2005-2008: Ras Al Khaimah: Investment Promotion

ARABIAN OPPORTUNITIES FUND.

CLICK ON THIS http://www.ameinfo.com/89969.html

Arabian Opportunities 2 to invest 300 million euros in freehold properties in Ras Al Khaimah

Arabian Opportunities 2, a Hamburg based Property Fund, has opened its branch in a Free Zone managed by the RAK Investment Authority with a view to invest in real estate opportunities in Freehold Areas that are coming up in Ras Al Khaimah.

United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, June 27 - 2006

Nearly 300 million euros is being collected from investors in Germany for investments in real estate properties in the Middle East. RAK emerged as the favorite to harness the bulk of this fund thanks to its freehold laws and integrated master-plan with beach front tourism properties, mountain based projects and state of the art business and media zone projects.

Arabian Opportunities 2 RAK Branch which was registered in the RAK Investment Authority Free Zone is managed by Markus Müller (43, Banker and Insurance Manager ) and Markus Wagner (34, Grad. Business Administrator, M.A. hons.)

• There is a master plan in place for Ras Al Khaimah and the growth is planned. Infrastructural problems are not likely and there are plenty of freehold properties in the master-plan to accommodate foreign investor interest. The Marjan Island, The Al Hamra Village, the Minal Arab, the Gateway City are all seen as possibilities by the Fund.

The Wagners have also been encouraged by the trust reposed in them by the RAK Investment Authority.Dr Massaad has signed an MOU with the Wagners to promote Ras Al Khaimah as a destination for tourism and investments in the city of Hamburg and Lubeck where Mr. Adolf Wagner is an established name.

This project was my baby and my experience in handling Merril Lynch while at JWT came in very handy. What clinched this deal was the element of trust they had in us and the fact that we were able to understand the nuances of funds and international law. It also helped us get a base in Germany which is an important tourism market for us.

ALIVE WITH POSSIBILITIES An article from the FDI Magazine.

The once sleepy northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is bursting into life with a wealth of upscale leisure and commercial facilities in the pipeline.

The northern emirate, the seventh to join the UAE, which is zipping along with an annual growth of 4.4% GDP, is embarking on a massive tourism-oriented building plan that includes significant residential and commercial components. Everything from an ambitious spaceport to enormous theme parks and a 12-kilometre (km) ski slope are looming on the horizon, as the government aims to secure a larger slice of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tourism cake.

The commercial real estate sector is also stirring into life with a spate of big deals hatched this year. Mirage Holdings FZCO, a Hollywood-based film production firm, will set up and operate Film and Media City, an investment costing $1bn. The Mirage Studio complex sits on 480 acres of real estate, close to the new Emirates Highway. In addition to the production studio, it will have an entertainment shopping centre, villas, apartments and office space for rent, a golf course and polo field.

Businessman Sultan Ali Lakhani has invested Dh150m in a television port and up-linking facility, which is attracting audio and film studios and news agencies.

Ends

The last two media projects were on my initiative and a direct result of my efforts. It came about through diligent one to one selling and follow up. In the case of Sultan Ali, we got him to cancel his investment in another Emirate and come to RAK. This was prompted by the kind of location we offered him and the fact that we understood the media business completely.

In the case of Mirage FZCO, too the selling point was that we understood the media business and were quick to react. The whole process of identifying the land and completing the lease and legal formalities hardly took 4 working days!!

VARIETY has carried a news report on this project:
CLICK ON THIS http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117948006.html

2005-208: Ras al Khaimah: Client & Investor Feedback

_____________________________________________
 

Rajiv Ratnarajah Assistant Vice President & Head - Project Planning & Project Management [PPM], Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts

"I had the pleasure of working with Vinod Natesan when he was the owners representative from RAKIA as the Head of the Tourism Office. Vinod was involved in the capacity of the clients representative and project director for the proposed Banyan Tree in RAK as well as oversaw the overall development chain of all new hospitality and media projects by RAKIA. Vinod is an extremely well rounded person who ensured all aspects of a development was considered including providing valuable design inputs for the project. While Vinod was not an engineer by training, he was passionate about the brand "Banyan Tree" and understood its vision, being an advertising professional. He was always committed to ensuring that commercial considerations did not cannibalize on the architectural and design aesthetics and in many ways therefore contributed to the final consumer experience at the RAK property being up to the Banyan Tree consumer expectations."

____________________________________________

Khaleej Times dated august 13th 2007 to vinodnatesan @yahoo.com

Dear Vinod,

We are sorry to learn that you will be leaving RAK and that you are relocating in India.

It was a pleasure meeting you and sharing your vision of RAK.

Do keep in touch.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

BURJOR PATEL
VICE PRESIDENT-MARKETING

----- Original Message ----
From: Vinod Kunj
To: vinodnatesan@yahoo.com
Cc: natesanvinod@hotmail.com
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 8:08:37 PM
Subject: RAK Half Marathon on 9th February 2007

Dear IRMAN/SMSIAN/LOYOLITE,

Got this mail from a contact.

Congratulations for the Ras-Al-Kahiamah HALF marathon.

FULL marks to you.

You have done yourself proud!

Cheers

A well-wisher




A sample of letters that reflect the success and appreciation that came my way. My job was to promote the Emirate as a "tourist destination". It was however lacking in infrastructure and rooms. I therefore redefined my job as promoting "tourism investments". The World Bank Investor Conference in May 2005 was the starting point. With Dina Kasrawi of the World Bank leading the team, we did a splendid job in terms of generating investor interest. I was able to convert the interest into investments in Marjan Island, a cause way project for hospitality and real estate projects. B2B meets like the ITB in Berlin, the AHIC in Dubai, GITOF in Bahrain were used to successfully market Ras Al Khaimah to hospitality chains and hotel investors.
The land price in Marjan went up by 33%, after the announcement of the Media City and the announcement of the Hollywood Film City. The Century Media City and the Hollywood Film City were initiatives I had taken and with the blessings of the Deputy Ruler HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi and his Advisor Dr Khater Massad, I was able to carry it forward.
Marketing the Emirate involved one to one presentations to delegations with the help and often under the aegis of Consulates. My presentations were "professional" and in great demand!! the letters above indicate that. In the bargain, I did have the privilege to present to the Ambassdor of UK, Sir Richard Makepeace, as also Consultate delegations from France, China, Bulgaria, etal.

The growth of the Media City was a function of investor friendliness and removal of red tape. having been a licensee in Dubai, I had a lot of consumer insights to use to my advantage. The Media City was a huge success with nearly three new licenses being issued in a day (means three new companies were formed and office space leased!!)