Fry/Straka Global Golf Design is to design a new golf course in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Located on Yas Island, work will commence later this year with the first nine holes scheduled to open for place in 2018.

Developer ALDAR Properties has grand plans for Yas Island, as it looks to turn it into a multi-purpose leisure and entertainment facility estimated to cost around US$40 billion. The island is already home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and the Yas Marina Circuit, which has hosted the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix since 2009.

“ALDAR’s mandate to Fry/Straka is to design a golf course that will serve as the centerpiece of the development and is of premier quality to match the other world class amenities on the island,” said Dana Fry, principal of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design.

The golf facility will include a driving range and a short game centre, complementing other nearby leisure facilities, which include an artificial green putting course for families.

“The Yas North project is designed to be a mixed use facility combining a golf course and community facility,” said Howie Roberts, general manager of Yas Links and ALDAR representative. “To have been able to appoint a course architect of the calibre of Dana Fry of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, is a statement of our intent in driving quality on our project. We also wanted to move away from the similarities of other courses here in UAE, and we believe that working with Dana will allow us to achieve that. A course that will be memorable in its playability but also in the design away from the more traditional layouts of the area.”