Nakheel appoints Abdullah Lootah as General Manager for Dragon Complex

Born in Dubai, Abdullah will have complete responsibility for the Nakheel owned project. Opened in December 2004, the complex is spread across 150,000 square metres and 1.2 km long. The Complex houses 4,000 enterprises dealing in Chinese products and services. The majority of outlets on site are wholesale outlets, although the Complex combines a range of other business sectors: exhibition, retail, and distribution. All this ensures that the Dragon Complex is the most comprehensive hub for Chinese products outside China. The Dragon Complex is located in the Al Warsan area at the intersection of Al Aweer Road, and Academic Road and Emirates Road.

Abdullah Lootah has a wealth of experience having worked with Jafza for more than ten years. He has particular expertise in Sales and Marketing, having been Asian Sales Manager and Senior Sales Manager; before joining Nakheel he was Chief Operating Officer at Jafza. He has also been a key player in the conception of the Dragon Complex development.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Nakheel Executive Chairman said, "Abdullah is the ideal choice for managing the Dragon Complex. He was an integral player in moving forward the concept of the Dragon Complex from the start. His extensive experience with the Asian - and specifically Chinese market - at Jafza as Asian Sales Manager and also Chief Operating Officer, means that few people in the region have better knowledge of the Chinese market. This experience will be invaluable in managing such an unprecedented development."

Abdullah commented, "It is an honour to have been appointed General Manager Dragon Complex, as there is no other development like this in the world. The demand for Chinese products is ever increasing, as customers are attracted by a combination of quality and very competitive pricing. The market for such goods is expanding rapidly: the Chinese economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the volume of trade between the UAE and China has been rising at a very impressive rate. It is expected to total over US$ 10 billion in 2005 - an increase of 72 per cent on the figures in 2003."

"At the Dragon Complex, Nakheel is tapping into this growth by offering the largest selection of Chinese goods and services outside mainland China. Dubai's central location between the markets of Europe, Asia and Africa means that the Dragon Complex is ideally located to become a hub for Chinese goods - in this sense Dubai can become the gateway to China," he added.