Page 15 - Arabian Business

q OMAN REPRESENTS OUR
LARGEST TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
PRESENCE IN THE WORLD AFTER
SWITZERLAND”
Samih Sawiris, chairman of Orascom Development Holding

UAE OMAN UAE

Expo 2020 Oman tourism New Jafza

awards $182m expenditure set bridge a “game
Dubai
construction to cross $1bn changer” for

Muscat contracts Dubai logistics
Having already invested
Expo 2020 Dubai has awarded $650m in its tourism sector, A new road link over Sheikh
two major construction contracts Oman’s bid to become Zayed Road is set to smooth the
worth AED670m ($182.4m) to a world-class tourism fl ow of traffi c between Jebel Al
UK-headquartered international destination will see that Port and Dubai’s Al Maktoum
building company Laing O’Rourke figure exceed $1bn in the next International Airport.
to build two pavilions and an few years, investors say. Jafza Bridge, a project
access road for the event. A decade ago, Oman’s undertaken by the Jebel Ali Free
Under the terms of the government formed a joint Zone (Jafza) in collaboration with
agreement, Laing O’Rourke will venture with Egypt’s Orascom the Dubai Roads and Transport
build the Expo’s Leadership and Development Holding to Authority (RTA), is now open for
Media pavilions, as well as the spearhead expansion in the traffi c and will further enhance
“Hammerhead” access road sector. The resulting Muriya the fl ow of goods between the
to the Al Wasl Plaza as well as has since overseen $650m two logistics hubs – all operating
landscaping works. of infrastructure projects under a single customs
The company will also be built around five Integrated environment – and the Jebel
responsible for carrying out Tourism Complexes (ITCs), Free Zone, in what has now
the mechanical, plumbing and which are providing a suite of become known as Dubai’s
engineering works associated attractions for regional and “Logistics Corridor”.
with the projects. international visitors while Jebel Ali Port is the now
“We are on track to deliver an also meeting the increasing sixth-largest container port in
q WE ARE ON TRACK exceptional site for an amazing demand for first-rate facilities the world, while Jebel Ali Free
TO DELIVER AN Expo,” said Ahmed Al Khatib, in the country. Zone is home to more than
The five complexes are
senior vice president of real estate
6,500 companies. Al Maktoum
EXCEPTIONAL and delivery at Expo 2020. Jabal Sifah, with its shoreline International Airport is also set
SITE FOR AN “We are delighted to announce boutique hotels; Hawana to be the world’s largest airport
AMAZING EXPO” Laing O’Rourke as the main Salalah, with three resorts and in both size and volume when
contractor for these important a brand new water park; the it’s fully operational in around
Ahmed Al Khatib, new Oman Convention and
senior vice president at Expo 2020 two contracts.” 2022 – and air freight volumes
Al Khatib added that Laing Exhibition Centre; a luxury increased 9.1 percent during the
O’Rouke was selected “due resort in Mirbat and City Walk fi rst nine months of 2017.
to its keen understanding of along Muscat’s shoreline.
our technical and commercial “Oman represents our
requirements”. largest tourism development
presence in the world after
Switzerland,” said Samih
180 Sawiris, chairman for Egypt’s
Orascom Development
Holding. “We’ve contributed
The number of countries $300m of the $650m invested
u Al Wasl Plaza will form the expected to participate at so far, and I think the total u Jebel Ali Free Zone is playing a key
centrepiece of the 4.38-sq km site Dubai Expo 2020 spend will soon cross $1bn.” role in Dubai’s economic growth

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