Press Release

Letting campaign begins for Aldar's HQ project at Al Raha Beach

HQ, the first spherical office building in the world, is now available for lease. The award-winning building developed by Aldar Properties PJSC is designed to meet the demands of regional and international companies for high end office accommodation and is located at the gateway to Abu Dhabi.

HQ will be the anchor development of Al Dana precinct, the Central Business District of Aldar's Al Raha Beach development which will also be home to the new Abu Dhabi World Trade Centre. The building is perfectly positioned to serve both local and international markets, being just off the main arterial road network linking Abu Dhabi to Dubai and neighbouring GCC countries, and a ten minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport. It will be directly served by a combination of marine, rail, and land transportation network, including the proposed light rail system which will have a station located immediately adjacent to the building.

Built to international Grade A standards, HQ offers over 49,000 sqm of premium office space over 23 floors, which range in size from approximately 1,700sqm to 2,700sqm. These floor sizes make HQ ideal for headquarters occupation by regional and international corporate occupiers. Every floor offers expansive column-free areas which can be adapted to meet different operational needs. Endorsing HQ as the premier business address, Aldar will occupy part of the building as its own corporate headquarters.

HQ's excellent location provides spectacular views of the city, canal, and sea, and allows for an unparalleled working environment through the integration of exceptional services, including high-speed lifts and one of the highest parking ratios in Abu Dhabi.

Designed by MZ & Partners, HQ was voted the "Best Futuristic Design" by The Building Exchange (BEX) Conference held in Valencia, Spain and is widely recognised as one of the region's most notable pieces of modern architecture. Standing at approximately 120 metres, this spherical structure will be one of Abu Dhabi's first green buildings and is aiming for a minimum LEED Silver rating awarded by the US Green Building Council. It is built with the use of recyclable materials including glass, steel and concrete and the construction has employed the use of prefabricated elements to reduce waste creation. The completed building also incorporates an automated vacuum waste system to aid with the recycling of tenant waste materials.

Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chief Commercial Officer of Aldar, said: "Our team has significant experience in leasing and developing occupier led commercial stock which is why we are handling all tenant negotiations in-house. We are delighted to have now started the marketing of HQ, one of the world's most striking office buildings. It is incredibly important for the UAE's commercial occupiers to benefit from office accommodation of this quality and we are confident that HQ will help change the face of the Abu Dhabi office sector for the future. We are already progressing a number of enquiries and are confident that there will be strong interest in the opportunity to occupy a landmark building in such a strategic location in Abu Dhabi."

HQ is on schedule to be ready for tenants' occupation for fit out at the end of 2009.