The Mega Developers: Emaar (part 2)

Continuing from yesterday's post I will now give you the list of all of Emaar's real estate development projects:

- Arabian Ranches, UAE
- Boulder Hill, India
- Emaar Towers, UAE
- Emirates Hills, UAE
- Emirates Living, UAE
- Gold Souk Complex, UAE
- L'Ussailly, UAE
- Oukaimeden, Morocco
- Saphira, Morocco
- Tinja, Morocco
- Diamond Bar Island City,Pakistan
- Mixed Use Developent - Karachi, Pakistan
- Master Planned Communities - Islamabad, Pakistan
- Al Khobbar Lakes, Saudi Arabia
- Eighth Gate Project, Syria
- Amelkis II, Morocco
- Amelkis IIl, Morocco
- Bahia Bay, Morocco
- Hyderabad Convention Center, India
- 29 Burj Dubai Boulevard, UAE
- Al Sahab, UAE
- Armani Residences, UAE
- Bawadi Mixed Use Development, UAE
- Canyon Views, Pakistan
- Centro Towers, UAE
- Crescent Bay, Pakistan
- Downtown Burj Dubai, UAE
- Dubai Marina Towers, UAE
- Emaar Golf Homes, UAE
- Esplanade at Chennai, India
- Ghadeer Townhouses, UAE
- Healthcare City, Algeria
- King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia
- Majara, UAE
- Marina Al Qussor, Tunisia
- Marina Plaza, UAE
- Marina Promenade, UAE
- New Bali, Indonesia
- New City of Sidi Abdullah, Algeria
- Novotel Hyderabad, India
- Palm Drive at Gurgaon, India
- The Highlands, Pakistan
- The Lakeside, Turkey
- The Loft Towers, UAE
- The Old Town Island, UAE
- The Palm Springs at Gurgoan, India
- The Views at Mohali, India
- Tuscan Valley Houses, Turkey
- Zowara Abu Kemash Project, Libya

Emaar owns either all or part of the above list of developments. It is estimated that their total investment in these developments is $136.5Billion!

Amazing! All this accomplished in only 10 years! Without a doubt Emaar is the largest and greatest real estate developer in world history.

The Main Headquarters of Emaar is located at:

Emaar Business Park, Building 3
Dubai, UAE
tel: +971 4 367 3333
fax: +971 4 367 3000
website: http://emaar.com

Now you have a much better understanding of Emaar and the massive scope of the Number One Mega Developer in the world!

The Mega Developers: Emaar (part 1)

In addition to covering the Mega Projects of the UAE/Gulf Region I am also going to cover the companies that develop these incredible projects: The Mega Developers. Number one in this group is Emaar of Dubai. They are the largest real estate developers in the world. Emaar is so big that rather than thinking of it as a company you can think of it as a COUNTRY! Emaar is GIGANTIC! To give you some idea of just how large Emaar really is I will give you this list of Emaar's Organization Structure:

- Emaar Dubai, UAE
- Emaar Education, UAE
- Emaar Healthcare Group, UAE
- Emaar Hospitality Group, UAE
- Emaar Hotels and Resorts, UAE
- Emaar International, UAE
- Emaar International Jordan
- Emaar Malls Group, UAE
- Emaar Misr for Development Company, Egypt
- Emaar Morocco Offshore
- Emaar Syria
- Hamptons International Holding, UK
- WL Homes, USA
- RSH Limited, Singapore
- Emaar Algeria
- Emaar Libya
- Emaar Tunisa
- Emaar Turkey
- Emaar APIC India
- Al Shamiyah Real Estate Development Company, Saudi Arabia
- Emaar Pakistan
- Emaar Lebanon
- Emaar Middle East
- Emaar GIGA Karachi Pakistan
- Emaar IGO Syria
- Emaar Properties, Canada
- Emaar Properties Gayrimenkul Gelistirme, Turkey
- Prestige Resorts Morocco
- Turner International Middle East, UAE
- Amlak Finance, UAE
- Emaar DHA Islamabad, Pakistan
- Emaar MGF Land, India
- Emaar Industries and Investments, UAE
- Emaar Financial Services, UAE
- Emrill Services, UAE
- Emaar the Economic City, Saudi Arabia
- Dubai Bank, UAE
- Dubai Banking Group, UAE
- Azem Properties, Azerbaidjan
- Budget Hotels, India
- Dubai Real Estate Institute, UAE
- Emaar Indonesia
- Emaar Palestine, Palestinian Territories
- Emaar Property Management Academy, UAE
- Emaar Saudi Arabia
- Emaar Utilities, UAE
- Leighton Construction, India

Emaar owns either all of part of the above! You really have to respect a company that has grown this big - and they have only been around since 1997! Impressive to say the least. Emaar is run by Mohammed Ali Abbar, Chairman and Vinod Kumar Gomber, CEO.

