Al Ghandi Auto, one of the largest automotive retailer groups in the region, has joined hands with Cadillac Arabia to break ground on its new 82,495 sq ft facility in Abu Dhabi. 

 

Set for completion in early 2026, the Experience Center located on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street at the junction of Dhafeer Street, will feature an open sales area, VIP lounge and service reception.

 

The service centre will comprise of fourteen work bays with capacity of 50 plus vehicles per day, which has been designed to meet the specialist needs of Cadillac’s electric and ICE vehicles, including high-capacity vehicle lifts, specialist tools and diagnostic equipment. 

 

The key facility, which is set to elevate Cadillac’s presence in the market, is being set up at an investment of AED47 million. 

 

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by senior company officals including John Roth, Vice President of Global Cadillac, Jack Uppal, the President and Managing Director of General Motors Africa and Middle East and Buti Saeed Mohamed Alghandi, Managing Director of Al Ghandi Auto. 

 

"We’ve always believed that owning, driving and being a passenger of a Cadillac is an experience in itself and innovation, design, craftmanship and luxury are in Cadillac’s DNA," remarked Uppal. 

 

"Our new Experience Center depicts this and is set to redefine the luxury automotive experience in Abu Dhabi. This marks a huge milestone in our near century presence in the region, once again innovating, raising the bar and elevating the customer journey, starting from the showroom," he stated.

 

According to him, the main showroom will feature spacious high ceilings and will be equipped to showcase eleven cars, with the comfort-controlled basement providing an extended area for customers to experience a wider selection of Cadillac models. 

 

"For those looking to take their shopping experience to the next level, interactive displays will also be installed, allowing customers to explore vehicle features, customisation options, and advanced technologies at their own pace," he added. 

 

Further expanding on Cadillac’s commitment for an electric future, the facility will be amply equipped to provide concurrent charging for up to 12 electric vehicles, including four high-speed chargers to ensure that visitors and customers can always have their electric vehicles topped up to the desired level of charge.

 

"We’re thrilled to be announcing the start of construction for our new experience centre," said Mohamed Alghandi. 

 

"As Cadillac’s exclusive dealer partner in the UAE, we understand and value the responsibility of being the brands’ touchpoint with esteemed customers. We have carefully crafted the building to ensure an unparalleled cutting-edge experience, that also aligns to our wider commitments to the UAE," he stated. 

 

According to him, the design meets the 1 Pearl Building Rating System, which aims to promote the development of sustainable buildings. 

 

"It was also important for us to meet the needs of People of Determination, ensuring accessibility, safety and comfort with features including ramps and braille indicators. We look forward to welcoming our esteemed customers in 2026," he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Liebherr, a leading manufacturer of tower- and mobile construction cranes, has announced that it has received a major order from Bahrain-based Haji Hassan Cranes for supply of a LTM 1160-5.2 mobile crane and two LTM 1090-4.2 cranes.

 

A leading crane and lifting company in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Haji Hassan Cranes, has set itself the goal of meeting most of the country's demand for mobile cranes. The company has 30 employees and a fleet that includes all-terrain cranes with lifting capacities from 50 tonnes to 500 tonnes.

 

This significant investment by Haji Hassan comes as part of its fleet modernisation strategy. With this, the company now boasts 13 mobile cranes.

 

Haji Hassan Cranes plan to use these newly added cranes for their upcoming infrastructure development projects in the kingdom.

 

Manaf Al Sarabi, General Manager at Haji Hassan Cranes, said the group had picked up Liebherr mobile cranes for its quality, reliability and durability.

 

"Our previous purchases from Liebherr, the LTM 1500 8.1 and the LTM 1070-4.2, have proved to be a wise decision. Thanks to these cranes, we were able to safely plan and execute a wide range of lifting operations, giving us a competitive advantage in the market," he stated.

 

As part of its fleet modernisation plans, Al Sarabi said it was once again relying on the tried-and-tested crane manufacturer.

 

"The outstanding quality and reliability of both Liebherr cranes and Liebherr management are second to none," he added.

 

He pointed out the support they had received from Liebherr in terms of technical advice and supplies of spare parts which had boosted their confidence in the brand. 

 

"Liebherr customer service supports us around the clock. We also appreciate their transparency in all transactions," he added.

 

On the selection of LTM 1160-5.2 model, the Bahraini group said this crane type will fill the current gap between a 120-tonne and a 300-tonne crane and expand the company's range of services. 

 

The LTM 1160-5.2 offers an enormous maximum load capacity of 180 tonnes and is also characterised by its versatile range of applications. The two LTM 1090-4.2s will replace two ageing 80-tonne-cranes and bring the fleet up to date, it stated. 

 

Deepak Pillai, Operations Supervisor at Haji Hassan Cranes, said: "The 90-tonners impressed us with their short set-up time, 60-metre main boom and outstanding lifting performance. This enables us to carry out even the most challenging lifting operations safely and quickly."

 

"Both crane types are also characterised by Liebherr's innovative VarioBase and VarioBallast technologies," he explained.

 

"As Haji Hassan Cranes is involved in almost every major construction project in Bahrain, the new cranes will be used in a wide variety of areas," noted Pillai. 

 

"This includes lifting jobs in oil refineries, steelworks and petrochemical plants, general construction work, the assembly of prefabricated concrete parts, loading work, extensions of sewage treatment plants and the handling of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems," he added.-TradeArabia News Service

The real estate market in Ras Al Khaimah has witnessed unprecedented growth, with transaction volumes skyrocketing by nearly 25,000% over the past seven years, according to the latest data from the Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Centre.

 

The total value of real estate transactions in June 2024 reached an astonishing AED2.53 billion ($688 million) - an exponential leap from just AED10 million ($2.72 million) in June 2017.

 

Similarly, mortgage values have soared, recording AED3.47 billion in July 2024, compared to AED15.8 million in July 2017 - an unprecedented increase of approximately 21,849%.

 

 This surge underscores the growing investor confidence and the emirate’s rising prominence as a real estate powerhouse, said Andrei Charapenak, the CEO of Major Developers, a leading developer in Ras Al Khaimah.

 

"Ras Al Khaimah is no longer an emerging player, it has cemented itself as a prime investment destination. The staggering increase in real estate transactions and mortgage values reflects the emirate’s economic momentum, fuelled by visionary leadership, strategic infrastructure developments, and a strong appetite for premium residential and commercial spaces," he noted.

 

The surge in transactions, he stated ,comes at a time when Ras Al Khaimah is attracting heightened interest due to its strategic initiatives, including the expansion of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, hospitality and entertainment investments, and a strong push toward sustainable urban development.

 

"We are seeing a paradigm shift in investor sentiment - luxury, sustainability, and lifestyle integration are driving purchasing decisions. Major Developers is committed to shaping the future of real estate in Ras Al Khaimah," he added.-TradeArabia News Service