DSC Academies Campus hosts AFL – ME Grand Final; narrow win for Dubai Dragons against Dubai Dingoes

Head of AFL – ME Walid Melhem: "It was a great day out at Dubai Sports City"

DSC GM – Sports Business Maqbul Dudhia: "The staging of the AFL finals day is another indication of the versatility of the facilities we have at Dubai Sports City"

"Dubai Sports City really is establishing itself as a hub for sport in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the region and the world. We are delighted at that fact and look forward to further growth over the coming months and years"

Dubai Sports City (DSC) has added another sport to the growing list it has hosted with the staging of the Australian Football League – Middle East (AFL – ME) Grand Final between the Dubai Dragons and the Dubai Dingoes.

The match, the climax of the AFL – ME season, was held at the DSC Academies Campus and proved to be a tightly-contested encounter between two first-time finalists with the Dragons eventually prevailing by four points.

Afterwards, officials said they were delighted with the occasion.

Head of AFL – ME Walid Melhem said: "It was a great day out at Dubai Sports City with a good crowd of supporters, friends, family and kids and even the rugby guys that were on before us stayed to watch."

President of winning team, the Dubai Dragons, Nathan Byrne said: "We got up to win the flag but the Dingoes put up a massive fight to make the game a memorable one, especially for the spectators."

And coach of the Dubai Dragons Matthew Gribble added: "We had a great day at Dubai Sports City, chiefly as we won the Grand Final, but also the facilities were excellent and there was a good crowd in attendance."

The Dingoes side was three goals ahead at quarter-time bit a five-goal spurt in the second quarter from the Dragons saw it hit the front never to be caught again.

In the end, the Dragons prevailed with nine goals and six behinds for 60 points to the Dingoes’ eight goals and eight behinds totaling 56 points.

The third and fourth-placed play-off saw Abu Dhabi Falcons beat the Doha Kangaroos.

Further details of AFL action in Middle East can be found at http://www.afl-me.com.

Maqbul Dudhia, General Manager – Sports Business at DSC, said: "Dubai Sports City is delighted to have hosted the AFL – Middle East Grand Final and we are also delighted that it was such a successful day for all concerned.

"The staging of the AFL – Middle East Grand Final is another indication of the versatility of the facilities we have at Dubai Sports City.

"Over the past six months we have hosted two major international cricket series at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the teams in both those series – Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Pakistan and England – also making extensive use of the facilities at the ICC Global Cricket Academy (ICC GCA).

"The ICC GCA has also staged the first officially recognised series between physically disabled teams with Pakistan and England playing each other in February.

"We have hosted hockey involving local and overseas teams, junior and senior football matches and tournaments, rugby union and rugby league, we have a fantastic athletics track and now we have had the honour of staging the AFL – Middle East Grand Final.

"And on top of all that, DSC can also boast an 18-hole championship golf course, The Els Club – Ernie Els’ first golf course design concept in the Middle East.

"Later this month the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the ICC GCA will host cricket matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, with 16 teams from all over the world going head-to-head for two places in September’s ICC World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka.

"Dubai Sports City really is establishing itself as a hub for sport in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the region and the world. We are delighted at that fact and look forward to further growth over the coming months and years."