DUBAI: Tennis star Boris Becker yesterday launched a luxury beach resort and tennis academy in Ras Al-Khaimah.
Boris Becker Beach Resort & Tennis Academy, valued at AED3 billion, includes premier holiday homes, world class luxury resort and spa facilities, a five star hotel, and a world-class Tennis Academy. The project is slated for completion by 2010.
Becker, who holds a 50 percent partnership in the academy and part ownership in the rest of the resort, said that the mega-development holds significant meaning to him, both as an entrepreneur and a former tennis world number one.
“With end-to-end luxury facilities, from residences to spa and a five-star hotel — there is simply no integrated resort of this caliber anywhere else. As a former global competitor it is also personally rewarding to bring UAE a world-class tennis training facility, and play a role in grooming young local talent. It has all the makings of a top-seed in the global luxury holiday home sector,” he said
Located at the entrance to Ras Al-Khaimah’s lush Al-Marjan Island, the sprawling 2.5 million square-foot project offers a rare dual ocean-front advantage, with the estate stretching from one end of the island’s shore to the next.
Becker, who will play a significant role in the design of the Tennis Academy, will also co-manage the completed facility, assisted by long-time friend, and fellow German Davis-Cup team partner, Eric Jelen ensuring standards are carefully maintained. Becker will also offer personal training sessions to a select few, and handpick coaches from across the globe to ensure the “Becker way” is well observed and young talent carefully groomed. The world-class structure will feature six tennis courts with rebound-ace surfaces.
Ras Al-Khaimah is currently one of the fastest growing emirates in the UAE, with the population expected to grow from 150,000 to 750,000 by 2020, and the number of visitors moving from 500,000 to a staggering 2.5 million by 2012. The Resort which has state-of-the-art conferencing facilities will also serve as a unique global conferencing venue and incentive travel destination.
