Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor takes the President of Tatarstan on a tour of Al Habtoor City

On May 1, 2016 during his working visit to Dubai Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group Khalaf Al Habtoor at the Al Habtoor Group Head Office. Present at the meeting was Mohammed Al Habtoor, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Al Habtoor Group; Sultan Al Habtoor, President Al Habtoor Motors; Maan Halabi, Managing Director, Al Habtoor.

Following the meeting the Chairman took the President on a personal tour of Al Habtoor City accompanied by the Vice-Chairman and CEO.

Minnikhanov said he was very impressed with Al Habtoor City – a new hospitality, residential and leisure destination in Dubai – and expressed his hope to one day have such an entertainment destination in Tatarstan.

Al Habtoor City incorporates three five star hotels (The St. Regis Dubai, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City and The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City), three high-rise luxury residential towers on the banks of the upcoming Dubai Water Canal, multiple restaurants, cafes and boutiques, a state of the art tennis academy and will soon be home to the region’s first permanent theatrical production by Dragone – the world’s leading cultural creation company.

The Al Habtoor Group Chairman also informed the President of the Group’s business interests in Dubai and current investments abroad.  Al Habtoor and Minnikhanov last met in 2010 when the Al Habtoor Group Chairman visited the Tatarstan capital Kazan to look at potential investments there. During the discussion they revisited the investment potential in the Republic.

Al Habtoor said, “I was impressed with Tatarstan on my visit there in 2010. It was a pleasure to meet the President again.”

“To develop ties between Tatarstan and the United Arab Emirates as part of strengthening Russia-the UAE relations is of great significance to us,” Minnikhanov noted.

Minnikhanov continued that this is not his first meeting with Khalaf Al Habtoor. In November 2010, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group paid a working visit to Kazan. "Over the past six years, our republic has changed dramatically and continues to develop," Tatarstan President said.

Minnikhanov went on to say that Tatarstan and the Al Habtoor Group have great opportunities to interact. He briefed about the socio-economic situation in Tatarstan, the achievements the republic has made in the field of industry and construction.

"Tatarstan is one of the most dynamically developing regions of Russia. In the coming years, we plan to implement several large-scale economic, sports and infrastructure projects, and look forward to working with your company," he added.

Also Minnikhanov invited Khalaf Al Habtoor to take part in the VII International Economic Summit of Russia and OIC countries - KAZANSUMMIT-2016 which will be held in Kazan on May 19-21 this year.

Khalaf Al Habtoor thanked Tatarstan President for the visit and noted that the Al Habtoor Group is well aware of the economic and investment potential of the republic.

The development of bilateral cooperation was also discussed at the meeting. In particular, the project to build a large international hotel with a cultural and entertainment center in Tatarstan was considered.

Also, Minnikhanov and Khalaf Al Habtoor agreed to exchange experience in the field of education in terms of the development of international schools.