The Asian Tour, the principal men's professional golf tour in the continent, will make its first foray into the Middle East with its new season-ending tournament in Dubai, UAE, in December.

Under the terms of a three-year deal, the new tournament called the "Dubai Open" will take place at an as yet to be determined course and will be promoted and organised by Golf in Dubai, which has run the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic since 1989.

Talks with prospective sponsors and different Dubai golf clubs are at an advanced stage and Golf in Dubai will soon announce the official title, the venue and dates of the tournament, said a statement.

“The arrival of the Asian Tour is very exciting news for all of us in Dubai and we are extremely confident of delivering the event in sync with Dubai’s reputation as an ideal golfing destination,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of Golf in Dubai.

“We feel honoured that the Asian Tour has placed its trust in us and we will strive to deliver a memorable week for its members and the UAE fans,” he said.

“Dubai’s economy benefits both directly and indirectly from golf tourism, and there is a positive synergy between golf and the key tourism sectors. Golf is just one of the many reasons that people visit Dubai to savour the experience of playing on courses of international standard,” he said.

Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han was equally upbeat about the success of what he called an important stop in Dubai.  “With so many prestigious tournaments, in particular the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, happening out there, the city is ideally placed to capitalise on its unique position as a diverse and high quality golfing destination.

“We feel proud and privileged to join hands with an organisation whose track record of hosting international golf tournaments is second to none."

The Asian Tour, which competes with the OneAsia Tour for supremacy on the world's most populous continent, earlier this month announced it would hold its first event in Africa.

The $1.3 million AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will take place for the first time next May and be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and southern Africa's Sunshine Tour.

The Asian Tour also co-sanctions the European Masters in Switzerland as well as four events with the European Tour in Asia and the CIMB Classic in Malaysia with the US PGA Tour. - TradeArabia News Service and Reuters