Al Hilal Bank appoints John Buck International to manage the development of commercial plot on Sowwah Island

Notes and media contacts

About John Buck International:

John Buck International is an Abu Dhabi-based real estate services company specializing in quality-driven, integrated commercial real estate development, leasing and asset management services. Established in 2008, John Buck International is a joint venture between Mubadala and The John Buck Company, a leading Chicago-based full-service real estate company. The company focuses on creating value across the real estate sector through highly skilled teams of the best industry personnel, focused on delivering integrated real estate solutions tailored to the sophisticated needs of their clients.

John Buck International is focused on delivering premium commercial real estate across Abu Dhabi and the GCC region and is currently managing development components of key landmark projects in Abu Dhabi including Sowwah Island, Sowwah Square, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, TwoFour54, Sorbonne University and Zayed University. John Buck International also provides Asset Management services for Sowwah Square and for a portfolio of Aldar commercial office buildings.

For additional information, please visit www.johnbuckinternational.com

About Al Hilal Bank:
Al Hilal Bank is wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, which is an investment body of the Government of Abu Dhabi. The Bank has an authorized capital of Dhs4bn and is licensed to operate as an Islamic commercial bank. Al Hilal Bank is committed to becoming the region's leading financial institution, escalating the development of Islamic Banking with a fresh approach to the industry, new technology and service excellence. Al Hilal Bank has eight branches across UAE.

About Sowwah Island:

Sowwah Island is the core of Abu Dhabi's new Central Business District (CBD) as designated by the Urban Planning Council in Plan Abu Dhabi 2030. It has also been classified as an Investment Zone by Abu Dhabi's Executive Council.
Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality is responsible for the transformation of the 105 hectare island which will play a pivotal role in meeting the long-term commercial requirements of Abu Dhabi. The development of Sowwah Island as a key component of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 is a demonstration of Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality's involvement in strategic and benchmark projects in the long-term physical and commercial development of Abu Dhabi.

Sowwah Island is strategically located between Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi Island, and Mina Zayed, making it the central commercial hub for the City. Among the first developments on the Island is Sowwah Square, an integrated Grade 'A' commercial development comprised of the distinctive new headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and surrounded by 4 high-rise office towers. The development also includes two five-star business hotels, retail and exclusive parking. The integrated development totals over 450,000 square meters of office, hotel, and retail amenities. State-of the art, multi-speciality hospital Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is also underway on the Island.

An integrated and multi-layered transport network is being developed to ensure commuters can easily travel from Abu Dhabi Island to the heart of the CBD. Connecting to the existing fabric of Abu Dhabi Island, this transport network, which includes 13 bridges and a mass transit system with both light and heavy rail will also connect Sowwah Island and Abu Dhabi Island to Al Reem Island and Mina Zayed, providing convenient, efficient access from all areas of Abu Dhabi, with minimal congestion and transit times.

About Sowwah Square:
Sowwah Square is a flagship commercial real estate development located at the heart of Sowwah Island, the core of Abu Dhabi's new Central Business District, as designated by the Urban Planning Council's Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.
Sowwah Square will feature the distinctive new headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, surrounded by four Grade 'A' high rise office towers with the largest column-free floor plates in Abu Dhabi, state of the art information technology systems, and premium grade design focused on sustainability. It will also be comprised of two five-star business hotels including Rosewood Abu Dhabi, retail, and exclusive parking, totalling over 450,000 square meters of office, hotel and retail amenities.
Sowwah Square is the first integrated development in Abu Dhabi to achieve LEED Core and Shell (LEED-CS) Gold pre-certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the internationally recognized US benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

The LEED Core and Shell Gold pre-certification recognizes Mubadala's declared environmentally sustainable goals and intentions of the Sowwah Square design, which achieved points across all categories of LEED-CS criteria including site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process.

Sowwah Square is a development project of Mubadala, being managed by John Buck International.

For Media inquires, please contact:

John Buck International

Ms. Alana Marini
Phone: +9712 413 0018

Al Hilal Bank
Anas Al Naji
Mobile: +971 50 709 6942