Al Habtoor City, claimed to be the world’s biggest residential and hospitality development under construction, was unveiled at a ceremony in Dubai.
“Al-Habtoor City will incorporate more than 3,000 hotel and residential units on one plot,” Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor, chairman of the Al-Habtoor Group, said during the unveiling ceremony.
“I want to say that our project will prove that Dubai is the only place in the world to invest,” said Al-Habtoor.
“Al-Habtoor City is truly a breathtaking project. It will help boost the economy, provide thousands of jobs and will set a benchmark for future projects of its kind,” said Al-Habtoor.
The event was held at the Al-Habtoor City construction site, where the iconic Metropolitan Hotel once stood.
It was attended by many dignitaries from the UAE and around the world, including Sheikh Nayahan bin Mubarak Al-Nayahan, minister of culture, youth and community development; Robert Waller,US consular general in Dubai; Eric Giraud-Telme, French consul general in Dubai; Klaus Ranner, consul general in Dubai at Foreign Office of Germany; Ralf Schroeer, deputy chief of mission-charge d’affaires at the Embassy of Germany in Abu Dhabi; Zoltan Jansci, Hungarian ambassador to the UAE; Roman Golovchenko, ambassador of Belarus to the UAE; and Igor Bondarev, counselor for political, security and military affairs at Belarus Embassy in the UAE.
The guests also included Imad Adnan Al-Madani, consul general of Saudi Arabia to Dubai, and Tarek Khaled Al-Hamad, consul general of Kuwait in Dubai.
Al-Habtoor said Al-Habtoor City would be a new landmark for Dubai.
“Today I stand here to make this announcement due to the vision, leadership and support of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. The encouragement of Sheikh Mohammed, his hard work and leadership inspire me and give me the fuel to announce this project.”
He said: “Al-Habtoor City is a dream which became a reality due to the cooperation of different government departments.”
Al Habtoor said said: “The UAE continues to grow because of our leader and citizens jointly working together.”
On average, 20,000 visitors are expected to visit Al-Habtoor City every day, up to 7.3 million visitors a year.
The world-class city will help Dubai compete with destinations such as New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong.
Located in a prime location, overlooking the Burj Khalifa in the Business Bay area and near the Dubai International Financial Center, the cutting-edge development will be unique to the UAE offering top-rated hotels, which will add more than 1,600 rooms to the city.
In addition there will also be a spectacular water-themed theater for a permanent production by Franco Dragone, world-famous theatrical director.
Al-Habtoor City has the added benefit of being on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal — soon to be the newest tourist location.
“The Al-Habtoor Group is pleased to announced the latest addition to this stunning mega project — three residential towers for exclusive and contemporary living, taking the total investment in the entire project to AED11 billion ($3 billion).
Al-Habtoor City is a very unique project,” said Al-Habtoor.
“The 10 million square foot development on approximately a million square foot plot will feature three world-class hotel brands from Starwood, including the first St. Regis in Dubai. Plus, it will have the added attraction of spectacular entertainment.
It will combine ultra-luxury hotel living with 5-star residential ambiance.”
The group has commissioned leading British architects WS Atkins for the development of the residential blocks.
It has also appointed Knight Frank to provide retail consultancy expertise for the podium under the residential towers, and Asteco Real Estate Services will manage and lease the towers and retail outlets.
Al-Habtoor City to host 3,000 hotel and residential units
Al-Habtoor City to host 3,000 hotel and residential units
Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector is a new economic engine between Riyadh and Paris, says ambassador
RIYADH: Culture has become a fundamental pillar in bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia, according to the French Ambassador to the Kingdom, Patrick Maisonnave.
Maisonnave noted its connection to the entertainment and tourism sectors, which makes it a new engine for economic cooperation between Riyadh and Paris.
He told Al-Eqtisadiah during the opening ceremony of La Fabrique in the Jax district of Diriyah that cultural cooperation with Saudi Arabia is an important element for its attractiveness in the coming decades.
La Fabrique is a space dedicated to artistic creativity and cultural exchange, launched as part of a partnership between the Riyadh Art program and the French Institute in Riyadh.
Running from Jan. 22 until Feb 14, the initiative will provide an open workspace that allows artists to develop and work on their ideas within a collaborative framework.
Launching La Fabrique as a space dedicated to artistic creativity
The ambassador highlighted that the transformation journey in the Kingdom under Vision 2030 has contributed to the emergence of a new generation of young artists and creators, alongside a growing desire in Saudi society to connect with culture and to embrace what is happening globally.
He affirmed that the relationship between the two countries is “profound, even cultural par excellence,” with interest from the Saudi side in French culture, matched by increasing interest from the French public and cultural institutions unfolding in the Kingdom.
Latest estimates indicate that the culture-based economy represents about 2.3 percent of France’s gross domestic product, equivalent to more than 90 billion euros ($106.4 billion) in annual revenues, according to government data. The sector directly employs more than 600,000 people, making it one of the largest job-creating sectors in the fields of creativity, publishing, cinema, and visual arts.
Saudi Arabia benefiting from French experience in the cultural field
Maisonnave explained that France possesses established cultural institutions, while Saudi Arabia is building a strong cultural sector, which opens the door for cooperation opportunities.
This comes as an extension of the signing of 10 major cultural agreements a year ago between French and Saudi institutions, aiming to enhance cooperation and transfer French expertise and knowledge to contribute to the development of the cultural system in the Kingdom.
He added that experiences like La Fabrique provide an opportunity to meet the new generation of Saudi creators, who have expressed interest in connecting with French institutions and artists in Paris and France.
La Fabrique encompasses a space for multiple contemporary artistic practices, including performance arts, digital and interactive arts, photography, music, and cinema, while providing the public with an opportunity to witness the stages of producing artistic works and interact with the creative process.
