Green Light for New Dubai Circuit

The master plan to build a Grand Prix circuit in Dubai was given the green light on Saturday, although the company in charge of building the track said they have no plans of hosting a Formula One race yet.

Union Properties PJSC, one of the leading property investments and real estate services companies in the United Arab Emirates, will build a world class FIA sanctioned 5.35 kms track in a facility that will also house indoor and outdoor karting tracks, an off-road driving course and special circuits for motorcycle racing.

The track will feature on the international race calendar, and organisers said they were hoping to host the UAE's first international race in December. Union Properties said however they had no intention to host an F1 race yet.

"For the moment, we are not for a Formula One race here, because the sport generally does not make money," Union Properties chief executive officer Simon Azzam told the Gulf News.

"The track at the Dubai Autodrome is designed to meet the highest international standards. It will be a Grade I FIA track, which is normally used to conduct Formula One racing. But for the moment, we do not need to include this activity on our schedule."

Nonetheless Azzam did not rule out the possibility of hosting a Grand Prix in the future should the UAE's authorities be interested.

"If they come and ask for the facility, then we do not have any problem in having a race here," he said.

Dubai is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The neighbouring state of Bahrain will host the first Middle Eastern Grand Prix next year.