Abu Dhabi, 23 July 2006: Sorouh Real Estate today began construction work at the site of its flagship project, Shams Abu Dhabi, with a groundbreaking ceremony for its 83-storey, 379-meter high Sky Tower which will be the tallest building in Abu Dhabi.

Shams Abu Dhabi, Sorouh's prestigious launch project, is located on Reem Island, 300 meters across from the northeastern shore of Abu Dhabi city. Top executives of the company, who were on hand to brief Abu Dhabi and Dubai-based journalists at a media tour of the island site, described Shams Abu Dhabi as the face of the new and emerging Abu Dhabi.

The Sky Tower, the world's 15th tallest building according to current ranking, is part of The Gate District of Shams Abu Dhabi.  Apart from the Sky Tower, the Gate District will include seven breathtaking buildings that will offer a broad choice of commercial, residential and retail opportunities. 

H.E. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Amiri Flights, was the special guest at the ceremony, held at a specially erected tent on the Shams Abu Dhabi site.  On behalf of Sorouh's Chairman Saeed Al-Ghafli, Vice Chairman and Managing Director Faris Al Yabhouni addressed a gathering of Sheikhs, diplomats, investors, VIPs and the media.  Sorouh CEO Mounir Haidar briefed the media and made a presentation about the most important and attractive features of Shams Abu Dhabi.

Al-Ghafli's address, read out by Al-Yabhouni, noted the important role being played by the UAE's real estate sector in the national economy.  "It is well known that the vision and the wise policies adopted by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of UAE Armed Forces have played a crucial role in the current real estate boom," he said.

"Sorouh Real Estate has become a major player in the real estate industry by conceiving and launching sizeable and significant projects in Abu Dhabi, such as Shams Abu Dhabi, which is poised become a landmark development in UAE's real estate sector. The project comprises residential, commercial and retail amenities, hotels, gardens and parks, in addition to infrastructure facilities that are designed to offer maximum comfort and fulfillment for the residents.  As you know, our corporate promise is "Life in Perfect Balance", and Shams Abu Dhabi is designed to deliver this promise," Al-Ghafli added.

Al-Ghafli also thanked H.E. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan for patronizing the groundbreaking ceremony for Shams Abu Dhabi, which is a major milestone for the company.

During the tour of the island, Al Yabhouni described Shams Abu Dhabi as a unique project that will play a major role in positioning Abu Dhabi among the most modern cities of the world.  He said when completed, Shams Abu Dhabi, with its proximity to Abu Dhabi's mainland and its pleasing and imposing visual impact, will become the face of the capital city.

Al Yabhouni also added that the grandeur and scale of the Gate District at the entrance to Shams Abu Dhabi, combined with the beauty of the surrounding island environment, will make the city one of the most attractive for residents and visitors.   

Al Yabhouni noted that the project embodies Sorouh's vision of "building communities in perfect balance", offering residents a living and working environment that promotes an overall sense of well-being by providing for their physical, intellectual, spiritual and social needs.

Mounir Haidar, CEO of Sorouh, said that the Sky Tower, which is one of the eight buildings on the Gate District, will host 598 residential and commercial units.  Recreational facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts,and sports and fitness centers, restaurants, coffee shops as well as a shopping mall,with all essential outlets, will also be a part of the development. "The Sky Tower offers a unique combination of facilities that will enable it to support all the essential needs of its occupants on site. This distinguishes it from other major projects in the region," he said.

Occupants of the Sky Tower will also have the luxury of an excellent panoramic view of the Arabian Sea on the one side and Abu Dhabi city on the other. 

Haidar said Sorouh has appointed reputed and experienced international architecture consultants Architectonica & R.W. Armstrong as consultants for the Sky Tower.

Elaborating about the Sky Tower's special architectural features during a presentation, Haidar said the creative and unique building design will include energy-saving and other environmentally friendly features.  The project efficiently and aesthetically combines the beauty of the surrounding environment and the needs of residential and commercial occupants.  The commercial, residential and recreation facilities in the Sky Tower are designed in a contemporary style with a focus on luxury, he added.

The uppermost floors of the Sky Tower offer super-luxury duplex mansions with expansive vertical spaces.  Below these are levels of luxury residences with three and four bedrooms, followed by suites with one, two and three bedrooms. The lower floors will provide  commercial space and will provide the ultimate in A Class user-friendly working environments.

Sorouh Real Estate PJSC was established on 26th June 2005 with a capital of AED 2.5 billion with the objective of developing world-class properties in its home market of Abu Dhabi. It is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market.

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For information please contact: 
Wael Kanakri
ASDA'A Public Relations
Abu Dhabi,
UAE
Tel : (971 2)  6334133
Fax : (971 2) 6994233
Email :w.kanakri@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2006