Salas to direct Crystal Lagoons projects worth over US$13 billion

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25 Aug 2015

Crystal Lagoons Corp., the patented technology developer of giant crystalline lagoons, will return to Dubai for the annual Cityscape Global showcase, taking place 8-10 September 2015 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (DICEC), with an update on its growing portfolio of GCC projects and its expanding regional team.

Carlos Salas takes the helm as Regional Director Middle East, with a remit to oversee the company’s strategic growth, inheriting an impressive existing portfolio with a total of 40 active, under-development and pipeline projects spread across the Middle East, valued at over US$13 billion.

Based in Dubai, Salas brings with him extensive regional experience, having spent the last six years as head of the Embassy of Chile in the UAE’s economic department and GCC commercial representative for ProChile.

“Carlos has a thorough understanding of the Middle East business environment as well as an extensive network of governmental and commercial contacts, which places him – and Crystal Lagoons – in prime position to take our existing projects forward and capitalise on new opportunities in the region,” said Uri Man, CEO, Crystal Lagoons.

Crystal Lagoons has projects located in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman, including the high profile Meydan mega lagoons project.

Part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBRC) mixed-use development, situated close to the Meydan Racecourse, and a joint venture between Meydan Group and Sobha Developers, Ltd, the MBRC – District One lagoon project will be the world’s largest manmade lagoon upon completion in time for Expo 2020 celebrations, and covering an area of 40 hectares.

A 1.43-hectare pilot lagoon is already in operation and features a show home community of nine houses for a taster of the overall master planned development, which will eventually include residential areas, hotels and commercial opportunities.

The next phases of the lagoon project will cover around eight hectares and are to be delivered in 2016, with a further nine hectares completed by 2017.

“We have been delighted with the reception the initial phase of the lagoon has received, the next phase of activity marks yet another important milestone for Crystal Lagoons and further underscores the brand and reputation of the company here in the Middle East. We have built an excellent partnership with Meydan Sobha resulting in a development that has set a benchmark for the rest of the world,” said Carlos Salas, Middle East Regional Director, Crystal Lagoons

In Saudi Arabia, the company’s brace of Jeddah projects include the under-construction Prince Sultan Cultural Center Lagoon, with its total area of 9.3 hectares set to be handed over in early 2016, and the 9.97-hectare Mayasem Lagoon, which is currently in the engineering phase.

The first of its kind in KSA, the Mayasem Lagoon will be located at the heart of Mayasem central district and will be the centre piece of the 160 hectare mixed-use development. The project has been developed by Shamayel United Development Company, founded in 2010 by Sheikh Hussein Al Amoudi. Located next to the Kingdom City development and the Obhur Creek, investors and residents will enjoy well-connected infrastructure and the best in sustainable living.

Elsewhere in the GCC, Alargan Towell Investment Company is developing a 50-hectare ITC (Integrated Tourism Complex) project, and will feature a four-hectare lagoon. Located 50 kilometers west of central Muscat the lagoon will form the centrepiece of the development and will be surrounded by three hotels, serviced apartments, a mixed-use souk, commercial areas and a collection of villas, townhouses and apartments. Currently in the engineering phase, the first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed by 2017.

In Egypt, Crystal Lagoons has a total of four active projects, including the 12.2 hectare CityStars Sharm El Sheikh lagoon, the regional flagship for the company. The US$500 million development will feature 30,000 residential units, hotels, golf courses, marinas, a museum and a shopping mall with Crystal Lagoons providing a body of water that would otherwise have been impossible to achieve. The other projects include the Radamis Lagoon, Sharm el Sheikh, the Swanlake North Coast community by Hassan Allam Properties and the Porto Lagoons, by Amer Group are both located on Egypt’s northern coast.

The only global company with the technological capability to make the development of giant controlled manmade bodies of water economically viable, Crystal Lagoons is positioning itself as offering a unique product differentiator to high profile tourism projects around the world.

Its patented technology makes it possible for people to enjoy an authentic beach experience in previously unimaginable locations, such as the desert or in the centre of major cities, with the potential to add economic value to new tourism destinations.

Designed to be self-cleaning, the lagoons use up to 100 times less chemicals than traditional systems, and only two per cent of the energy required by conventional filtering technologies, making them incredibly sustainable.

Crystal Lagoons will be exhibiting at Trade Centre Arena Stand SAL40.