New Race to Dubai brand unveiled
DUBAI — Dubai, the pioneering city that it is, the city’s standing in the world is well storied. Dubai continues to innovate and inspire and make it undoubtedly the best city to live in.
Dubai also has a lasting imprint on the sporting map with world class events being held here. In fact, the European Tour’s Order of Merit was replaced by the Race to Dubai from 2009.
And in keeping with the growth and significance, a new Race to Dubai brand, featuring the official Dubai logo, was unveiled at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, the venue of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, on Wednesday.
The new brand will be used from the start of next season.
Fittingly, Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson and three-time winner Rory McIlroy, both of whom who own homes in the city, apart from Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and European Tour CEO Keith Pelley were on hand to unveil the logo along with Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, Abdulaziz Bukhatir, Executive Director, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) , Peter Dawson, President of the International Golf Federation, Julian Small, Managing Director, Club Operations, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Salman Bin Karam, Customer Relations Manager, Jumeirah Golf Estates.
McIlroy, who has had some memorable moments in Dubai, having made is first European Tour cut as well as his first European Tour win, apart from two Race to Dubai titles, said that it was great to see the Tour and Dubai strengthen their bond.
“Given the fact that the UAE has been a massive part of my development as a golfer and as a person, it’s great to see the European Tour and Dubai working together for the benefit for golf,” McIlroy said at the Jumeirah Golf Estates on Wednesday.
“I have made a number of friends in the Middle East. As my home away from home, in fact as a resident of Dubai, I love coming back and spending time here to prepare for each season,” the Northern Irishman added.
McIlroy also reflected on his memorable moments in Dubai and said: “It’s been a pretty amazing journey since then, and throughout all the success I have enjoyed.”