Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, has announced that he is embarking on a new area of business -- producing Hollywood films.

“We are in the pre-production stage of two Hollywood films. We have been working on them for some time and are very confident that they will be well received,” he said.

Al Habtoor said he will soon visit Egypt, accompanied by a team of experts who will scout for Egyptian talent in the entertainment industry.

“Egypt is renowned for its film industry, so we will consider Egyptian actors and actresses for various roles.”

The main purpose of his trip to Egypt is to visit the American University in Cairo (AUC), where the he will make a new philanthropic announcement supporting the AUC.

The Al Habtoor Group chairman is a long-term supporter of the campus. In 2010 he donated a football and track stadium in his name at the Cairo campus.

 Al Habtoor said he is conducting feasibility studies for investment in the automotive, real estate and hospitality sectors of Egypt.

Al Habtoor said: “It is my hope to build Al Habtoor City in a prime location in Cairo.  This will be of great benefit to the country’s economy, and will also provide thousands of jobs.”

Al Habtoor City, currently under construction in Dubai, employs around 8,000 people. Once complete, it will also provide a further 3,000 jobs.

Al Habtoor added: “Thousands of families in Egypt would benefit from a project like this, as most of the jobs would be recruited locally.”

Al Habtoor City is a multi-use development incorporating three five-star hotels (St. Regis, W hotel, Westin), three high-rise luxury residential towers complete with 11 ultra-luxury penthouse apartments, multiple restaurants, bars and shops, and a specially choreographed water-themed Franco Dragone Entertainment Group theatrical production. - TradeArabia News Service