HCT to establish Chair - 'Aldar Dean of Business Studies'

Notes and media contacts

About Aldar Properties:

Aldar Properties PJSC is a premier real estate development, management and investment company with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Aldar was established to create world-class real estate developments for Abu Dhabi, while providing stable and profitable investment portfolio for all our investors and stakeholders

Aldar Properties PJSC is spearheading the development of Abu Dhabi; entrusted to create multi-billion Dirham civic projects to develop the capital, establishing new sectors for commerce, housing, retail and leisure. Aldar's vision is to establish Abu Dhabi as the United Arab Emirate's most dynamic forward-thinking real estate market by creating unique and prestigious developments that can be used as a benchmark of quality, whilst adhering to the cultural and natural heritage of the city.

Since its inception in 2004 through a share offer (IPO) of Dhs1.5bn (%408m) on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, Aldar has already announced more than $65bn worth of developments. The Aldar issue, the largest IPO in the history of the UAE at the time, was 448 times oversubscribed and raised an unprecedented Dhs373bn ($102bn) in demand. Aldar's market capitalization is Dhs25.8bn ($7.0bn) as of April 16th 2008.

Total retail area across all developments is currently over 1.5 million square meters.

The company is owned by leading Abu Dhabi institutions, founder shareholders and individual investors. The current property portfolio includes major developments and re-developments within Abu Dhabi Emirate such as Central Market, Al Raha Beach, Coconut Island, Noor Al Ain, Al Gurm Resort, Al Mamoura - the Mubadala Development Company and Environment Agency Abu Dhabi Headquarter Building, and the YAS Island project which is to include a Warner Bros and a Ferrari theme park.

Aldar's first international expansion was announced in August 2007 via a tie-up with South Johor Investment Corp (SJIC) in a deal that represents the largest foreign real estate development in Malaysia. This was followed in October 2007 with plans announced to build a mixed-use development in Kazakhstan.

For more information, please contact:
Name: Shali Akkaraju
Buchanan Middle East
Tel: +971 (0) 4 369 8559

About the Higher Colleges of Technology
The Higher Colleges of Technology is the largest higher educational institution in the United Arab Emirates with the current enrolment exceeding 16,000 students, all UAE nationals. With 16 campuses across the country, HCT is a leader in education and training. HCT staff, at the forefront of their subject areas, work closely with students to deliver innovative curriculum in technologically advanced facilities. It is our commitment to quality and our strong student focus which places HCT graduates in particular demand.

Since the establishment of its four founding colleges in 1988, the Higher Colleges of Technology have become well respected for innovative learning in the United Arab Emirates.

Across the UAE today, in the cities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah and the western region of Madinat Zayed and Ruwais, the sixteen HCT men's and women's modern campuses offer an impressive range of programs - more than 80 programs at four different credential levels - Diploma, Higher Diploma, Bachelor and Masters. More than 10,000 of the current students are female.

The HCT celebrated its 20th year of operations in 2007 with many strategic new initiatives to further expand and enhance its operations in quality and in increasing access. HCT has awarded 36,516 credentials to 25,236 graduates in its first two decades. These graduates have gone into the UAE employment market, making a significant impact on sustainable economic and social development of the country.