Arab investors - Malaysia 2010

MALACCA: The state’s tourism industry will get a boost following plans by Arab investors to pump in more than more RM1 Billion in investment to develop several tourist-related projects over the next three years.

A successful completion of the proposed "Arab City" here will attract more Arab investors to Malaysia, Managing Director of Golden Corporate Heritage Sdn Bhd, Hesham El Din Fathi Mohamed said.

He said there were a lot of Arab investors waiting to see our model, if it is going to succeed or not.

"Most of them came here and tried (to invest) but get back with a negative feeling (because of bureaucratic red tape)," he told Bernama in an interview here recently.

Bureaucratic red tape has forced the company to develop Arab City here earlier, which is designed to be a symbolic gateway connecting Malaysia to the Middle East, and to move from its site in Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur to Melaka, which promises a 24-hour approval for the project.

Golden Corporate Heritage is undertaking the Arab City project in Melaka.

It is a joint venture between Dubai, Saudi Arabian and Malaysian partners, the company has branch offices in Dubai and Saudi Arabia with diverse interests in real estate, trading and oil and gas business.


He said the projects would allow the state to better attract Middle Eastern tourists and give locals a chance to experience Arabic culture.

The Arab investors, Golden Corporate Heritage (CGH), will carry out joint projects with the state-owned Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI).

Arab City on Pulau Melaka involves the development of a three-storey shopping complex including an Arabian bazaar, Middle Eastern restaurants and cafes and a unisex Arabic health and beauty spa.

The Klebang project involves the construction of a five-star hotel, a water theme park, an aquarium and a floating restaurant.

GCH managing director Hesham Eldin Fath Mohamed Khalil said the company was also looking at developing an Arab Village in Kampung Jawa.

Arab City on Pulau Melaka is expected to be completed by the end of next year and the one in Klebang in 2012.


With concerns that the global economic crisis would affect the Middle east badly, Hesyam said they studied the situation very well and found that Malaysia was a very suitable place for them.

Despite the lack of a "special offer" to investors, Malaysia was very stable, its people friendly and easily accept the Arabic culture, which in itself presents a very good environment for Arab investors.

Hesyam said one million Arab tourists came to Malaysia and they spend 10 times more than the others.

For the past seven months, he said 250,000 Arabs came to Malaysia although it is not the holiday season and they spent RM5 billion.

Hesyam said when the Arabs came here, his staff went to the shopping areas especially in Bukit Bintang and interviewed Arab tourists to know how they felt in Malaysia including the problems they faced and the things they hope to have here to make them come back again.

Based on the interviews, Hesyam said Arab tourists want an integrated place that has the feel of Arabian culture, food and tradition.

He said there were cases in Bukit Bintang for example, where these Arabs do not feel comfortable with.

So, when they do not feel comfortable here, he said they would not come back for the second time.

However, Hesyam said the Ministry of Tourism which has been tracking tourist trends says the number of Arab tourists keep on increasing every year.

"If we received 750,000 this year and we received one million next year, it goes without saying that we are doing well," he said.

Singapore : 

Singapore's Arab Street! 

Hey When Is Singapore's Arab City Coming?

Arab City Melaka To Cost More Than RM1 Billion

MELAKA, April 28 (Bernama) -- Arab City Melaka, the integrated commercial project in the state, will cost over RM1 billion, with construction expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year, its developer announced today.

Hesham Fathi Mohamed, Managing Director of Golden Corporate Heritage Sdn Bhd (GCH), the developer, said the project covering 46.9 acres (18.76ha), is located in three areas -- Pulau Melaka, Klebang and Kampung Jawa.

He was speaking to reporters after the ground-breaking of Arab City Melaka, a joint-venture between the Melaka state government and GCH, at Pulau Melaka here.

Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and GCH chairman Sheikh Saleh Mansor.

Hesham said the whole Arab City project was initially estimated to cost RM400 million.

He said phase one of the project, costing RM250 million, will be developed into an integrated and comprehensive development, which included shopping bazaars, Arabic-themed restaurants, cafes and Arabic health and beauty spas.

At the ceremony, both the state government, represented by Ali signed an agreement with GCH to develop phase two of the project in Klebang, which is tipped to be a new landmark for tourism in Melaka.

Today marks the beginning of piling work for the first phase of the Arab City in Pulau Melaka, which, according to Hesham, is due for completion within five weeks.

Hesham said the project was scheduled for completion by year-end, with the Arab City project, sited on a 4.2 acre (1.68 ha) site, in Pulau Melaka expected to open for business by 2010.

He said Klebang, the second phase of the Arab City project, will be a mixed development, comprising a five-star hotel, an aquarium, health resort and water sports club.

"We will provide the development plan within three months from now to the state government, with investments expected to cost more than RM1 billion," he said.

Both the state government and GCH today signed an agreement to develop the Arab City project in Klebang sited on a 36.2 acre (14.48 ha) area.

At the press conference, Hesham said he had received numerous enquiries from foreign companies intending to rent or sell the facilities provided at the city.

However, the company, which mooted the Arab City concept, would retain the Arab concept, with only Arab brands under its roof, with no opening for fast- food giants such as McDonalds or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), he said.

The third phase of the Arab City will comprise an Arab Village on a 6.5 acre site (2.6ha) in Kampung Jawa, he added.

GCH's Shaikh Saleh, at the press conference, said Malaysia offered a conducive climate for foreign investments, especially from Gulf nations, citing the Arab City project in Melaka, as an example.

In his speech, Mohd Ali described the Arab City project as a significant and important investment, especially during the current economic slowdown.

He is confident the project would succeed and generate the expected returns and revenue, which would in turn benefit the investors, the state, tourists and the Melaka people.

-- BERNAMA