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Thursday 09 February 2012 (UAE)
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Meydan City and Meydan Racecourse Dubai
Meydan refers to the Meydan Racecourse and/or Meydan City (Meydan Racecourse City) project in the Nad Al Sheba / Nadd Al Shiba / Nad Al Shebaa area of Dubai. The Meydan Racecourse is off Al Meydan Road.
Meydan racecourse opening date
- First race night of the 2010 Dubai horse racing calendar held at the Meydan race track Thursday 28 January 2010, on the all-weather track.
- 04 March 2010 was a sort of pre-opening ceremony event with a Sting concert - "A Night At Meydan" - after the races.
- Official Meydan opening ceremony on 27 March 2010 with the 15th Dubai World Cup followed by fireworks and music, then concerts by Elton John and Santana starting around 11pm. Concert viewing for free in the public area, but binoculars would be useful.
Meydan concerts Youtube videos
Elton John concert - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me |
Santana concert at Meydan - Oye Como Va |
Sting concert - When The World Is Running Down |
Sting concert Meydan Dubai - Roxanne |
Meydan Hotel
- "The Meydan" hotel soft opening date 04 March 2010, same night as the Dubai International Racing Carnival Super Thursday horse races and Sting concert.
- Most hotel rooms overlook the horse racing circuit.
- Total of 285 rooms: 1 royal suite, 2 presidential suites, 8 Meydan suites, 19 panoramic suites, and 255 balcony deluxe rooms.
- Other facilities include rooftop swimming pool, IMAX cinema film theatre, trackview terrace, spa, gymnasium and fitness center, business center.
- Total of 7 restuarants and bars including a pool bar, lobby lounge bar.
- An 11 February 2010 statement from the Banyan Tree group, the contracted managers of the Meydan hotel, said they were taking legal action against Meydan: "Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Pte. Ltd. ("BTHR") has initiated arbitration proceedings against Meydan LLC, Meydan Group LLC and Meydan City Corporation for various breaches of the Hotel Management Agreement for The Meydan and the Villa Management Agreement for Banyan Tree Meydan", which apparently follows a November 2009 decision that Banyan Tree would not be the managers / operators of hotel as initially announced in October 2007.
- Jumeirah Group was reported to be involved in the launch of the Meyday Hotel according to an 11 February 2010 report in Hotelier Middle East, quoting an unnamed spokesperson from Jumeirah: "I can confirm that Jumeirah Group has been asked to support the set-up and initial operation of The Meydan, a hotel which forms part of the Meydan Racecourse City project in Nad Al Sheba. This involves sharing our expertise to assist the hotel with its pre-opening plans in advance of the official launch."
- VP for Hotels and Hospitality for Meydan is Abdin Nasralla, previously the General Manager of Jumeirah Bab Al Shams (according to the same HME report).
- Meydan signed a letter of understanding (LoU) with Jumeirah Group for the management of The Meydan (hotel) in June 2010 (28 June 2010 press release).
Banyan Tree Meydan
- The Banyan Tree Meydan is a villa resort in the Meydan project under development, with 77 units.
- Given that Banyan Tree has initiated legal action against Meydan (11 February 2010 statement), the resort might end up with a different name.
Meydan Sting concert
- "A Night at Meydan" concert performance by Sting (ex-Police group - Roooooooooxaaaaannnneeee, Don't Stand So Close, Synchronicity, etc), presented by Live Nation. Mr Sting previously performed in Dubai as part of his "Brand New Day" tour at the Dubai Aviation Club tennis stadium on 19 April 2001 - a fantastic show it was too, including a memorable live performance of "Desert Rose" with Cheb Mami. Mr Mami probably won't join Mr Sting this time around though - in July 2009 he was sentenced to 5 years jail in France.
- Start time is about 2300 (11pm), after all the horses have had a jog around the track. Sting concert ticket holders can also come earlier to watch the horses according to the Meydan press release 04 February 2010: "Gates to Meydan will open from 6 pm for ticket holders who are interested to also view the races."
- Ticket prices for humans: AED 735 Premium Seats, AED 555 - Not So Premium Golden Circle, AED 275 - Cheap Golden Circle, AED 150 - Premium Standing. Ticket prices for horses unknown. Available from Time Out Tickets Dubai, Virgin Megastores, and Box Office ME.
