to get it together but why did it need to happen like that?
As mentioned by Billy and Richard, because there is a lack of affordable sporting facilities where people are not doing the usual here recently of trying to make a buck out of everything, do you think people would trundle out on the Al Ain road on a Monday night if something was closer? Of course not. I wonder what will happen to the prices there soon?
"Fact EK did offer use of the facility to DCC but they were told by a certain person on the DCC committee to stick it, we're getting our own grounds (not fact)."
EK did offer limited use of the facility to DCC and Exiles members, very limited and it was not open to all, only the first few hundred. Keep in mind DCC had a membership of over 3000 (Fact). Certain person on the committee did most certainly not put it as rudely as you but politley declined the offer for the sake of the members (fact).
I for one look forward to the return of the non profit making DCC where community spirit and friendship return over the current greed perpetrated by many companies and organisations with not a care for the customer as they know there is no competition.
Rude
Posted by JB, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 16:42 UAE time
Guys sorry you think me rude, not intended but as one who was heavily involved in the aforesaid project and in Youth Rugby /Football I have a lot of insight into what happened. That said I completely agree with regards the Meydan project which did destroy two of the best venues for sports in Dubai. I understand your points re football, I too play as does my son four nights a week. However the sevens has created six pitches, four netball pitches and there's plans for further pitches in the future. Cricket pitches are to be constructed soon (Dubai Cricket council and Dharjeeling have been included in discussions for the last year) . The Exiles had four football and one netball, therefore more people are now able to partake in their sport.
Paul your comment about the club EK were building for DCC and Exiles is completely wrong. The clubhouse is there for the Rugby clubs of Dubai, AGRFU, IRB to use not just Exiles and the profits are shared amongst the local clubs to develop the game here. EK had no obligation to build any grounds for any party but invested a huge amount of money in this project and some of us worked hard to get this project completed for you, me and anyone else who cares to use it. My point is that there's so much arrogance and wrong information spouted by Ex-pats in this country who want their cake and eat...So sorry Billy no ex-pat brat here mate, just putting the other side across, no offence meant..!!
Posted by JB, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 16:42 UAE time
Guys sorry you think me rude, not intended but as one who was heavily involved in the aforesaid project and in Youth Rugby /Football I have a lot of insight into what happened. That said I completely agree with regards the Meydan project which did destroy two of the best venues for sports in Dubai. I understand your points re football, I too play as does my son four nights a week. However the sevens has created six pitches, four netball pitches and there's plans for further pitches in the future. Cricket pitches are to be constructed soon (Dubai Cricket council and Dharjeeling have been included in discussions for the last year) . The Exiles had four football and one netball, therefore more people are now able to partake in their sport.
Paul your comment about the club EK were building for DCC and Exiles is completely wrong. The clubhouse is there for the Rugby clubs of Dubai, AGRFU, IRB to use not just Exiles and the profits are shared amongst the local clubs to develop the game here. EK had no obligation to build any grounds for any party but invested a huge amount of money in this project and some of us worked hard to get this project completed for you, me and anyone else who cares to use it. My point is that there's so much arrogance and wrong information spouted by Ex-pats in this country who want their cake and eat...So sorry Billy no ex-pat brat here mate, just putting the other side across, no offence meant..!!
Emirates Facility.
Posted by Richard, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 15:58 UAE time
JB. I wasn't slagging off the 7's - I play football there and it's an absolute cracking facility and I know it was put together in a short time to handle the Dubai Rugby 7's - and a great 7's it was too.
The point, and one which Billy has highlighted, is that there is nothing in Dubai to replace what we had in the form of an "affordable" bit of grass with floodlights.
It is now so difficult in this town to arrange a simple game of football without forking out a thousand dirhams an hour. Even the football teams that play at the 7's in the Dubai League cannot afford to practice there. And lets be honest about it, who wants to drive for an hour for an hours kick-about ? PS - you are rude.
Posted by Richard, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 15:58 UAE time
JB. I wasn't slagging off the 7's - I play football there and it's an absolute cracking facility and I know it was put together in a short time to handle the Dubai Rugby 7's - and a great 7's it was too.
The point, and one which Billy has highlighted, is that there is nothing in Dubai to replace what we had in the form of an "affordable" bit of grass with floodlights.
It is now so difficult in this town to arrange a simple game of football without forking out a thousand dirhams an hour. Even the football teams that play at the 7's in the Dubai League cannot afford to practice there. And lets be honest about it, who wants to drive for an hour for an hours kick-about ? PS - you are rude.
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