Dh11 billion Al Habtoor City unveiled in Dubai

Dubai: Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, yesterday officially unveiled Al Habtoor City - the world's biggest residential and hospitality development under construction. The world-class Al Habtoor City will help Dubai compete with destinations such as New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong The event was held at the Al Habtoor City construction site, where the iconic Metropolitan Hotel once stood. The Al Habtoor Group Chairman said Al Habtoor City will be a new landmark for Dubai. "Today I stand here to make this announcement due to the vision, leadership and support of the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The encouragement of Sheikh Mohammed, his hard work and leadership inspire and give me the fuel to announce this project." He also thanked the other government entities for their cooperation, "Al Habtoor City is a dream which became a reality due to the cooperation of different government departments. The UAE continues to grow because of our leader and citizens jointly working together. Today, I am here to renew my vote of confidence in Dubai and its economy and to celebrate our success. But it is not just a success for the Al Habtoor Group, but the success of my country. Each and every one of us plays a vital role in the UAE's success," Al Habtoor said. The Al Habtoor Group Chairman added, "Al Habtoor City will incorporate more than 3,000 hotel and residential units on one plot - the plot where we stand today... I want to say that our project will prove that Dubai is the only place in the world to invest. 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." "Al Habtoor City is a very unique project," said Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group. "The 10 million square foot development, erected on approximately a one million square foot plot, will feature three world-class hotel brands from Starwood - including the first-ever 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." It was attended by many dignitaries from the UAE and around the world, including Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Robert Waller, U.S. Consulate General in Dubai, Edward Hobart, Her Majesty's Consul General to Dubai; Eric Giraud-Telme, French Consul General in Dubai; Klaus Ranner, Consul General in Dubai at Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany; Ralf Schroeer, Deputy Chief of Mission - Charge d'Affairs at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Abu Dhabi; Zoltan Jansci, Hungarian Ambassador to the UAE; Roman Golovchenko, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the UAE and Igor Bondarev, Counsellor, political, security and military affairs at Belarus Embassy in the UAE. The high-profile guests also included His Excellency Imad Adnan Al Madani, Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Dubai and His Excellency Tarek Khaled Al Hamad, Consul General of Kuwait in Dubai. – Emirates New Agency, WAM