Dubai, UAE, December 15, 2005: Emaar Properties, the world's largest property development company by market capitalization, has appointed Issam Galadari to head its operations in Saudi Arabia.
“Emaar is determined to sustain its position as the world's No. 1 real estate developer. With Issam Galadari’s two decades of extensive experience and wealth of knowledge both at Emaar Dubai and Dubai Municipality, we have gained a country head who will recognise potential business opportunities and steer our expansion programme in Saudi Arabia which is considered a key market for Emaar,” said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties.
Galadari is ideally placed to drive Emaar’s international growth in Saudi Arabia, which is currently experiencing an economic boom with record oil revenue, boosting demand for housing and other facilities.
Prior to Galadari’s appointment as Managing Director in Saudi Arabia, he was Executive Director of Projects at Emaar Dubai, where he managed the entire spectrum of projects for the company throughout the United Arab Emirates as well as its international operations.
“Saudi Arabia’s economy is the largest in the Middle East and has great potential in terms of housing, commercial and retail expansion. My appointment as head of Emaar’s operations in the Kingdom is recognition of Saudi Arabia’s importance in the region and of Emaar’s determination to be involved in the Kingdom’s promising future,” said Issam Galadari.
Galadari, who was educated in the UK with a BSc in Civil Engineering and a postgraduate diploma in Structural Engineering from the University of Southampton, is part of a growing number of highly qualified and experienced UAE nationals within Emaar in senior positions.
Dubai-based Emaar, which was established in 1997, is expanding outside the United Arab Emirates into markets such as Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, Morocco and India as it seeks to replicate its successes at home and to tap growing demand for affordable, high quality housing.
This significant appointment is part of a recently launched initiative called "Afaq," meaning 'horizon' in Arabic. The initiative will channel UAE National talent into key positions throughout Emaar, in both the UAE, and abroad.
