The development of new golf courses in Abu Dhabi are part of the emirates efforts to attract more, and higher spending tourists. The Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, just a ten minute drive from the Corniche, over the Khalifa Bridge, is one of the new courses aimed at luring more visitors to Abu Dhabi. The course is long and undulating with several holes along the beach.
Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Development and Investment Corporation (TDIC), Ahmed Hussein, explained “Sport, in particular golf, forms the cornerstone of our strategy.” Analysts say developing new golf courses will help Abu Dhabi to attract the well healed traveler. Mark Sandilands, the senior manager at KPMG Golf Advisory Practice, said golf has been shown to position destinations to high spending tourism markets. The International Association of Golf Tour Operators said golf tourists spend, on average, about 50% percent more per person per day than the average leisure tourist.
