Sama Dubai has opened its marketing and sales centre for the Dh95 billion ($25 billion) Mediterranean Gate project, being developed in partnership with the Tunisian government, in the capital city of Tunis.

Sama Dubai is the international real estate investment and development arm of Dubai Holding.

The marketing and sales centre, located on Republic Avenue (Z4 Road) at Saint Gobain, will remain open from 3pm to 8pm daily.

The centre will provide potential investors with a preview of the landmark development allowing them to gauge first-hand the magnitude of the project expected to infuse fresh economic opportunities and facilitate the growth of Tunisia’s tourism and allied sectors.

The Tunisian Government approved the masterplan for the Mediterranean Gate project where infrastructure work has been progressing since December 2007.

Scheduled for completion in 14 phases, the development is designed to host international firms, premium luxury hotels and leading retailers as well as a diverse range of residential buildings and recreational and sports facilities.

Developed by Sama Dubai, Mediterranean Gate shares the vision of the Tunisian government for an inclusive, all-encompassing city, which will open doors for new companies, services and projects to further boost Tunisia’s diverse economic sectors.

Farhan Faraidooni, executive chairman of Sama Dubai, said Mediterranean Gate will be a unique project, designed to reflect the integrity of its landscape, culture and heritage.

'It will cater to all sections of the society and represent a benchmark for sustainable development in the region when completed,' he added.

“The launch of the Marketing and Sales Centre marks the next phase of development for Mediterranean Gate which is already registering progress in infrastructure works. The centre will initially showcase the crucial components of this ambitious project, ahead of the first sales release  around mid-2009.”

Mediterranean Gate will be fully integrated into the city of Tunis and include demarcated residential districts, commercial and leisure segments, a central business district (CBD), waterfront resorts, marinas, a golf-resort and shopping malls.

The project is being managed by Sama-ECH, a subsidiary of Sama Dubai and a joint venture with one of the top global project management companies, EC Harris.

Mediterranean Gate is expected to create about 350,000 jobs and attract over 100,000 visitors every day.

The development will also serve as a hub for IT and service companies seeking Tunisia’s qualified and trained manpower.-TradeArabia News Service