Al Sharq Development - a beacon of style and design at Cityscape

The Lighthouse Hotel and Residence located on the crescent of The Palm Jumeira, and the sleek Al Sharq Tower on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road were unveiled during Cityscape, the region's leading property and real state exhibition.

"Al Sharq Development is a new player in Dubai's dynamic real estate sector, and Cityscape marks our official entrée into this exciting market," said company Chairman, Mr. Ali bin Suleiman Al Shehri.

"Our projects are identified with highly stylised design, and I'm proud to be expressing our creative vision in Dubai, a city which has firmly identified itself as an incubator for innovation, where unmet lifestyle standards can be achieved," he added.

The $150 million 70-storey Al Sharq residential tower was designed by world-renowned Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) and is being touted a "vertical resort'', referring to the building's unique cellular structure of nine cylinder tubes defined by a spiraling filigree form.

Not only does the curvaceous tower offer each room a spatial experience with panoramic views, but also the first residential floor will start at 40 metres above ground to ensure views for all units. The tower will house resident-only movie theatres, two zones of amenity floors including a spa, health club, pools, party rooms, childrens play rooms, day care, a library, and a fully-automated 800-car parking service where cars are stacked and retrieved by residents through a sophisticated computer system.

"What we are developing is not a static sculpture, but a living habitat. Our aim is to make the design,more sensual and intuitive and less mechanical," explained Ahmed Chehouri, Executive Director for Planning and Development for Al Sharq Development.

Located on The Palm Jumeira, The Lighthouse Hotel and Residence is a development set to offer guests and residents a new experience in luxury and visual atmosphere. The development's architecture is designed to capture the light of the rising sun and beam it into the complex's interior. At night, the roof of the 380-room hotel will be lit and an arc of light will be projected across The Palm Jumeira and the Arabian Gulf, bringing a new and modern identity to the traditional lighthouse image.

Creative lighting, bold colouring and the energetic design of private and public areas will demonstrate an adventurous philosophy in creating a new hotel style set to motivate guest's imaginations and the desire to travel more frequently.

"While offering guests luxury and superior comfort, our aim is to create a perfect blend of nature and design. The cool, minimalist styling will excite the senses and open the door to a totally new hotel experience, and the Residences will offer a new concept for those who wish to live permanently in an ambiance of luxurious simplicity," Chehouri added.

The Lighthouse Hotel and Residences will be operated and managed by one of the trendiest hotel operators in the world, a brand synonomous with the boutique hotel concept. A signed MOU agreement is expected within a month, reported officials from Al Sharq Development.

The Lighthouse Residence will offer 200 apartments comprising two, three, and four bedroom configuration, each designed to have a sea facing view. Apartments will be available on for 99 year leasehold, as will residential units within the Al Sharq Tower, which has an expected completion date of December 2007.

The Al Sharq Tower and the Lighthouse Hotel and Residences add to the portfolio of property development by Al Sharq Development, and follows the recent reveal of Aqua Dunya, the Middle East's largest theme park resort which will house the iconic Desert Pearl Hotel, the actual largest cruise ship ever built.

Al Sharq Development is a dynamic property development company based in Dubai and founded by the prominent Saudi industrialist, Mr. Ali bin Suleiman Al Shehri.