From http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Football/10331988.html
Manchester City to play friendly match in Abu Dhabi
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: July 16, 2009, 12:30
Abu Dhabi: Manchester City on Thursday revealed plans to use The Emirates Palace’s football pitch (under construction) as the official Training Headquarters of Manchester City Football Club in Abu Dhabi and to take on the UAE national team, in a friendly on November 12.
Manchester City Football Club CEO Garry Cook officially signed an agreement with Emirates Palace General Manager Hans Olbertz after which the newly-signed stars were unveiled here on Thursday.
Club Manager Mark Hughes along with his latest catch - Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz and Steven Ireland-and City’s Player of the Year and Academy graduate, and former England international and all-time City great Mike Summerbee were all present at the Emirates Palace hotel to mark the tie-up with the UAE capital.
City will use the Emirates Palace facilities during the international breaks of the English Premier League and their first will visit will be in November this year. The football pitch is scheduled for completion in late October
Cook said “We are proud to claim Emirates Palace – this first class facility and one of the most extraordinary hotels ever built – as our official winter training headquarters.â€
“Our partnership with Manchester City fits with the hotel’s mission to offer our clients exclusive and unique experiences – in this case Manchester City Football Club,†said Emirates Palace General Manager Hans Olbertz.
“We are delighted to be the hosts of this now globally relevant club at key times throughout their training schedule,†said Olbertz.
Cook also signed an agreement with Yousuf Abdullah, General Secretary of the UAE Football Association confirming a friendly match between City and the UAE national team at the Zayed Stadium on Thursday, November 12, 2009.
“With a growing and enthusiastic fan base in the UAE, we look forward to a friendly in Abu Dhabi in November,†said Cook. “The Club feels an obvious kinship with the city, and this game is another way for us to interact with the community at a grassroots level.â€
“This fixture will also be a focal point of our winter training visit to Abu Dhabi during the November international break in the English Premier League season,†Cook said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the national side and one that will provide a high calibre test for our squad,†said Rashid Al Za’abi, Chairman of the Marketing, Media and PR Committee of the UAE FA.
“To play an English Premier League side in the United Arab Emirates is not only exciting for the team, but for the local fans as well,†he added.