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Enter the Dragon
Details of a $100 million (BD37 million) ‘China town’ retail shopping mall were unveiled this week.
Dragon City, which boasts Chinese-style architecture and buildings, is being developed by Diyar Al Muharraq and will be operated by the China Middle East Investment and Trade Promotion Centre FZCO, Chinamex.
Abdulhakeem Alkhayyat, chairman of Diyar Al Muharraq, said the agreement was ‘the crowning moment’ following high-level discussions and a detailed exchange of views and ideas between the company and a senior delegation of Chinese investors, led by Hao Feng, chairman of Chinamex.
“This partnership with Chinamex, representing the best of Chinese enterprise, is built on principles of community, best practices and excellence,” said Mr Alkhayyat. “We look forward to working together to serve and support the achievement of our mutual goal of promoting the business culture of our respective countries, and supporting an exchange of services and opportunities.”
While contractors have yet to be announced, the construction of the project is expected to begin in September 2014 across a property of 102,000sq/m on the south-west area of Diyar Al Muharraq’s master plan, of the coast of Muharraq.
It will feature a total leasable area of approximately 32,000sq/m and a built-up area of approximately 46,000sq/m.
This area will be beautifully landscaped with ample greenery and water features, the developers say, and will include amenities such as car parks and other services providing a ‘complete and holistic experience’ for visitors.
The Dragon City, which will include residential units, will act as large-scale trade platform targeting Chinese enterprises and businessmen who seek to sell their products and services in Bahrain, local citizens and international visitors.
The project will add an international flavour to the project with coffee shops, restaurants, commercial enterprises and retail therapy keeping in tune with an Asian theme.
Mr Feng expressed his happiness on the signing of the agreement. He said: “Chinamex is already well established in the region and has long experience and outstanding capabilities in the promotion, management and operation of similar projects especially seen in ventures such as the Dragon Mart in Dubai and globally with the Chinese City in Mexico.”
Dragon City will be amongst the first projects to be part of Diyar Al Muharraq’s 12 man-made islands. Chief executive officer Aaref Hejres said: “This is just one of the numerous investment projects that Diyar Al Muharraq will sign in the future and we are confident that investors and the nation will be pleased to see what is in store.
“It is a matter of satisfaction for us that the respected delegates representing the great economic powerhouse, China, have given their vote of confidence in our growth potential, our commitment to best practices and stringent standards.
“Bahrain has enjoyed a reputation as a trading and financial hub for the region for centuries and we are pleased that this initiative will further enrich our business friendly and multi-cultural society.”
Travel expo participation pays off for top airline
Bahrain Air believes its appearance as the sole airline to participate from Bahrain at the recent Arabian Travel Market in Dubai has paid off handsomely.
Its pavilion, with its in-flight crew clad in red striking uniforms ushering visitors from the travel and aviation trade to meet respective managers was ‘vibrant’, an airline spokesman said, with a healthy pitching of business propositions.
A Bahrain TV crew was also present at the Bahrain Air pavilion exhibiting the TV series Musafer, of which Bahrain Air is a co- sponsor.
Bahrain Air’s marketing manager Naeem Mahamoor said: “The Arabian Travel Market this year has given us tremendous exposure. Being the only airline representing the Kingdom of Bahrain our prime focus was to highlight our business and economy class enhancements in product and services.
“Many of our senior managers are well-known personalities who have joined our team from reputed airlines from the region and beyond; they are well-known in the aviation industry and this makes a big difference in our networking.”
