Al-Othman: The project contributes in transforming Kuwait into a regional economic and financial center

Kuwait City, April 27, 2008:  Al-Hamra Real Estate Company, which is constructing the Al-Hamra masterpiece, has announced the official inauguration of its Customer Relations Center (CRC), which will provide various leasing and sales support services, in addition to a media information center for future tenants.

On this occasion, Vice Chairman of Al Hamra Real Estate Company Khalid Al-Othman said announced during a press conference the inauguration of the CRC that the construction of Al Hamra is part of the efforts exerted to achieve the vision of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in transforming Kuwait into a regional economic, financial and commercial center.

"Through the construction of this rare masterpiece, our aim is for Kuwait to regain its glory as a leading nation in the region.  This project will be a landmark and will create an identity for Kuwait that is different from neighboring countries in the region," said Al-Othman.

He further said explained that the project has achieved its goals, even before its conclusion, by winning the first prize in the MIPIM real estate contest for 2008, which was held last month.  He pointed out that the MIPIM is the largest exhibition specialized in the development of real estate, adding that Al Hamra won the prize as the best design for a skyscraper.  He also noted that the British Architectural Review also granted the Al Hamra project an award for the best real estate project.

Al-Othman asserted that the slogan 'Building for Kuwait', adopted by the Al Hamra Company, aims at achieving another slogan, which is 'Kuwait's capital should be invested locally' and that can only be achieved through maintaining the company's capital internally, instead of seeking overseas investment opportunities.  He elaborated that recent statistics highlighted the fact that 50 to 60 percent of investments in neighboring countries belong to Kuwaiti companies or individuals.

"I have no personal benefit to gain from this project, but my aim is to market Kuwait internationally and we will exert our best efforts to place Kuwait at the forefront of other nations and for people to remember Al Hamra as the most beautiful skyscraper in the world -continuously associating the Al Hamra Tower with Kuwait," said Al-Othman.

Meanwhile, Hamed Al Suhail, Marketing Manager at Al Jal Real Estate Services Company, commented that the Al Hamra project is the first step towards attaining Kuwait's future and in becoming a modern and advanced country, stressing that the project is being constructed by international standards.

"The Al Hamra Tower is the first sculptured and highest commercial skyscraper in the world, rising to a height of 412 meters.  It will also include the largest commercial tower in the Middle East, with a total space over 100,000 square meters," said Al-Suhail.

He also pointed out that the Al Hamra project consists of the Al Hamra Tower, which is an architectural revolution in the design and construction of modern skyscrapers that encompasses office space on 77 floors.  He added that the second part consists of the Al Hamra luxury shopping Mall, which will house the world's leading high-end fashion brands, as well as gourmet cafes and restaurants, a health club and spa, and nine -screen multiplex cinemas.

"The third section of the project is a multi-storey car park facility, which consists of nine stories and two basements with the space for approximately 2000 cars," said Al-Suhail.

Project Manager and Turner Construction International representative Sammer Bushacra said that the Al Hamra project is one of the most challenging real estate projects anywhere in the world, due to its unique architectural design and its height.

"Turner International, a leader in the construction and management of high-rise towers, manages the project along with the entire team to ensure effective planning and a successful outcome for the project," said Bushacra.

He added that based on the challenges facing the tower's construction, Al Hamra Real Estate Company hired one of the world's best consultants Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and over 30 renowned international consultants in all fields from around the globe, as well as the finest and most qualified contractors  to implement the project's distinctive designs.

Commenting on the project, Ellie Hani, the Deputy Administrative Manager at Al-Ahmadiya Trading and Contracting Company asserted that the Al Hamra Tower is a unique sculpture and is regarded as the most challenging architectural design and construction.

He added that the Al Hamra Tower is sculptured differently from other towers or skyscrapers, which are normally erected vertically.  He also noted that the Al Hamra walls are exceptionally tilted in a manner that is different than other buildings, an issue that adds additional difficulties and complications to the construction process.

"The façade of the Tower is exceptional as well; specified glass is white, which differs from the typical ones commonly used, and because of the Tower's rotation during construction, a GPS system with land around the property coupled with tilt meters is used for this positioning,," said Hani.

He pointed out that 195,000m³ of concrete, 6,000 tons of structural steel, 38,000 tons of reinforcing steel is used for the project and that the Tower's construction is proceeding as planned.  Hani concluded that smooth progress of this exceptional project is the best evidence of a model type of cooperation between Client, Architect and Contractor.

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© Press Release 2008