Trump, Damac partner for international golf course

The New York-based billionaire is collaborating with Damac on The Trump International Golf Course in Dubai and 104 exclusive Trump Estates villas and mansions.

By Abdul Basit

Published: Tue 20 May 2014, 11:17 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 10:35 PM

Ivanka Trump, Hussain Sajwani and Donald Trump at Akoya by Damac. — Supplied photo

Donald Trump spoke in Dubai on Monday about a premium clubhouse to be built on a 42 million square foot golf community being developed by Damac.

The New York-based billionaire is collaborating with Damac on The Trump International Golf Course in Dubai and 104 exclusive Trump Estates villas and mansions in the master development of Akoya by Damac.

Hussain Sajwani, executive chairman and chief executive officer at Damac, the Dubai-based property developer, said: “The Trump Organisation holds a global brand reputation for delivering white glove service and five-star standards which will complement the iconic development perfectly.”

At a Press conference hosted at the project, Trump praised the progress of the development. “This is going to be the greatest golf community in Asia!” he said.

“It is great to be working with Damac Properties. Our ethos regarding quality is in sync. It was clearly the right match. We are pleased to be here in Dubai and see for ourselves the impressive progress that is being made.”

The Clubhouse is designed to be dignified, representing its global stature, officials said. Its modern design will include features such as a ‘Grand Arrival’ experience.

“The clubhouse design is a strong statement of architectural excellence, combining beauty and functionality. This is another proof of the strong capabilities and talents available in our design department,” Sajwani said. Trump is back in Dubai after three years. In 2011 the company was planning to build a hotel tower on Palm Jumeirah with another Dubai developer Nakheel.

“We were fortunate that the project in Dubai didn’t start and nobody got hurt,” Trump said, adding that developers are much more conservative this time.

“I always wanted to get back and we never forgot Dubai,” he said.

The Trump International Golf Club, Dubai, which will run through the centre of the project, is set to be fully grassed by Q1 2015.

The course will reflect the dramatic natural landforms traditional in the UAE and the holes will flow from one into the other creating a seamless natural environment, according to the  company.

The collaboration between Damac Properties and The Trump Organisation is delivering the first Trump golf course and the first Trump Estates anywhere in the Middle East and Asia. More than 250 contractors are currently on-site at Akoya by Damac which will be completed in regular phases from next year through to 2017. Major works are already underway on more than 650 villas and nine apartment blocks throughout the development. The 132kv sub-station is also under construction and the roads and infrastructure contracts have been awarded.

— abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com