In my next post I will give you the list of every Mega Project Emaar is developing throughout the world.

Burj Al Alam - The World Tower, Dubai

Burj Al Alam Tower once completed will be another Dubai record breaker. The Al Alam, at 108 storeys and with an estimated cost of $1.1Billion, will be the tallest commercial building in the world! The tower is strategically designed to accentuate the view of Business Bay Creek on the South side and the Burj Dubai super-high rise tower on the North. Being developed by Fortune Group and financed by Amlak Finance, it will be the crowning glory of Dubai's Business Bay development.

Burj Al Alam is designed to resemble a dazzling crystal flower. From its 108 floors, 74 will be dedicated to offices and 27 storeys will be taken up by a 5-Star Hotel - the world's highest hotel - with 200 suites, and a group of 104 serviced apartments. The top of the tower will have a 6 storey crown made to look like the opening of a flower's petals. This crown will contain a sky garden, observation deck, roof top spa and exclusive club. Also located in the Al Alam will be a shopping mall featuring luxury designer brands and a variety of upscale restaurants. The entire project should be completed sometime in 2009.

The CEO of Amlak Finance had this to say about the project:

"Amlak is delighted to have partnered with Fortune Group to provide finance for this mammoth commercial project. The uniqueness of Burj Al Alam consists not just in its height, but also in its aesthetic totality. Together with Fortune Group’s global expertise and Amlak’s track record with real estate financing in the UAE, customers will be able to avail the best in realty investment.”

From the developers:

'Guests will marvel at the array of pleasures that make this prestigious landmark a one-of-a-kind destination. A place singularly designed for comfort and enjoyment, brightened by a spirit of easy elegance. Burj Al Alam is distinguished by its lavish decor and breathtaking surroundings - plus the caring, exceptional service of our handpicked staff. At every turn, Burj Al Alam magically combines the elements of nature, landscaping, architecture and fine art into a striking masterpiece.'

...and about the roof top spa:

'Experience pure joy and elaborate pampering at our exclusive roof top spa. It is here where your highest expectations will be met. At this luxurious oasis, personalized spa programs, services and treatments will combine to offer an array of well-being pursuits. Soothing massage therapies, skin and body treatments drawn from Eastern principles, expert hair and nail services, and signature treatments utilizing plants and minerals will characterize the range and variety of treatments and services offered at the Spa. And your body, mind and spirit will love you for it!'

Wow! Time to reserve my office space! Burj Al Alam is truly an amazing commercial tower! If you had your office here you would never wan't to go home! This Mega Project is another great step being taken by Dubai to become one of the major business locations of the world...and that is exactly what Dubai, and the entire UAE, is becoming!

Here is an excellent YouTube video of Burj Al Alam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6r_3Cgl-9E

This link takes you to the Burj Al Alam website:

http://www.burjalalam.com/home.asp

UAQ Marina, Umm Al Quwain

UAQ Marina is the second of two major Mega Projects being developed in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain (UAQ). Al Salam City, which I have already covered, is the other Mega Project going up in UAQ. Emaar has teamed up with the Government of UAQ to develop this project which should reach completion in about 4 years at an estimated cost of $3.3Billion. UAQ Marina is located in a coastal setting on the shore of Khor Al Beidah Lagoon and covers over 1,500 acres. This project, along with others, is designed to facilitate the transformation of UAQ into a premier Gulf destination.

According to Sheikh Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Mualla, UAQ Deputy Ruler:

"Umm Al Quwain has great potential to be a major player in the real estate market. It is with the support of developers like Emaar that the Emirate can take advantage of its natural attributes and create world class destinations like Umm Al Quwain Marina."

Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar, had this to say:

"There is huge potential in the UAE, much of which remains untapped. Dubai, inspired by HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has shown how much can be achieved. Umm Al Quwain, an unspoiled haven of natural beauty, offers immense possibilities and Emaar is poised to augment this, courtesy of the vision and commitment of the rulers of the Emirate. Our aim is to create a community of special neighbourhoods bordering an open stretch of water with views of the marina against a backdrop of the Arabian Gulf. The shoreline has been shaped to maximize the opportunity for waterfront development and recreation."

