Emaar energises Syrian economy with customer-centric projects

Global real estate major Emaar Properties is energising the Syrian economy through country-specific and customer-centric projects.



Eighth Gate master-planned community on schedule
Eighth Gate master-planned community on schedule

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Emaar has already unveiled Eighth Gate, a SYP26 billion (US$500 million) master-planned community development, in association with IGO, an offshore investment and property development company.

'Syria is an emerging market offering great potential for growth for Emaar, a company expanding internationally in line with its Vision 2010 of becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world.'


said Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Emaar Syria.

'The construction and real estate market in Syria is buoyant and the Syria Economic Report estimates that construction area grew by 72.7 per cent to 11.24 million sq m in 2004 alone. Syria has also given the go-ahead to build 50,000 new flats in the coming five years, that sees an injection of SYP45 billion in the real estate sector.'

Emaar is extending its successful track-record of developing master-planned communities in Dubai to Syria too. 'Eighth Gate is a clear example of Emaar bringing in its core competency of building master-planned communities to the country,' said Mr Al Hashemi. 'The company has handed over more than 14,500 homes in Dubai and the same model of building a self-sustaining neighbourhood is being replicated with the Eighth Gate in Damascus.'

Emaar is powering the local economy through its projects, which generate employment opportunities as well as help build ancillary service sectors around its master-planned project. 'Eighth Gate broke ground in June, 2006, and is expected to be completed in six years,' added Mr Al Hashemi, a UAE national with proven business acumen in formulating strategic tie-ups and consolidating Emaar's presence in the country. 'The development introduces the city's first master planned community integrating mixed-use residential, commercial and retail units,' he said.

Previously Executive Director - Retail and Leasing with Emaar Properties, Mr Hashemi has hands-on experience working in varied sectors across Dubai's prestigious enterprises. His posting in Syria underscores the emerging trend at Emaar of UAE nationals holding premier positions internationally.

'Syria is a challenging market and it is important to understand the true market pulses and stay in tune with the economic reforms currently taking place in the country,' said Mr Al Hashemi. 'According to the Syria Economic Report, while the challenges for the country are mostly short to medium-term, Syria benefits from a lot of underutilised potential and hidden reserves that would offer in the long-term interesting growth opportunities. Already there is an enhanced participation of the private sector, which now accounts for 60 per cent of the GDP of the country.'

Emaar is currently on an ambitious expansion and diversification programme and has unveiled projects in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Turkey, Tunisia, India and Pakistan.




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About Emaar Properties PJSC:
Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based Public Joint Stock Company and one of the world's largest real estate companies, is listed on the Dubai Financial Market and is part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index. The company recently announced that its net profits for the three quarters ended September 30, 2006 reached AED 4.658 billion (US$1.268 billion) - a significant gain of 26 per cent over the same period in 2005 - reflecting the remarkable growth the company has gained since its inception in 1997.

With more than 14,500 homes handed over to customers, Emaar has several major real estate projects under various stages of development in Dubai. An ISO9001:2000 quality certified company, Emaar is marching ahead with the construction of its AED 73 billion (US$20 billion) Downtown Burj Dubai mixed-use development that encompasses Burj Dubai, the world's tallest tower when completed in 2008.

The company has joint ventures and projects across the region covering Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, Lebanon and Tunisia. In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing the US$26.6 billion (SR 100 billion) King Abdullah Economic City, the single largest private sector project in the Kingdom.

Emaar also entered the US market by acquiring John Laing Homes, the second largest privately held homebuilder in the US for AED 3.856 billion (US$1.050 billion). Emaar joined hands with The Turner Corporation, a leading international building services provider, to form a new entity, Turner International Middle East Ltd (Turner International ME) to jointly tap regional growth opportunities.

In a move that scaled up its core competency in product sales across the international arena, particularly the Western hemisphere, Emaar acquired Hamptons International, the UK-based subsidiary of premier property developer Wheelock Properties (Singapore) Ltd in a deal worth AED 562.45 million (US$153.05 million).

Last year the property developer announced plans to aggressively expand the retail sector with investments of over AED 15 billion (US$4 billion) to develop approximately 150 malls in the larger emerging markets of the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and the Indian subcontinent. In addition, Emaar has teamed up with Giorgio Armani S.p.A to build and manage 10 Armani hotels and resorts across the world; an Armani hotel will feature in Emaar's flagship Burj Dubai tower.

Emaar's education initiative will involve the establishment of international schools in the MENA region and India, which will offer premium quality education and an integrated curriculum for students ranging from kindergarten to tertiary levels. Emaar's healthcare diversification will see the company invest around AED 18.35 billion (US$5 billion) over the next decade in the MENA and South Asia markets with the construction of hospitals, clinics and medical centres and the investment in the provision of world-class healthcare services.

Emaar has diversified into related business lines to further build value for its shareholders, which includes the Government of Dubai. Emaar owns and manages EMRILL, a joint venture with the UK-based Carillion which provides innovative property and facilities management services. Emaar also holds 30 per cent equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking and is the majority shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE's leading Islamic home financing company.

For further information, please contact:
Kelly Home / Nivine William
ASDA'A Public Relations
Exclusive Affiliate of Edelman PR Worldwide in Middle East & North Africa
Tel: (+971 4) 335 5969;
Fax: (+971 4) 335 6080
Lara Lynn Golden Posted by Lara Lynn Golden, News Editor
Saturday, November 11 - 2006 at 15:28 UAE local time (GMT+4)

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This Article was updated on Sunday, November 26 - 2006
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