Doha, 9 February 2010: NBK Automobiles, Qatar's exclusive AMG dealers, and Salam Bounian, the mastermind developers behind Doha West Bay's prestigious  project, "The Gate", today announced the upcoming launch of the Middle East's first AMG standalone showroom.

A press conference was held at the Mercedes-Benz premises seeing the attendance of Sheikh Nawaf Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, Chairman and CEO of NBK, and Mr. Issa Abu Issa, Chairman and CEO of Salam Bounian, who signed the leasing agreement allowing for AMG to showcase its mind-blowing automotive collection at one of the most exclusive boutiques at "The Gate".

Other officials included Mr. Paul Maryan, NBK Chief Operations Officer-Auto, Mr. Khaled Shaa'ban, GM of Mercedes-Benz Qatar and NBK Automobiles, Mr. Yasser Hamad, Salam Bounian's GM and Mr. Neville Koen, Salam Bounian's Head of Properties.

"The Gate" has become the heart beat of Doha's West Bay area owing to its unique location and first-class features.  "The Gate" is a mixed-use development offering a first-class range of retail shopping, F&B, health and wellness in addition to a variety of other services. "The Gate" also provides smart commercial accommodations that are second to none, located at the top of its retail center.

Sheikh Nawaf Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani said: "Nasser Bin Khaled has been strategically aligned with global names since inception, bringing internationalism in standards and setting several benchmarks in Qatar and the region. We have an automotive track record that dates back to over five decades, boasting solid affinities with the brands we operate and our partners. Quality and luxury are core elements of our NBK lifestyle. AMG is an icon which necessitates the presence of top-of-the-line settings and this is exactly what "The Gate" and Salam Bounian are offering."

Mr. Issa Abu Issa said: "Salam Bounian is very pleased to host the prestigious AMG showroom at its signature project "The Gate" and is confident that this agreement will add tremendous value to "The Gate" and will further promote its premium and personalized services and offerings. The ME first standalone AMG showcase is exactly the type of tenants we have planned "The Gate" concept for and it will undoubtedly be another premium addition to our existing list of high-end tenants helping us establish a world-class community of elite brands."

"With such strategy, we are further building on our long-standing heritage of luxury retail and trading, encompassing this vision with the legendary Salam Stores that has become one of Qatar's most successful lifestyle destinations with a sizable loyal customer base that we have a commitment towards and we are fulfilling this commitment by creating "The Gate". The signing of this agreement between NBK and Salam further solidifies the strong business relationship that both groups have enjoyed over the years." added Abu Issa.

Spanning an area of 387 square meters, the AMG showroom is designed to perfectly portray the AMG brand which combines modernity, cutting-edge technology and raw performance. The showroom will have prime double-void 10-meter high premises at the northern corner of the boulevard walkway of "The Gate" marking the start of the upscale street that is planned to open towards the end of 2010.

In 2007, NBK acquired 25% of Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed HWA AG, the motor sport specialist. HWA AG was founded in 1999 as a spin-off from AMG. Investing in HWA helped further boost NBK's ties to the iconic brand adding edge to the holding's automotive portfolio.

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About AMG
Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz car company specializing in high-performance luxury cars.

AMG models are typically the most expensive and highest-performance of each Mercedes series. AMG models have more aggressive looks, higher performances, better handling and better stability than their regular Mercedes counterparts.

AMG was founded as a racing engine forge in 1967 under the name AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (AMG Engine Production and Development, Ltd.), by former Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in Burgstall an der Murr, near Stuttgart. The letters "AMG" stand for Aufrecht, Melcher and Großaspach, Aufrecht's birthplace (but at no time an AMG location).

In 1990, with AMG having become a high-profile purveyor of modified Mercedes cars, Daimler-Benz AG and AMG signed a contract of cooperation, allowing AMG to leverage Daimler-Benz's extensive dealer network and leading to commonly developed vehicles (the first one being the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG, in 1993). On 1 January 1999 DaimlerChrysler, as it was called between 1998 and 2007, acquired 51 percent of AMG shares, and AMG was renamed to Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Racing engine development was divested and continues to exist in Burgstall under the name HWA (Aufrecht's initials). On 1 January 2005 Aufrecht sold his remaining shares to DaimlerChrysler, and since then it has been a wholly-owned subsidiary.

About NBK Automobiles 
Established in 1957 by the late Sheikh Nasser Bin Khaled Al-Thani, Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles is Qatar's exclusive distributor of three of the world's most respected, iconic brands: May Bach, Mercedes-Benz and Harley Davidson.

Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles has built its success by establishing solid, longstanding relationships with its customers, and through offering a wide range of products. As a brand name, Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles is deeply associated with a history of premium quality service and market leadership. The company promises to not only meet customer expectations, but to exceed them.

Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles' future business growth is based on continuing to foster customer loyalty and trust-two highly significant and extremely valuable competitive advantages

About the Gate
The Gate is a unique development that is becoming the heartbeat of West Bay. Unlike any other project in the surrounding commercial hub, it is THE GATE to the business, commercial and entertainment zone of West Bay, Doha owing to its astonishing architecture. The Gate, during the course of its construction, has also been recognized regionally by different awards for its architectural uniqueness, environmental consciousness and social responsibility awareness. The Gate destination is meant to be alive and vibrant; interacting proactively with the society's needs and demands in all aspects rather than only the commercial side of it. 

The Gate consists of a mall with two levels of luxurious and elegant retail brands, one level of food and beverage areas and one level of health and wellness services, and offers three car park basements. Rising above the shopping center are three unique 13 floor smart technology office towers, crowned with a connecting bridge that links two towers, creating the executive offices that are distinguished by their 6 meter floor to slab height forming the Gate structure.

About Salam Bounian Development Co.
Salam Bounian is a private shareholding company incorporated in July 2006 as a real estate investment and development company with a capital amounting to QR. 550 million. The major shareholders are Salam International from Qatar, Massaleh and Wafra from Kuwait and Amwal Invest from Jordan; however the majority are Qatari businessmen. The company develops commercial, residential, industrial and tourist developments.

For more information, please contact:
Hala Kassab
Asda'a Burson-Marsteller, Doha
T: +974 4351 113
F: +974 4351 511
Email: h.kassab@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2010