UAQ Marina will be divided into 5 districts:

- Townhomes. High quality gated residences located near the Marina and Town Center. Gardens, playgrounds, parks and other recreational facilities will all be included.

- Exclusive Island. The name says it all. This will be the most luxurious neighborhood in UAQ Marina creating a "dream lifestyle which may be aspired to by many, but will be lived only by a select few," according to Emaar. This community will be separated from all others by a private bridge, adding to its overall exclusivity. Sounds great to me!

- Villas. A wide variety of Mediterranean style villas with beautiful waterfront locations. Most will have easy access to the Town Center and Marina.

- Marina and Town Center. This is the center of the entire project. Here you will find both a spectacular crescent shaped Marina with a capacity of 600 berths, and the Town Center which will contain boutique hotels, shops, restaurants, cinemas, a yacht club and much more!

- Community Facilities. These will include: schools, clinics, fitness clubs, swimming pools, parks, walkways and just about everything else you could imagine to make life good!

I think UAQ Marina will be a great addition to UAQ and the entire Gulf Region. It is another master planned community from Emaar designed to transform the UAE into one of the most desired locations in the world.

Here is a link to the UAQ Marina website:

http://www.ummalquwainmarina.ae/en/

This link takes you to the UAQ Marina section of the Emaar website:

http://www.emaar.com/Developments/UAQ_Marina/

Bawadi: Largest Entertainment Development In The World, Dubai

Take the Las Vegas Strip, bring it about 300 years in the future...and then put it on steroids and you have Bawadi, a Super Mega Project which, according to the developer Tatweer - a member of Dubai Holding - will be the largest hospitality and leisure development IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! As usual, another Biggest In The World Mega Project for Dubai!

Bawadi is being developed as part of Dubai's overall plan to increase tourism to over 15 million by 2010. According to Saeed Al Muntafiq of Tatweer:

"The launch of this project effectively signals the next major phase in tourism development in Dubai as we look forward to the next eight years of major growth. Strategically this development represents a significant platform in the development of tourism in the Emirate, in terms of growing capacity, and will confirm Dubai as one of the world's premier destinations."

Bawadi will cost over $30Billion and will offer:

- HOTELS. A total of 51 hotels with a combined room capacity of over 60,000! All the great hotel brands of the world will come to Bawadi, which will have the highest concentration of hotels anywhere in the world. The hotels at Bawadi will be in a number of catagories including: hotel resorts, themed hotels, boutique hotels, shopping mall hotels, regular un-themed hotels and Bawadi hotels. All of these hotels will effectively double Dubai's hotel room capacity.

Some examples of themed hotels being developed by Tatweer at Bawadi include: the Desert Gate Hotels & Resorts, the Wahat Alkuttab Hotels, the Desert Beach Hotel & Resort, the Land of Arabia Hotels & Resorts, the Wild Wild West Hotels, the Africa World Hotels, the Europa Hotels & Resorts and the Pirate's Cove Hotels & Resorts.

- ENTERTAINMENT. There will be a huge variety of entertainment offerings at Bawadi, probably the single largest source of entertainment in the world! Las Vegas Style shows, concert halls, cinema from all over the world, outdoor sports facilities, museums, night clubs...just about anything you can imagine, and then some, will be here!

- CONVENTION CENTERS. Bawadi will be the region's largest convention center destination offering: hotel based convention centers, stand alone convention centers, exhibit halls, and many, many meeting areas and banquet rooms. Bawadi will be able to handle any convention of any size in the world!

- RETAIL. As you might imagine the spectrum of retail offerings available at Bawadi will be second to none! There will be a total of 40 million sq ft of retail space at Bawadi!! Retail will be broken down as follows: themed malls, mega malls, hotel shops, outdoor shops, boutique malls, underground malls, high end luxury malls - and much more. I think this will be the largest concentration of retail stores found anywhere on the planet.

Bawadi will make the Las Vegas Strip look like a cheap strip mall by comparison! Dubai never ceases to amaze me! One fabulous Mega Project after another!

