The deal reflects strong investor confidence in the UAE amid economic recovery.
AKCEL Holding, a Dubai-based diversified conglomerate, has signed a strategic development agreement with XRange Golf Entertainment to create a network of next-generation golf entertainment venues across the UAE, in a project valued at over Dh1 billion.
The initiative will feature technology-driven golf destinations that blend interactive driving ranges, digital gaming, hospitality, dining, and social experiences, catering to residents, tourists, and corporate visitors.
Initial sites are being considered in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah, with more locations planned as the platform expands.
These golf entertainment venues aim to boost the UAE’s growing gaming industry, attract regional and international tourists, and support economic growth. The UAE gaming market is rapidly expanding, projected to reach US$857 million by 2032, up from US$550 million in 2025, according to MarkNet Advisors.
The UAE’s tourism sector remains a key economic driver, with its total contribution to GDP expected to reach Dh267.5 billion ($72.8 billion) by 2025—around 13 percent of the national economy, according to a recent report by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
The golf entertainment project will be backed by the AKCEL Growth Fund, an institutional investment platform within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) ecosystem. Established by AKCEL Holding and Enlightened Minds Investments, the fund focuses on identifying and scaling high-growth opportunities across real estate, technology, sports, and experiential infrastructure.
Through this structure, the AKCEL Growth Fund will act as the primary investment vehicle supporting the development and expansion of the XRange platform, with project execution led by AKCEL Realty, the real estate arm of AKCEL Holding, which is advancing projects in the UK while growing its footprint in the UAE market.
“Experiential leisure is becoming an increasingly important part of modern real estate development,” said Amit Kaushal, Chairman of AKCEL Holding.
“The UAE has established itself as one of the world’s most dynamic tourism and lifestyle destinations. By combining sport, technology, and hospitality, we see a significant opportunity to create scalable entertainment platforms that appeal to both residents and international visitors.”
The concept mirrors the rapid growth of golf entertainment venues globally. The golf industry is estimated to surpass $80 billion, while off-course golf entertainment has grown notably in markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, attracting younger audiences and corporate groups through technology-driven experiences.
Beyond the UAE, the partnership plans international expansion, starting with India and targeting other high-growth tourism markets, positioning XRange as a scalable global entertainment brand.
Timur Kudratov, Founder of Enlightened Minds Investments, highlighted that the project exemplifies the type of cross-sector platform the AKCEL Growth Fund was designed to support.
“This is exactly the kind of platform the AKCEL Growth Fund was created to back—where real estate, technology, and consumer demand converge into a scalable operating business. XRange is more than a venue concept; it is a modern experiential infrastructure play with strong regional and international potential,” Kudratov said.
Founded by MG Keyser and Jake Shepherd, XRange Golf Entertainment develops immersive golf venues that combine sport with interactive technology, hospitality, and social experiences.
The partnership also targets international expansion beyond the UAE, starting with India and extending into other high-growth tourism markets, positioning XRange as a scalable global entertainment brand.
Timur Kudratov, Founder of Enlightened Minds Investments, said the project exemplifies the type of cross-sector platform the AKCEL Growth Fund was designed to support.
“This is the kind of platform the AKCEL Growth Fund was built to back, where real estate, technology, and consumer demand come together into a scalable operating business. XRange is more than a venue concept; it is a modern experiential infrastructure play with strong regional and international potential,” Kudratov stated.
Founded by MG Keyser and Jake Shepherd, XRange Golf Entertainment develops immersive golf venues that combine sport with interactive technology, hospitality, and social experiences.
