Thursday December 18, 2008

RM35mil to develop Arab City to woo Middle East tourists

By CHRISTINA LOW

MOST major cities of the world have specific exotic areas with the attraction of a strange or foreign cultural environment, with enchanting eating places and charming shopping stalls.

Such places are tourist attractions and are usually designated with nomenclatures like Chinatown or Little India, reflecting the descriptive appellation of activities in the areas.

»More than 1.2 million Arabs come to Malaysia each year to shop and spend time with their families« HESHAM EL DIN FATHI MOHAMED

Malaysia has the distinction of having many such enclaves in the various cities and major towns, such as the Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, Little India in Klang and the Portugese Colony in Malacca.

Now, a Little Arabia in the form of a complex called Arab City is to take shape in a prime commercial and entertainment spot at Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur.

The proposed project costing RM35mil is to be developed by Golden Corporate Heritage Sdn Bhd (GCH). It will be located in an area that has a growing number of hotels and clubs, with the KLCC just a few minutes’ drive away.

According to GCH managing director Hesham El Din Fathi Mohamed, many Arabs make Malaysia their first choice destination each year for their long summer holidays.

“More than 1.2 million Arabs come to Malaysia each year to shop and spend time with their families because there is a strong Islamic presence in the country,” he said.

Hesham said the project would hopefully be completed by June next year, in time for the Arab summer break.

He said, however, that not many Arabs were willing to return for a second visit as they saw very little improvement in the tourism sector catering to their community.

Hesham said that Arabs tended to enjoy their own cuisines and it was difficult to find a truly authentic Middle Eastern restaurant in the city.

Hence, the proposed Arab City enclave will have eight Arab dining spots, four international fast-food joints and a supermarket under one roof.

The bazaar area will have more than 150 shops of international and local fashion brands, a multipurpose hall, prayer rooms, beauty saloons and a theme park for families with children.

Hesham said that the company had been working closely with its Malaysian designers to come up with a plan for the two-storey complex which would resemble the popular street markets in the Middle East.

He said that the Arab City would not only attract Arab tourists but also visitors from other countries and locals as it would be a new tourism destination in Kuala Lumpur.

The project is expected to provide job opportunities for about 1,000 locals while 200 Arabs are expected to run the food businesses.

According to Hesham, the company also hopes to introduce the Arab City concept to other cities in the world.