Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan was seen at the Armani Hotel in Dubai on June 13 for the unveiling of Dubai’s “newest luxury waterside haven,” project by Mohamed Alabbar’s Emaar.
The project, reportedly being called ‘The Oasis’, was unveiled at the hotel’s Armani Ballroom at 8 PM on Tuesday.
Khan was the chief guest at the launch event and said: “I want to tell you why I am here. First of all, I want to thank all of you because if you are Mohamed’s friends, his business partners or his colleagues working with him – I think it is very important for me to thank you all and I am extremely happy that all of you are together and bring wonderful businesses.”
‘It was never about business,’ says Khan
Khan further said that “he [Alabbar] told me this would be a $5 billion walk in the park and I like walking in the park, adding that his relationship with Alabbar, which has been there for over 20 years, “was never about business.”
“We met here in this wonderful city and he was showing me around the city and we became friends and he said come with me to my office – Dubai was just emerging at the time – it was becoming what it has become now. He took me to what we call a ‘chaiwala shop’ (tea stall), outside of the city, with small benches. In India, we call it a ‘dhaba’ and he [Alabbar] said ‘this is my office’ and I was like ‘oh, so he is not the guy who is building the Burj’,” Khan said.
The Pathaan star goes on to explain that after sharing a cup of “chai” with Alabbar, he gets “inspired” while talking to him.
Who is Mohamed Alabbar?
Aside from being the founder and chairman of Dubai’s largest real estate developer, Emaar, Alabbar is best known as the founder of e-commerce giant Noon as well.
He played a crucial role in the development of iconic projects such as the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and the Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping malls globally, both located in Dubai.
As the chairman of Noon.com, an e-commerce platform in the Middle East, Alabbar is also best known for his efforts to promote digital transformation and innovation in the region.
In addition, Alabbar’s influence extends beyond the business world. He has been actively involved in philanthropy, supporting education initiatives, and contributing to social development projects.
His contributions to the business and development landscape in the UAE have earned him recognition and numerous awards, establishing him as a prominent figure in the region.
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