Business & Money | Tuesday 17 February, 2015 1:49 am |

Gulf Related, a leading regional real estate development company, has commenced the main construction of the landmark residential complex, Antara, in Al-Dir'iyyah in Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia, with a laying of the cornerstone ceremony today. Gulf Related is the development manager of Antara. Upon completion in October 2016, the Antara residential complex will be home to roughly 520 expatriate families in Riyadh and would have cost SAR 748 million.
Dr Karim El Solh, co-Managing Partner of Gulf Related, said: “Antara is a unique, premium residential project by virtue of its excellent location, careful planning, experienced development managers and the support of the Al-Dir'iyyah Governorate and municipality. It is expected to establish a new benchmark in quality living for expatriates in the Kingdom. When completed, it will be a signature landmark in arRiyadh’s urban landscape.”
Strategically located in the growing Al-Dir'iyyah Governorate, in the North Western part of Riyadh on King Khalid Road, and conveniently situated ten minutes from King Abdullah Financial District and twenty minutes from King Khalid International Airport, it is designed in a Mediterranean-resort, self-contained village style.
Emile Habib, Managing Director of Gulf Related, explained: “Antara is a large integrated development that comprises a built-up area (BUA) of 98,115 square meters, consisting of 520 homes in park-like landscape. It is a state-of-the-art residential area with a distinctive character

in the metropolis of arRiyadh. It will serve as a model residential development for the expatriate community in and around the Capital and will be nothing less than another captivating world-class development in the heart of Riyadh Province.”
Antara was master planned by OTAK and world-renowned EDSA, out of Ft. Lauderdale with offices in Abu Dhabi, which also designed the generous landscape architecture. The infrastructure, building architecture, interior design and engineering was designed by Omrania & Associates out of their Riyadh and Bahrain offices.
The traditional Cornerstone Laying Ceremony was attended by all those involved with this flagship project together with community leaders and dignitaries from architecture and design houses, building and construction companies, banking and finance institutions, and services companies.
Raja Alameddine, Executive Director, Gulf Related, said: “What makes the project stand out is the quality standard that is applied in order to create a desirable urban neighbourhood that offers a resort style compound living for expatriates living in the Kingdom. Construction on this signature project is on track with the continued support of the municipality and the Governorate of Al-Dir'iyyah. Riyadh residents expect and demand superior facilities and this is what Antara will deliver when complete.”
Khaldoun Tabari, CEO and Vice Chairman, DSI PJSC  remarked: “We are excited to start the main works on the Antara project which marks a significant milestone for DSC’s impressive track record in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, our biggest market in the region. Our work on the Antara development will be a showcase of our project planning and execution capabilities.
Other infrastructure facilities will consist of utility building, security gates and guardhouses, car parking, landscaping, and pedestrian paths, with 40% of the total development, or about 48,500 square meters committed to open areas, lush green landscaping, cycling tracks and children’s play areas. Enabling and underground infrastructure works have already been completed.