Hydra Properties, one of the leading real estate developers in the UAE, has announced that the filming of its English reality TV show, ‘Hydra Executives’ kicked off today (Sunday, February 24, 2008) in Abu Dhabi. The new reality-based series will be shown weekly on Infinity TV and Showtime Arabia starting April 8, 2008. The show will feature 16 entrepreneurs - 8 from the US and 8 from the UK - who will vie for the top prize of a USD 1 million grant to fund the winner’s proposed business plan. In addition, the producers of the show are currently finalising deals with leading television and media networks in Los Angeles and London for the syndication rights for the show.
The eligible candidates were selected on the basis of their background in real estate, architecture, engineering, sales, marketing and finance. The first two weeks on the show will chronicle the contestants’ stay at a boot camp where they will be given a crash course on the highly dynamic real estate business in the region and prepare them for the challenges throughout the competition. The following 15 weeks will present the ‘Hydra Executives’ challengers with various tasks, which have been designed to gauge their ability to work with a team and take necessary risks, and the level of their people skills, multidisciplinary perspectives, openness for innovation, and most importantly their passion for business. Judges of the show will be comprised of industry experts who will review the team and individual performances of the participants.
Speaking at the launch party for the show, Dr. Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO, Hydra Properties, said, “The launch of ‘Hydra Executives’ underlines our deep commitment towards innovation as we present a first-of-its-kind TV series that revolves around the rapidly growing real estate market in the UAE. We are expecting to educate as well as entertain the general public on the highly exciting world of property development through this English reality show, which promises to document the drama and arising conflicts among the contenders. We are also optimistic that the show will present a tremendous opportunity to promote Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, as the richest and fastest growing development market in the world.”
Hydra Properties’ breakthrough initiative both in the real estate and the television industries is being supported by several global brands, which will be providing the necessary equipment and services for the show. The contestants will be provided with a total of 4 cars by Range Rover and General Motors, along with mobile phones from Blackberry and connectivity from Etisalat. ASUS and Panasonic will be handling the communications and presentation needs within the competition by supplying their latest laptops and plasma products.
“Our dedication to encourage regional and global investors to Abu Dhabi amidst the tremendous real estate and tourism prospects in this emirate serves as the primary motivation for our great efforts. By showcasing the high potential of the market through the widest ranging mass medium, we are leading the way towards building Abu Dhabi’s repute as a premier investment destination in a way that has never been done before,” concluded Al Fahim.
Since its establishment in 2006 in Abu Dhabi, Hydra Properties has been constructing its projects by combining new concepts and the best international building standards with its dedicated focus towards incorporating leisure and entertainment features to its offerings. The developer has launched an impressive roster of high value projects including The Golf Walk - Abu Dhabi Gate, Hydra Village, Executive Towers and Marina Spirit at The City of Lights - Al Reem Island, Hydra Towers, Hydra Down Town Towers and Eve's Tower in Dubai. In addition to its UAE-based developments, the developer also recently launched "Hydra Waves", one of the largest development projects in North Mexico, as part of its global expansion plans.
