Gary Player tees off at the sixth hole during the inaugural Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Courtesy Gary Player Invitational
Gary Player tees off at the sixth hole during the inaugural Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Courtesy Gary Player Invitational

Ryder Cup players, cricket greats and pop stars set to turn out for Gary Player Invitational in Abu Dhabi



A host of professional golfers, celebrities and sports personalities have confirmed their attendance at the second edition of the Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in February, organisers have announced.

Taking place on February 6, the golf event will raise funds for the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs. The tournament in Abu Dhabi is one of five in a global series that together have helped raise more than $62 million (Dh227,7m) for charities worldwide.

Among the male professionals joining Player at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club are former British Open champion Darren Clarke, Ryder Cup players Chris Wood and Victor Dubuisson, and former Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner David Howell. European Tour players Joost Luiten, Jason Scrivener, Thomas Aiken, and Trevor Immelman are also participating.

Representing the female pros are Beth Allen, last year’s winner of the inaugural Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, as well as course record holder Georgia Hall, Caroline Martens, Emma Cabrera-Bello, and Victoria Lovelady.

Cricket greats Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting, and South African rugby player Victor Matfield will all be playing, as will television personality Jodie Kidd, pop stars Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, and Emirati comedian Ali Al Sayed.

“Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is one of the most engaging courses in the world and the ideal location to host the mix of professional golfers, sporting greats and special guests during this year’s event in Abu Dhabi,” said Player, tournament host and course designer.

“It is especially significant to host this event during the UAE’s Year of Giving and thanks to the support of the Abu Dhabi Sport Council, facility owner, TDIC and the wider UAE community, we are able to build upon the work of the inaugural event in 2016 and move even closer to reaching our goal of raising $100 million for children by 2025. I know that all participants will have great fun in support of an even greater cause.”

For more information on the Gary Player Invitational series, visit www.garyplayerinvitational.com.

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Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
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Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

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In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."