Tilal Properties is flying the flag for Sharjah at Cityscape Jeddah, with the real estate developer t only one based in the emirate to participate at the annual event. Tilal Properties brought its premium development to international investors at the exhibition, which concluded Thursday at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events. Taking centrestage at the Tilal Properties stand No. E55, was its scale model of the pioneering 25 million square feet project Tilal City and its showpiece retail development, Tilal Mall, which once complete will be Sharjah's largest commercial and retail destination. With its current mission to promote the advantages of the project to visitors, Khalifa Shaibani, Director of Tilal Properties, was keen to highlight that his organization's involvement at Cityscape Jeddah was more than just a commercial concern. "Cityscape Jeddah represents the perfect opportunity to showcase our freehold and leasehold offerings to potential investors in Saudi Arabia, but we see our participation as having a far broader remit. Out of all the emirates in the UAE, Sharjah's cultural sentiment is in line with to that of the kingdom. "As the sole Sharjah-based property developer at the exhibition, we view see our presence at this exhibition as going beyond promoting our core interests and acting as the ambassadors of our emirate, of which we are particularly proud," he said. Strategically located on the Emirates Road in Sharjah, Tilal City is the first-of-its-kind mixed-use community in Sharjah and includes residential, commercial, recreational, educational, retail and community facilities. Offering 1,855 land plots, the AED2.4 billion development is only 10-minute drive from Sharjah International Airport and a mere two km distance from Dubai. The advanced road and traffic infrastructure of the locality makes convenient commuting to the UAE's other five emirates. Two of the Tilal City's unique selling points are first time opportunities for Arab and non-Arab customers. GCC nationals and citizens of Arab countries have the option of taking out 100% freehold, while non-Arab residents can buy properties on a 100-year leasehold basis. Shaibani believes that there has never been a better time to consider Sharjah as an investment destination for investors from the GCC. "The significant increase in tenant demand, coupled with a lack of availability of stock, has seen residential rental values in Sharjah increase by 53% since 2012. Market forecasts predict a prosperous outlook for both the commercial and residential markets, driven in part by the Sharjah government's commitment to economic diversification, of which it has taken the lead in the UAE. "Ongoing investment into infrastructure and diversification of Sharjah's economy has bolstered growth in the business services, industrial, shipping and logistics sectors, with the result that for 2015 the emirate's GDP rose by 8% at a time when major economies suffered from structural problems accumulated over the past few years," he added. Scheduled to open in 2019, Tilal Mall is an AED one billion development that was launched at this year's Cityscape Global in Dubai. Spread over an area of two million square feet, the prestigious development will host an array of premium lifestyle facilities, including retail outlets, including exclusive high-end brands, a multi-screen cinema, family entertainment centres and a variety of restaurants and cafes. The development houses a 65-hectare park, a hypermarket a medical clinic and pharmacy designed to meet all the requirements of Sharjah's residents and visitors. Once complete, the development will be the most expansive mall and upscale commercial hub in Sharjah. "Tilal Mall will set a new standard in Sharjah for commercial, retail and lifestyle developments, with its array of new brands, products and services, many of which will be making their appearance in the emirate for the first time. We anticipate that the project will become a focal point in Sharjah and will enhance the city's status as a modern and vibrant metropolis, yet one that is underpinned by the solid foundations of conservatism and respect for heritage and culture," said Shaibani. Established in 2014, Tilal Properties is currently constructing a series of mixed-used state-of-the-art developments projects that incorporate global quality standards while meeting the sensibilities of the regional community. Tilal Properties is dedicated to delivering an upscale yet affordable lifestyle that supports the emirate's real estate and tourism ambitions.