Here are two good YouTube videos of Bawadi. Be prepared to be amazed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzVEygXp_aA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xardEfi2ws&feature=related

This link takes you to the Bawadi website:

http://www.bawadi.ae/index.htm

This link takes you to Tatweer, developers of Bawadi:

http://www.tatweerdubai.com/

Bahrain Bay

I am a big fan of Bahrain. The Mega Projects being developed there are truly outstanding. What really strikes me is the architecture. It all looks like something from a time 200 years in the future! One of the best examples of this is the spectacular Bahrain Bay. A massive mixed use residential, business and commercial man made island Mega Project located just off of Manama, capital of Bahrain. Bahrain Bay will be linked to Manama by two bridges allowing for problem free transportation.

Bahrain Bay is being developed by Arcapita Bank and a group of Bahrain investors. A completely new Four Seasons Hotel will be the centerpiece of the development, and once finished will be the tallest building in Bahrain. The plans include 220 rooms, conference facilities and a private beach, all designed with the high standards of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The Arcapita headquarters will be another landmark of Bahrain Bay, whose innovative design will provide over 18,000m2 of office space for the growing number of international businesses opening up in Bahrain.

Here is a quote about the project from Mr. Atif Abdulmalik, CEO of Arcapita:

"There are many aspects that make Bahrain Bay a particularly attractive opportunity. The demographic changes within Bahrain, its proximity to the rapidly growing Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the location within Manama's prime northern corridor make this a compelling project. Added to these, the early commitment of the highly regarded Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the innovative architectural design and the experience and track record of each of the companies involved in the development are among the many other components that make this a unique proposition."

Bahrain Bay will be divided into 10 seperate zones each having unique aspects. For example:

- Zone 1 will comprise mostly marina residences with private boat accommodations that will have direct marina access,

- Zone 5 will be a mixed use zone, the centerpiece being two office towers,

- Zone 7 will be home to the North Tower, an office tower surrounded by parks and including retail shops and restaurants,

- Zone 8 will contain the ultra luxurious Raffles City Bahrain, featuring the finest apartments and penthouses, high end retail shops and some of the finest restaurants anywhere in the Gulf,

- Zone 9 will be the new World Headquarters of Arcapita,

- Zone 10 will be the Four Seasons Hotel, Bahrain. As I noted earlier, this hotel will in fact be the centerpiece of the entire Bahrain Bay development.

Bahrain Bay is truly spectacular! It is a Mega Project designed and planned to be an integral part of the ever growing Kingdom of Bahrain!

Here is a YouTube video of Bahrain Bay:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnCJPYkL60I

This is a link to the Bahrain Bay website:

http://www.bahrainbay.com/index.html

...and here is the Arcapita website:

http://www.arcapita.com/

Ajman Marina

I continue to be very impressed with the Mega Projects being developed in Ajman. This Emirate is really starting to shine! As I noted in my earlier post about PKN Princess Resort, Ajman is in the midst of a real estate BOOM. Investors are plowing billions and billions of dollars into Ajman real estate projects, and for good reason...this Emirate has ENORMOUS potential! I feel that Ajman is very attractive for those wishing to invest in the Emirates. You can still get some great real estate deals, if you know what you are doing, that will appreciate greatly over the next 5 years and beyond.

One of the most important Ajman Mega Projects, and one of my favorites, is the Ajman Marina. The Saudi firm Tanmiyat is developing the Ajman Marina and it has been designed by HOK Planning Group. Total cost for the project is $3Billion with completion expected in 5 years. The plans I have seen of Ajman Marina look great!

According to Tanmiyat, Ajman Marina will contain:

- High and low rise Residential Towers,

- High and low rise Commercial Towers,

- District cooling plant,

- Educational areas,

- Civic areas, roads and infrastructure,

- Grand Mall and other retail areas,

- Iconic luxury hotel and furnished apartments,

- Boulevard: Food and beverage venues (high-end themed cafés and restaurants); Surrounds the Marina area, accommodates more than 40 food and beverage outlets and more than 40,000 sqm of retail areas,

- A huge Green Park to make the marina a fully complete city including amenities for all family members. The green area will give marina residents a place to breathe and spend quality time with their children,

- The Yacht Club: A Marina platform that includes docking spaces and boat servicing facilities. Offers more than 300 berths to cater sports activities in the marina and provides a chance for companies to offer recreational activities and marine services in addition to a variety of water sports.

Here are some of the competitive advantages Tanmiyat sees for Ajman Marina:

- Strategic one-of-a-kind location in Ajman Waterfront Marina,

- Investment opportunity to all nationalities - Free Hold Regulations,

- Business opportunity - Free Zone Regulations,

- Proximity to major cities in UAE and especially to Dubai,

- Tourism friendly regulations - Luxurious Hotel Tourism Events, hosts, hospitality and leisure prospects,

- Mixed Used Project.