- According to 7 Days on 04 March 2010, spectators watching the horse racing in the free seats won't be required to leave before the concert starts, and so will get a free concert (although it might be far away). Update: Indeed, it was free for those visitors, and although it was far in the distance, the giant video screens and grandstand seating made for a very comfortable view. The 150 dh standing tickets had a poor deal, not much closer than the free seats, and further away than indicated on the ticket map.
Maydan development - to be updated
- 14 October 2007 - phase one and business park sold out (Dubai Eye talk with CEO of Dubai Racing Club)
- WCT is using joint ventures to tap demand in the Middle East after winning a $372 million (Dh1.37bn) contract with a partner in July to build a Formula 1 racetrack in Abu Dhabi.
- Meydan location at beginning of Dubai Al Ain Road, near Business Bay
- Announced at 2007 Dubai World Cup, Meydan development piling started April 2007, completion expected late 2009.
- will host the 2010 Dubai World Cup
- Chairman Saeed Al Tayer
- Designers Teo A Khing Design Consultants (Malaysia)
- Meydan Racecourse area 76 million square feet
- Close to Meydan City - with Meydan Marina (about 80 berths), tramline from Meydan City to Meydan Racecourse
- Piling began in April 2007
- Completion scheduled for late 2009
- Meydan Grandstand building will accommodate the Dubai Racing Club and the Emirates Racing Authority
- 10 restaurants, a 5-star hotel, museum, gallery, carparking for 10,000+ cars (8000 in the Falcon Car Park, 5000 more in public parking area)
Meydan Racecourse and Grandstand
- Two tracks - turf track (grassed) 2400 meters, and all-weather track 1750 meters long.
- Large LED screens (the largest in the world ... of course)
- Corporate suites with food and drink, and TV screens
- Terrace viewing from the Bubble Lounge, with infinity pool
19 September 2007 - Arabtec (Dubai) & WCT Engineering (Malaysia) awarded contract for Meydan construction
- AED 4.6 billion Joint Venture contract
- WCT Malaysia also in a joint venture to build Formula 1 Race Track in Abu Dhabi.
- 1 km long racetrack (Check, ET says Grandstand is 1 km long), 60,000 capacity grandstand
- Luxury hotel
Meydan contract in China - Tianjin Equine Culture City
- On 28 (?) March 2010, the Meydan City Corporation in Dubai announced plans to build Tianjin Horse City in China - in the Tianjin province (which probably explains the name).
- Project would be a joint venture with TAK Design Consultants of Malaysia, Zhouji Jiye and Tianjin Farm Group of China.
- Equine facilities expected to include breeding base, the Hua Zhi Jie International Equestrian College, feedstuff plant, horse hospital, quarantine centre, race track.
- General facilities to include 5 to 7 star luxury hotels, clubhouse, commercial offices, residential accommodation, shopping center (unknown if pet food will be sold).
- Total investment value of about US$1.46 billion (might be just for the college?)
- Construction to be in 5 stages with total duration of almost 6 years, from May 2010 to December 2015.
- Stage 1 completion by end 2011 - equestrian college, feedstuff plant, stud farm
- Stage 2 completion by end 2012 - clubhouse, entertainment area, horse trading centre, hotel, shopping centre
- Stage 3 completion by end 2013 - offices, residential accommodation
- Stage 4 completion by end 2014 - franchises to be developed for national standard club events, national equestrian club, and national equestrian park. Also the start of development of a horse culture communication market, and international events market.
- Stage 5 completion
Tianjin Equine Culture City
- 11 November 2010 - signing ceremony held to launch a new joint venture (JV) company called Hua Zhi Jie Horse Industries, based in Tianjin, to develop and manage the new Tianjin Equine Culture City.
- JV is between International Equine Group (IEG), formed between Meydan (Dubai, UAE) and Teo A. Khing Design Consultants (TAK) (Malaysia), and Tianjin State Farms Agribusiness Group Company, an entity owned by the Chinese government.
- Area about 5,000 mu of land (3.33 million sq m) with race tracks, training tracks, stables and other equine facilities.
- An international flat racing event similar to the Dubai World Cup might be held by 2012.
Last update Thursday 11-Nov-2010. Page development 3D 4L 5C.
Related pages
- Dubai World Cup
- List of hotels in Dubai
- Elton John concert at Meydan - youtube videos
- Sting concert at Meydan - youtube videos
- Santana concert at Meydan - youtube videos
Related websites (new window)
- www.dubairacingclub.com - Dubai Racing Club website
- www.meydan.ae - Meydan website
- Dubai directory - add your link free