Euro 2012 in Dubai

Dubai might not be the first place that springs to mind when thinking of great places to watch the football this summer – it’s possibly more likely that you might want to go there to escape it!  However, football is catching on in the Middle East. Make no mistake about that. Abu Dhabi’s Royal family own Manchester City who were recently crowned Champions of England, and the sport is ebbing into the consciousness of the surrounding emirates, too. This summer, you can experience a football fan zone with a difference at Moevenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate in Dubai complete with football legend Sir Geoff Hurst and his sidekick, ‘Big’ Ron Atkinson.  The well known pair will also provide match day commentary on the England games. The fully air conditioned fan zone is located at the hotel’s indoor football pitch and features giant screens at either end. There’s food and drinks on offer and you can buy coupons starting from AED 35 – a great way to have food and drinks served to you whilst you’re enjoying the matches. The hotel offers an ideal base set away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still within a ten minute drive of Jumeirah Beach. It is linked directly to Ibn Battuta shopping mall meaning retail therapy is close at hand, and hotel guests receive 20% discount off many participating stores there too. Guests also have access to the fabulous Oceana Beach Club via a free shuttle service – great for easy beach access and sun worshipping on the comfy loungers by the private pool and garden. All of the Euro 2012 matches will be screened at the hotel fan zone, so no matter which team you support there’s bound to be a jovial atmosphere. Guests booking the hotel on an all-inclusive basis will have complimentary access to the fan zone as well as a range of discount offers on other packages. Exclusive VIP arrangements are also on offer for larger parties. Carole Booth is Commercial Director at Destinology. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.