Here is a quote from Ajman Marina General Manager, Azad Nouri:

"Elite investors and realty developers have shown a keen interest to invest in the Ajman Marina due to its wide mixture of attributes, such as the huge size of the project, the fact that it is multi-use, and the reputation of Tanmiyat. The Ajman Marina is expected to have a very positive impact on the real estate, commercial and tourism sectors of the Emirate. The project includes a yacht club and residential towers that boast a view of the marina and the shores, in addition to restaurants, entertainment facilities, a large shopping mall, hotels and offices."

Now do you see why I like Ajman Marina so much? It is fantastic! As I said earlier Ajman is TAKING OFF! Great potential exists in Ajman. Potential that is swiftly being realized!

This link will give you pictures and photos of Ajman Marina as well as more information:

http://ajmanproperty.com/index-ajman-marina.htm

Here is the link to Tanmiyat:

http://www.tanmiyat.com/home.html

Here are three great articles about the Ajman real estate boom:

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20071018135140

http://www.tradearabia.com/news/newsdetails.asp?Sn=CONS&artid=137083

http://www.tradearabia.com/news/newsdetails.asp?Sn=REAL&artid=137059

City Of Silk (Madinat Al Hareer), Kuwait

City Of Silk stands out as one of the most amazing Mega Projects I have ever seen...and I have seen them all! First of all, at a cost of over $86Billion, this is the second largest real estate development in the world-- second only to King Abdullah Economic City of Saubi Arabia, which I have already covered. City Of Silk will be located in Subiya, Kuwait and once completed will house 700,000! City Of Silk will also be home to the world's tallest tower, the Burj Mubarak Al Kabir, which will soar 1001m up and by itself be a complete "city in the sky." But this tower is only a "small" part of the City Of Silk! The City will be a multi purpose economic, residential and commercial development and, according to Atkins Global, one of the developers of the project:

"The plans for Madinat Al Hareer involve significant new infrastructure, including a new seaport and an international airport, to support an integrated urban masterplan in the form of a series of centers dedicated to business, sports, culture, environment, media, industry, education and health. Adherence to high environmental standards and the principles of sustainability are themes that will drive the design and the result will be a spectacular new multi-purpose city, linked to Kuwait City by the new Jaber Al Ahmed bridge across Kuwait Bay. Halfway across the bay, the bridge will alight on two islands that will contain exclusive private developments."

Madinat Al Hareer will include many resorts, an entire desert preserve, a total of 28 lifestyle communities and a free zone. The city will also feature a business city and an area for forums and exhibitions, centers dedicated to sports, culture, environment, media, industry, education and health. It will include tourism centers, hotels, resorts, public gardens and spacious residential areas.

Here are a few of the cities that will be part of City Of Silk:

- Leisure City. Many resorts, luxury hotels, villages, and retreats all located along the waterfront. A gigantic sports complex and sports academy with a sports medicine center will also be housed here.

- Film and Media City. Television and film production companies will be located here all geared to delivering a new Arab movie and television era.

- Industrial City. A new city of industry to service Kuwait and other parts of the Gulf.

- Finance City. This will be the business center for City Of Silk. It will be host to international trade, finance and commerce. Finance City will also be a catalyst for business investment in the Middle East from all around the world.

- Culture City. Split into three precincts, the culture city will be where academic, diplomatic, and policy studies will be concentrated and where scholarly research, archaeological pursuits, art and historical museums will be located.

- Silk Road Free Zone. A free trade zone for investment and business development. Located next to a new international airport, it will connect to an expanded rail, air and road network extending far into Central Asia.

WOW! And I didn't even list all the different cities! City Of Silk will also contain 28 different lifestyle zones, each offering a unique theme such as: sports, film, research, business, art, technology and so on. Remember, City Of Silk will house over 700,000 residents!

City Of Silk is truly one of the most magnificent Mega Project developments in world history. It will bring enormous success to Kuwait and the entire Gulf Region. City Of Silk is a true Masterpiece!!

See City Of Silk for yourself with this great video:

http://www.tvkuwait.tv/video/119329-city-of-silk--.html

Here is the City Of Silk Website link:

http://www.madinat-al-hareer.com/

Here are 5 pictures of City Of Silk:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/552151692LQkQJe