Khalaf Al Habtoor welcomes French Ambassador H.E. Alain Azouaou in Dubai

Press release

Published September 19th, 2012 - 04:32 GMT

The Chairman of Al Habtoor Group, Khalaf Al Habtoor with French Ambassador H.E. Alain Azouaou

The Chairman of Al Habtoor Group today welcomed the French ambassador to the UAE. Khalaf Al Habtoor met with H.E. Alain Azouaou at his Majilis in Dubai. The two men discussed bilateral ties and business links between the UAE and France.

The visit followed a tour of the Al Habtoor Palace construction site on Sheikh Zayed Road at H.E. Azouaou’s request. The complex is the largest in the UAE and among the region’s biggest and most luxurious hotels & entertainment developments. It will include three luxurious hotels with over 1,600 rooms and suites and will cost $1.33 billion. The Habtoor Palace will consist of the first St. Regis Hotel in Dubai, the flagship W Hotel and the largest Westin in the MENA region as well as a theatre complex.

Mr. Al Habtoor said, “The UAE has a steady economy and France understands the UAE’s strategic position as the Gateway to the wider region.”

The two countries already have a good business relationship and solid trade ties. The UAE is currently France’s number one trading partner in the Gulf, and many French companies have a presence in the UAE.

Background Information

Al Habtoor Group

The Al Habtoor Group has grown with the United Arab Emirates. What started out as a small engineering firm in 1970, is today one of the region’s most respected conglomerates with interests in the hospitality, automotive, real estate, education and publishing sectors. The Al Habtoor Group has earned itself a solid reputation both locally and internationally due to the vision of its Chairman, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor.