DTCM hosts Dubai visit for international footballer Recardo Kaka
Brazilian national visited iconic landmarks and touristic attractions during the 10-day family tour
DTCM actively promoting sports tourism across the world
Dubai: Recardo Kaka, one of the world famous footballers and a key player of Brazil’s national team, is in Dubai exploring the emirate’s internationally-renowned iconic landmarks and touristic attractions during a 10-day family holiday tour hosted by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
The Attacking Midfielder took time off from his holidays schedule to meet the DTCM Executive Director for Business Tourism, Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, at the DTCM Head Office on Tuesday. He met the DTCM employees and signed autographs for them and visitors.
Mr. bin Mejren said: “It was a pleasure hosting Recardo Kaka and facilitating his visit to various places in Dubai. We are promoting sports tourism and it is our efforts to help footballers and other sports personalities explore the emirate and see its extensive world-class sports facilities.”
Mr. Kaka said: “Dubai is a wonderful city and one of the nicest in the world. I am honoured to be here for the family holiday. I thank the DTCM for the wonderful opportunity given to me to visit the emirate. I am overwhelmed with the hospitality I enjoyed here and we plan to come again to Dubai soon.”
During the meeting, they discussed the promotion and marketing of Dubai as a sports destination across the world and how DTCM has been promoting football through various initiatives, including the recently-held fourth edition of Dubai Football Challenge.
Mr. Ghassan Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours, said: “We have been cooperating with the DTCM in its aefforts to promote Dubai worldwide and we are happy to be associated with the DTCM for Kaka’s visit.”
The UAE in general and Dubai in particular has strong bilateral relations with Brazil. Brazil’s trade ties with the UAE go back to 2004 when the two nations’ governments signed a historic bilateral aviation agreement. The UAE is the Middle East’s third-largest importer of Brazilian agricultural goods.
Emirates airline will start the Dubai-Buenos Aires daily flights from January 3, 2012 with a call at Rio de Janeiro. This is the second link of the Dubai-based carrier with South America after having opened in 2007 direct flights between Dubai and Sao Paulo. Emirates SkyCargo added a third weekly freight flight the Brazilian city of Campinas to meet the growing demands of the thriving UAE-Brazil trade route.
Brazil will be hosting the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics in Rio do Janeiro.
According to DTCM officials, Kaka, as he is often referred, has been accommodated at the Atlantis The Palm. He visited the world’s tallest man-made structure, Burj Khalifa, and took a Seawings-organised aerial tour to experience a bird’s eye view of the natural beauty and extra-ordinary man-made structures in the emirate, including The Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and Jebel Ali Port. Also in the itinerary were a desert safari experience and a visit to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding which provided him insights into the cultural and traditions of the emirate.
He also visited a mosque which offered him insights into the world of Islam, the Arabs and the Muslim way of life. He also toured Al Bastakiya cultural district to get to know about the history and evolution of the Dubai since the 1890s. He also enjoyed the traditional Arabian hospitality in the modern settings at a dinner arranged at the world’s highest restaurant located in Burj Khalifa. He went on shopping at Dubai Mall and also had a lunch at one of the restaurants located in the world’s biggest shopping mall. The 29-year-old soccer player also enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the traditional open markets in Spice and Gold souqs in addition to touring different parts of Deira and Bur Dubai.
Kaka started his career at the age of eight and signed his first professional contract with the Sao Paulo FC at the age of 15. In 2003, he joined the AC Milan and won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2007. He joined Real Madrid for a world record fee of GBP£56 million. In 2004, he became the youngest ambassador of the UN World Food Programme.
