New partnership will propel the growth and emergence of Umm Al Quwain as a commercial and tourist destination

Firdous Sobha will be a unique island destination development

UMM AL QUWAIN - UAE, 27th April 2016

The Government of Umm Al Quwain and Sobha Group, a leading luxury real estate developer, today announced the launch of "Firdous Sobha", an integrated world-class resort and residential island development in Umm Al Quwain.

Aimed at setting new heights in destination living, the agreement will see the two parties collaborate to develop an island on a total land area of 53 million sq.ft. The new development will leverage the growth and emergence of Umm Al Quwain as a commercial and tourist attraction with a luxurious villa community, hotels and resorts, boutique retail outlets, 18-hole golf course, sea front villas and apartments, wellness destination and an array of recreational and entertainment options that are inspired by an island lifestyle.

"Firdous Sobha" will have unrivalled panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf, unspoilt beaches, world-class water-sport facilities and feature state-of-the-art luxury amenities. The development will also be home to terraced apartments, which will reflect classic modernity while maintaining a balance of style and functionality.

H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain and Chairman of Executive Board said: "Our strategic partnership with Sobha Group brings an exciting new dimension to our commitment to developing Umm Al Quwain. Both the Umm Al Quwain Government and Sobha Group are committed to quality and share a common vision for the island. "Firdous Sobha" is a flagship project, which has been launched in line with the vision of transforming Umm Al Quwain into an active tourism and commercial destination."

Located on Al Seniyah Island, along with Khor al-Beidah, one of the largest areas of undisturbed and varied coastal environment remaining anywhere in the UAE, "Firdous Sobha" is an untapped haven with a beautiful mangrove coastline. The island is set to offer incomparable living with leisure options including waterfront homes, ecological zones, canals and lagoons and a marina that will offer world-class facilities for berthing.

Mr. PNC Menon, Founder and Chairman, Sobha Group said: "Our latest project announcement represents our commitment to the UAE. In line with our aim to fully leverage the opportunities present in this highly dynamic market, we have partnered with Umm Al Quwain Government, and are jointly to transform the island into a world class destination and a hot spot for iconic properties. By combining our capabilities and expertise, we are confident "Firdous Sobha" will be a proud testament to our commitment to quality."

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About Umm Al Quwain
Umm al-Quwain means "Mother of two powers" is one of the emirates in the United Arab Emirates. It is located in the north of the country. It covers an area of 800 square kilometers and stretches from the beautiful, lush green coastal mangroves lining the shores of the Persian Gulf, inland across the rolling sand dunes to the fertile oasis surrounding Falaj Al Moalla.

Umm Al Quwain exhibits far more topographical diversity than the other emirates in the UAE. Umm-al-Quwain is the fastest growing spot for extreme sports. It has numerous places worth visiting. Archaeological evidences indicate its ties with the ancient Mesopotamia and the Umm Al Nar civilisations. Alakaaab Island, dating back to the Neolithic period was used for slaughtering dugongs. The modern history of Umm Al Quwain began around 200 years ago when the Al Ali tribe moved from Al Seniyah Island to its present location due to scarce water resources. In 1775, Sheikh Majed Al Mualla, founder of the ruling Al Mualla lineage of the Al Ali tribe, established an independent Sheikhdom in Umm Al Quwain.

Um Al Quwain has witnessed a comprehensive renaissance and has attained successive achievements and mutations and in all cultural, social, urban and economical fields based on the belief of its ruler that the present renaissance, in any case, is as important as the originality of the past.

Its strategic location, on the clear blue water of the Gulf, has promoted the sector of hotels and resorts to be expanded and developed. The same has offered the emirate a tourist dimension for the recreation and the heritage and eco-tourism due to the availability of natural beauty, green agricultural oases, sand oases, dunes and ancient castles that give the tourism sector in the emirate a historical and cultural dimension.

The emirate has rich coastal mangroves on the coast of Arabian Gulf and many islands that lie to the east of the mainland. The biggest island is Al Seniyah is home to Arabian gazelles, falcons and turtles. Falaj Al Mualla is the agricultural area of the emirate located 50 km South of Umm Al Quwain.

Fishing is a key contributor to the economy of Umm Al Quwain. The emirate exports seafood throughout Europe and Middle East. The first poultry farm in the UAE was established in Falaj Al Mualla. It is considered a key supplier of poultry and dairy products to the local market. The construction of Ahmed Bin Rashid Port and the Free Trade Zone signifies the emirate's plans towards expanding its commercial and investment base. The renovated old fort of Umm Al Quwain is changed to Umm Al Quwain Museum. The museum has an invaluable collection of artifacts that were excavated from important nearby sites like Al Dour, and provides a fascinating insight to bygone a eons. Restoration work is scheduled to recreate the aged wall that once surrounded the original settlement. Dreamland Aqua Park, a water park and a recreational resort is the other landmark in the emirate.

About Sobha Group
Sobha Group is a multinational, multiproduct group with developments and investments in U.A.E., Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Brunei and India. Established in 1976 by a first generation Indian entrepreneur, PNC Menon as an interior decoration firm under the name of Services and Trade Company in Muscat, Oman, the group has grown into one of the most respected names in all the countries in which it has established businesses. The organisation is one of the fastest growing and foremost backward integrated real estate organisations in the region. It means that the company has all the key competencies and in-house resources to deliver a project from conceptualization to completion. Sobha is primarily focused on residential and contractual projects. The Company's residential projects include presidential apartments, villas, row houses, super luxury & luxury apartments, plotted developments and aspirational homes. The company is currently developing Sobha Hartland, a mixed-used development in the centre of Dubai. For further information on Sobha Group, please visit www.sobha.com

For further information contact:
Ms. Amjaad Al Salmi
Senior Manager - Corporate Communications, Sobha Group
Tel: +971 4 4238064
Mobile: +971 55 99 58 999
Email: amjaad.alsalmi@sobha-me.com  

Ms. Lindsay Johnston
Managing Director, Total Communications
Tel: +971 (0) 4 428 1502 ext. 1004
Mobile: +971 (0) 50 152 3368
Email: lindsay@totalcompr.ae

Sean Muir
Account Executive, Total Communications
Tel: +971 (0) 4 428 1502 ext. 1012
Mobile: +971 (0) 50 340 6502
Email: sean@totalcompr.ae

© Press Release 2016