Tunis, Apr.15th, 2006 (WAM) -- Emaar Properties PJSC, the world's numberone property developer, today announced its plans to develop the AED 6.7billion (US$1.88 billion, TND 2.54 billion) Marina Al Qussor project onTunisia's eastern coastline. The 442 hectare Marina development is locatedwithin the county of Sousse towards the southern end of the Golfe de Hammametand will offer a mix of living options and tourist attractions with alarge Marina Village at its centre.

At a special ceremony in the capital Tunis, Emaar Chairman MohamedAli Alabbar presented the high profile project to the Tunisian PresidentZine El Abidine Ben Ali. The project will add a premier tourist destinationon the southern shores of the Mediterranean away from the hustle and bustleand yet be closely located to Tunisia's key cultural sites for touriststo explore.

Speaking at the event Mr Alabbar said: "We are honoured to showcase MarinaAl Qussor to Tunisia's President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali today. Tunisiais a country rich in heritage and we look forward to the opportunity ofadding to its world class attractions with the development of Marina AlQussor. This project is a timely addition to Tunisia's thriving tourismindustry which has been attracting the world's attention." "Yesterday's presentation sees us looking at other parts of North Africafor the development of our master planned communities and lifestyle optionsthat have become synonymous with Emaar. With its thriving tourism industry,Tunisia is a significant market for Emaar to roll out such communitiesthat offer everything from a thriving resort atmosphere to a quiet retreat,"said Mr Alabbar.

Emaar's Marina Al Qusoor development is in line with Tunisia's tourismpolicy which is currently focused on residence tourism which enables highend tourists to buy homes in areas with beautiful landscape for longerstays. The country attracted 6.4 million tourists in 2005 and is aimingfor tourism revenue of close to US$2 billion in 2006.

The various components of Marina Al Qussor range from over 4,000 residentialunits with villas, townhouses and apartments located on the lakeside,beach, marina and quayside, six hotels ranging from luxury boutique tofour star located on the beach and marina, leisure facilities with themarina, yacht club, beach clubs, spa resort, sports club, 18-hole golfcourse, clubhouse, driving range, and retail space located on the marinaand quayside.

The development offers a series of ever changing environments rangingfrom natural lakes to golf landscapes and olive groves to the existingEl Medfoun forest and sandy beaches. In contrast to these natural landscapes,the central marina village area will offer the ideal backdrop to the hustleand bustle of the resort centre. The village will become the heart ofthe resort with shops, restaurants and apartments surrounding the 400berth marina that will support boats of all sizes including large privateboats that cruise the Mediterranean.

The architectural character of the development is based on numerous distinctivetraditional Tunisian elements from building techniques to styles and materials.

Low rise buildings add to the charm of the site allowing uninhibited viewsacross the development.

Emaar's innovative offering of self-contained, amenities-rich communitieshave created lifestyle options that have been the first choice for manyinvestors. The integration of schools, health facilities, parks, landscapedenvirons and retail centres within master-planned golf, equestrian andmarina themed communities has proven to a big attraction for the homebuyer.

With joint ventures and projects covering Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,Syria, Egypt, India, Pakistan and now Tunisia, Emaar is taking its winningformula first conceived in its home base Dubai to the rest of the world.