ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Etihad Airways has renewed its partnership with Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links Golf Club for another three years, reinforcing the airline’s continued commitment to golf in the nation’s capital and to establishing it as a major global sporting destination.
Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior
Vice-President, Destination and Leisure Management; James Ibbetson, Director of
Golf of Yas Links; and Ed Edwards, Group General Manager of Abu Dhabi Golf Club
and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, signed the agreement during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
presented by EGA, for which Etihad Airways was the Official Airline Partner.
Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior Vice
President of Destination and Leisure Management of Etihad Airways, said:
“Etihad Airways is always proud to promote Abu Dhabi to the world, and this
strategic partnership underscores our wider commitment both to the promotion of
the capital as a leading global leisure destination, and to the fantastic
sporting opportunities that the city has to offer our international visitors.
“The Abu Dhabi HSBC
Championship presented by EGA is the jewel in the crown of the city’s golfing
calendar, and lucky for us all, the excellent golfing facilities are available
year-round and we want to showcase the quality of the courses and the
clubhouses which are on offer. We look forward to welcoming lovers of golf,
both young and old, to Abu Dhabi to experience all it has to offer.”
With golf continuing to be a
major draw for tourists visiting Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways is keen to build on its
strategic partnerships with golfing partners in the city. International golfers
stay longer than other tourists in the city, remaining approximately five days
in Abu Dhabi, and typically spending two and a half times more than the average
tourist.
Ed Edwards, Group General
Manager of Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, under the
management and brand of the world’s leading golf management company Troon Golf,
commented: “We are delighted to renew our close partnership with Etihad Airways.
Golf in Abu Dhabi is one of the best offerings in terms of golf destinations in
the world with three of the very best golf courses complimenting everything
from culture, attractions and hospitality that Abu Dhabi offers.
“With the airline playing a
key role in opening our Emirate to the world, we look forward to continuing to drive
golf tourism to Abu Dhabi in partnership with Etihad Airways.”
Howie Roberts, General
Manager of Yas Links Golf Club, said: “This agreement signed with Etihad
Airways marks our continued commitment to working with the airline to bring Abu
Dhabi to the golfing world and the golfing world to Abu Dhabi. Each year, the
opportunities for international golfers in the city continue to grow and grow,
and the continued commitment which we now share with the airline to continuing
the rise of the sporting sector of Abu Dhabi underlines our dedication to the
growth of the city’s cultural offering.
“We are pleased to sign this
strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, and look forward to continuing to
develop this key partnership over the years to come.”
The renewed partnerships highlight
the wider efforts being made by Etihad Airways and its partners to build an
open, efficient and globally integrated sporting business environment across Abu
Dhabi, as they work with key strategic sporting partners including Etihad
Airways Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi World Professional
Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.