Al Farwaniya Property Developments, the developer behind Abu Dhabi’s Reem Mall, has announced the appointment of Gary Burrows as the company’s chief operating officer (COO).

Having worked in over 35 different countries including major business centres such as London, Dubai, Moscow, Budapest and Prague, Burrows brings more than 29 years of international property management experience specialising in retail, leisure, entertainment and mixed use assets.

At Al Farwaniya Property Developments, Burrows will be responsible for key aspects of the development and delivery of the $1.2 billion Reem Mall project.

Shane Eldstrom, chief executive officer at Al Farwaniya Property Developments, said, “Gary is a seasoned and trusted leader who consistently delivers results.  He is uniquely qualified to drive the strategic direction and practical implementation of Reem Mall, and I have full confidence in Gary's ability to make this project a great success. His approach and ideas are closely aligned with our vision and mission for Reem Mall and the wider Abu Dhabi, and I look forward to working closely together to deliver this fantastic new destination.”

Burrows said: “I am very pleased to be returning to the UAE and joining Al Farwaniya Property Developments as Chief Operating Officer. Reem Mall’s business proposition is very compelling, and I look forward to working with the team here to win the hearts and minds of partners, stakeholders and future customers, as we move towards completion. I am incredibly energised to help lead the company to its next phase of innovation and operational excellence."

Prior to joining Al Farwaniya Property Developments, Burrows worked with major international companies such as Cushman & Wakefield, Doughty Hanson, Al Futtaim, Westfield, and IKEA Centres, where he was involved with managing prime assets, overseeing refurbishment and redevelopments as well as advocating on new strategies in emerging markets. Burrows has also been responsible for launching the Croatian and Belarusian council of shopping centres.

Reem Mall is being developed by Al Farwaniya Property Developments, a partnership between Agility, Agility affiliate United Projects for Aviation Services (UPAC), and National Real Estate Company (NREC). Construction for the project began in late 2017 and on completion, it will offer 2 million sq ft of leasable area comprising of 450 local and international stores. – TradeArabia News Service