Farhan Faraidooni appointed DREI Board Chairman

The newly constituted Board of Directors' of Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), the region's first specialized academic institute for real estate studies, held its first meeting today.

The board also has appointed Dr. Mohamed Abdullatif. Khalifa Al Shehi as the, Managing Director and Dr. Hischam El-Agamy, to assume the role of Advisory Council Chairman, DREI. Dr. El-Agamy is currently the Director of Corporate Development for IMD International in Switzerland and founder of Target Developments, Switzerland.

Farhan Faraidooni, Chairman, DREI, said: "It is a privilege and honour to lead the Board, which has members with significant backgrounds and a wealth of experience. I look forward to working with them to develop DREI into one of the world's leading institutions. The board will initiate measures and policies to meet DREI's objective of enriching the knowledge and broadening the competency levels of real estate industry professionals and managers."

Other DREI board members include Ahmed Al Falasi, Construction Director ,Emaar, Ahmed Al Serkal, Senior Vice President and Head of HR Group, Dubai Islamic Bank, Farid Mohammed Ahmed Secretary General, Dubai World Jassim Al Abdool, Senior Corporate Development Manager, Sama Dubai, Sami Al Hashmi Senior Corporate Development Manager, Tatweer and Mizin, Sanjay Malhorta Chief Operating Officer Emaar MGF and Yaqoob Al Zarooni Chief of Human Capital, Dubai Properties.

The board pledged to work together to achieve and formulate DREI's strategic plans which include addressing the challenges and opportunities created by the unprecedented growth in the regional real estate sector. The members unanimously agreed to develop DREI's distinctive capabilities and support the Excellence of its programs' offerings.

Dr. Mohamed Al Shehi, Managing Directors, DREI, said: "We will deliver the most comprehensive world class real estate education in the region. We seek to achieve this through forging strategic partnerships with world's leading universities which specialize in this sector."

Several recommendations were made at the meeting regarding the roles of the board members. They also discussed the DREI's organisational structure, its business plan, advisory board plan, stages of progress with universities, strategic plan and preparations for the academic year 2007-2008.