Dubailand, a premier tourism, leisure and entertainment destination in the region, marked the progress of a significant number of projects in 2009 and said it was poised to achieve new milestones this year as well.

A member of Dubai Properties Group, Dubailand, said the year witnessed a number of handovers of residential, retail and commercial units including MotorCity, Al Barari’s exclusive villas, and Dubai Properties Group’s Leyan and The Villa communities.

Conceptualized as a key tourism driver for Dubai and the UAE, Dubailand is home to various projects being developed by renowned international and local investors.

The key highlights of 2009 include a strategic agreement with Royal Caribbean International, Dubai Sports City’s opening of renowned Butch Harmon School of Golf at The Els Club, and the opening of the 25,000-seat Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In addition, Global Village commenced its 14th successful season, while Dubai Lifestyle City began construction of the luxurious JW Marriott Hotel.

Since June 2009, Dubai Sports City in Dubailand has also handed over more than 320 villas in its golf-residential community of Victory Heights to home owners, said a top official.

Mohammed Al Habbai, CEO of Dubailand, said, 'In spite of the challenging global economic environment, it was an exciting year for Dubailand, with a number of important milestones for our investors.'

'Our approach has always been to drive local, regional and international visitors to Dubailandattractions. This year, we have focused on developing inherent demand from within the UAE by building critical residential mass,' he noted.

Dubailand now has exclusive pockets of residential communities such as the Arabian Ranches, MotorCity, Leyan Community, The Villa and Al Barari, making the destination an attractive place to ‘live, work and play,’” Al Habbai explained.

At the much-anticipated MotorCity, which provides racing action in the heart of Dubailand, over 1,300 residential, retail and commercial units were handed over during the year.

The state-of-the-art mixed use development features exceptional entertainment, dining, leisure, retail, residential and commercial options, while the Dubai Autodrome with its FIA-sanctioned 5.39km circuit caters to motorsports and racing enthusiasts.

Dubai Properties Group unveiled an impressive portfolio of ready-to-lease villas and apartments at the Mediterranean-themed Leyan Community located in the heart of Dubailand. It also commenced handover of ‘The Villa’ project – a tranquil Spanish style residential retreat inspired by outdoor living featuring four, five and six-bedroom terraced villas.

Global Village, the region’s most popular cultural, entertainment and shopping venue, commenced a 98-day season from November 22 featuring a scheduled bouquet of attractions with more than 4,000 cultural shows and performances. Inspired by the four elements of nature – air, water, fire, and earth, the shows will run until 27 February 2010.

“The region’s premier tourism, leisure and entertainment destination is a project of extraordinary vision that is unfolding a number of components every year. Today, visitors and residents can experience Dubailandfor sport, entertainment, culture, shopping and lifestyle activities. Our investors have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to delivering key components of this world class destination,” he added.

Al Barari in Dubailand, an exotic garden boasting spacious villas, vibrant culture and tranquil retreats inspired by the desert oasis and wilderness, has also started the handover of its exclusive villas.-TradeArabia News Service