Eagle Hills, which this year marks five years since its inception, is set to deliver more than 35,000 units of properties in the form of branded residences, luxury apartments and hotels in the coming years.

“It has been a very impressive five years for Eagle Hills, which has rapidly expanded across three continents within a short span of time,” Low Ping, the CEO of Eagle Hills, tells Gulf Construction. “We have successfully launched 17 mixed-use development projects in 11 cities across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, with several ground-breaking projects under way in key growth markets.”

Many of these projects are located in waterfront communities and are being developed to complement the cities’ sustainable development plans.

Ping ... impressive five years for Eagle Hills.

“This trend has been effectively attracting new growth opportunities and we are keen to continue building on our success in this field as the most preferred proposition for investors and property owners,” she adds.

In Oman, Eagle Hills is looking to introduce a new era of development, which complements the country’s natural and cultural heritage and redefines luxury living for residents and visitors.

In line with this strategy, the developer has partnered with leading global hospitality group Mandarin Oriental to bring to the capital city the first high-end branded properties in the sultanate.

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Muscat, marks the first residential venture in the region between the companies. “The project has been carefully planned based on the location’s unique landscape and natural appeal,” she says.

The Address Residences Fujairah Resort and Spa ... a combined five-star hotel, villas and apartments offering.

The project is also a first-time joint venture with its local partner, Izz International, and Mandarin Oriental Group.

Izz International, she says, has a strong track record in Oman, and is renowned for its innovation in developing the finest dining venues in collaboration with leading architects and interior designers. The high level of expertise in delivering distinctive projects in Oman makes Izz International an ideal partner in ensuring the success of the venture, she adds.

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Muscat, is a lifestyle destination with multiple features to serve the two major economic sectors of the country – tourism and real estate. As a fully-serviced residential area, the project combines luxury residential living with world-class, branded hospitality.

Construction on the project started in 2018 and the developer has been continuously working with project consultants and contractors to ensure all components and deadlines are being met for the targeted completion by 2022.

Ping says Oman is one of the fastest growing economies in the Gulf region, and is constantly developing its key pillars for sustainable development. “Eco-tourism falls into this category and the sultanate provides plenty of opportunities when it comes to unique lifestyle destinations,” she remarks.

The tourism sector in Oman, she says, has contributed 2.9 per cent to the GDP in 2018, up from the 2.6 per cent in 2017.

“Considering these main factors, Oman provides the ideal setting to implement our development strategies and contribute to the local economy’s sustainable growth,” she adds.

Elsewhere in and around the region, Eagle Hills has major development projects in the UAE, Bahrain and Oman, while its expansion initiatives have taken it to Jordan, Serbia, Ethiopia and Morocco.

Gulf projects

In the UAE, its projects in Sharjah and Fujairah have been receiving positive response from local, regional and international investors. These projects include Sharjah’s most prestigious waterfront address, the Maryam Island, which features four residential buildings that are now in various stages of construction.

The Azure Beach Residence has a total of 164 apartments while the Sapphire Beach Residence has 190 units. Both the Cyan Beach and Indigo Beach Residence have 167 apartments each. The apartments range from studio to three-bedroom units and are equipped with modern amenities and provide access to 20 retail and food and beverage outlets, and the beach.

Eagle Hills is also building Sharjah’s Kalba Waterfront, an integrated leisure and retail destination that offers a unique combination of modern shopping experiences and magnificent natural sceneries of the Kalba district.

Ping says: “Both the indoor and outdoor facilities cater to the various recreation needs of guests, whether it be alfresco dining or children’s entertainment.”

The serene lagoon is lined by mangroves and the surrounding natural park makes it an all-inclusive relaxation venue for visitors of all ages. The mall features a supermarket, family entertainment centres and ample food and beverage (F&B) outlets.

Yet another Eagle Hills project is Palace Al Khan, one of the latest additions to Sharjah’s hospitality sector and ever-expanding skyline. Blending with the natural surroundings of Al Khan’s waterfront community, the 88-room property, which includes executive suites, is designed to offer a variety of modern facilities including a spa, a fitness club, outdoor swimming pool, conference facilities and ample parking space.

Meanwhile in Fujairah, two major waterfront projects are under way. The Fujairah Beach is a five-star beachside resort offering 80 stunningly designed villas and townhouses and a 167-room Palace Hotel. Another upscale development is The Address Residences Fujairah Resort and Spa, a combined five-star hotel, villas and apartments offering branded serviced living by the Address Hotels + Resorts. It has 196 rooms, four residential buildings, 10 villas – including five beach villas and five garden villas – and 172 branded and serviced apartments, all set to be delivered by early 2020.

In Bahrain, Eagle Hills has partnered with Diyar Al Muharraq to develop the Marassi Al Bahrain, a unique integrated mixed-use development project covering 1,280,957 sq m located in the northern area of the kingdom.

It is an urban community with over 2,500 apartment units and a shopping and entertainment destination, the Marassi Galleria. In addition, two luxury hotels complement the development – the Address Marassi Al Bahrain and Vida Marassi Al Bahrain, with branded apartments and hotel rooms, a central park with play areas for all ages, 2 km of promenade, 1 km of white sandy beach, and a premium range of restaurants and cafés.

Other projects

Meanwhile, Eagle Hills’ expansion in the Levant includes several key projects in Jordan that will provide luxury services through unique craftsmanship, such as the Residences at St Regis Amman. Located in the heart of Amman’s central business district, the development will showcase Jordanian heritage and culture through world-class designs.

The Skyline Residences features the first W Hotel in Jordan and comprises 321 hotel rooms and exclusive residences.

In Aqaba, it has launched the Saraya Aqaba, an integrated tourism and leisure destination featuring a beachfront community across 558,257 sq m with 866 residential units. The development will also feature Aqaba’s first water park, four five-star hotels, an exclusive beach club and an elite amphitheatre.

At the South Beach of Aqaba, Eagle Hills is building the Al Raha Village, a quiet residential neighbourhood comprising 459 apartments and villas that offers spectacular views of the Red Sea and surrounding mountains.

Elsewhere, major development projects include La Marina Morocco, a mixed-used development of residential and leisure facilities, and Rabat Square, which comprises 1,355 apartments both in Rabat, Morocco;  the $3-billion Belgrade Waterfront project in Serbia; and the mixed-use development La Gare in downtown Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

As a global developer of repute, Eagle Hills has proven capabilities in identifying projects that have high growth potential and can contribute to the economic progress of some of the world’s major cities.

Ping says the company chooses locations where it can establish new city hubs and flagship destinations that will attract international investments and create local jobs. These projects have been designed and developed to become iconic destinations that generate and sustain businesses, while also leaving a positive impact throughout the community, she adds.

Furthermore, Ping says, the company provides expertise in the latest technologies and smart innovation to ensure emerging communities will easily adopt sustainable practices and build mixed-use developments through a combination of facilities.  Eagle Hills also takes part in urban renewal projects aimed at revitalising cities as social and economic hubs.

“Ultimately, our mission is to deliver development projects that contribute to creating quality lifestyles and add to the social and economic appeal of communities as preferred destinations.”

Commenting on the real estate market in the region, Ping says the sector has matured in terms of providing new types of developments, adding there are many new factors being considered by developers, including innovative and sustainable technologies that add value to properties and building affordable quality projects to meet the housing needs of the middle-income segment.

“Among the most active in the region, the UAE continues to initiate policies that promote ease of doing business in the country, paving the way for the market to maintain growth. Strategies such as new visa policies and the proposed mortgage law provide favourable market conditions that attract business and investments,” she says.