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Tuesday, November 10 - 2009

Aldar aligns with Barclays Bank UAE

  • United Arab Emirates: Monday, August 18 - 2008 at 12:23
  • PRESS RELEASE

Aldar Properties, a leading integrated property, investment, and management company today announced a strategic tie up with Barclays Bank Plc, UAE (Barclays) to provide mortgage solutions for Aldar's Al Raha Beach projects.

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This is the first deal for Aldar involving a foreign bank and Barclays is the first foreign bank to offer mortgage solutions to the Abu Dhabi market through its branch offices in the UAE.

The changing regulations regarding ownership laws by the government of Abu Dhabi allowing foreigners to own property, was a turning point in the real estate market for the emirate.

The rapidly growing economy and real estate industry in Abu Dhabi led to the emergence of foreign investment into the market.

The market opened for foreign banks to realise opportunity in this dynamic economy, and this strategic tie up between Aldar and Barclay's illustrates this demand in real estate sector.

"Aldar is pleased to enter into this agreement with Barclays Bank. It is part of Aldar's strategy to form alliances with reputable international companies that share our customer-driven business approach and commitment to quality. Aldar's projects are built, designed, and intended for a diverse audience. Bringing Barclays into our portfolio of banks to extend financial solutions demonstrates Aldar's keenness on placing the widest possible choice at the disposal of its valued customers both within the Abu Dhabi community and beyond,"

commented Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO, Aldar Properties.

Barclays will offer mortgage solutions to Aldar's developments on Al Raha Beach, dubbed the ultimate waterfront city, consisting of eleven precincts each with its own distinct character and appeal. It will house to 120,000 residents and will span over 11 kilometres of natural beach front.

"Barclays is proud to enter into this arrangement with Aldar Properties. As the first foreign bank to penetrate the Abu Dhabi market, this further underscores our commitment to offering customers new and innovative services that meet their varied needs. Entering this partnership with Aldar, the premier real estate developer in Abu Dhabi, allows us to offer our customers greater choice as they seek to invest in the UAE real estate market or purchases a home for their family,"

stated Michael Miebach, Managing Director, Barclays Bank, GRCB, MENA.

Present in the market for over 30 years, Barclays is in the company of a number of contenders of foreign banks vying to enter the lucrative property development mortgage financing market. Barclay officials point to the bank's varied service offering as the key to their success and a differentiation point amongst the growing competition.

In the 12 months since launching Retails Banking services in the UAE, Barclays has introduced Premier Banking for the high net worth individuals, the region's first education loan and a host of tailored products and services designed to offer customers more choice in managing their finances.
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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 Exchange, Aldar has already announced more than $72bn 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 Dhs32.3bn ($8.7bn).as of July 24th 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 further information, kindly contact:
Mary Khamasmieh
Media Relation Specialist
Buchanan Middle East
A WPP Company
Level 4, Building 1 Emaar Business Park
Interchange 5, Sheikh Zayed Road
P.o. Box 282032 Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971 4 3698581
Fax: 971 4 3698556

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