Dubai’s Al Habtoor Turns Hollywood Producer, Eyes Egypt For Film Talent

Dubai-based businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor revealed that he has ventured into Hollywood and is currently working on two projects.

“We are in the pre-production stage of two Hollywood films,” the Al Habtoor Group chairman said in a statement.

“We have been working on them for some time and are very confident that they will be well received,” he said without revealing further details.

Al Habtoor, who is currently heading to Egypt, also stated that he will be accompanied by a team of experts who will scout the North African country for film talent.

“Egypt is renowned for its film industry, so we will consider Egyptian actors and actresses for various roles.”

During his trip, he will also study potential business opportunities in Egypt, and is already conducting feasibility studies in the automotive, real estate and hospitality sectors, Al Habtoor said.

His company, which is currently building the massive Al Habtoor City project in Dubai, is eyeing the possibility of developing a similar project in Egypt.

“It is my hope to build Al Habtoor City in a prime location in Cairo. This will be of great benefit to the country’s economy, and will also provide thousands of jobs,” he said.

“Thousands of families in Egypt would benefit from a project like this, as most of the jobs would be recruited locally.”

Al Habtoor City, a multi-use development includes three five star hotels (St. Regis, W hotel, Westin), three high-rise luxury residential towers with 11 ultra-luxury penthouse apartments, multiple restaurants, bars and shops, and a specially choreographed water-themed Franco Dragone Entertainment Group theatrical production.

It employs around 8,000 people and once complete, it will provide a further 3,000 jobs.

The UAE has strongly backed Egypt’s new government under ex-military head Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and several UAE-based companies have announced big investment plans in the country.

In March last year, Dubai-based contractor Arabtec announced that it would build one million homes in Egypt in a $40 billion project backed by the Egyptian and UAE governments.