Dubai firm to develop $9.6bn mega project off mainland Malaysia

Dubai firm to develop $9.6bn mega project off mainland Malaysia

A Dubai-based company is to jointly develop a $9.6 billion mixed-use project in Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands off mainland Malaysia.

Widad Business Group (WBG), an integrated facility management, property and construction conglomerate, has signed a collaboration agreement with Bin Zayed International (BZI) to develop the Widad@Langkasuka project.

BZI is part of the Bin Zayed Group of Companies, a Dubai-based conglomerate that specialises in construction and energy, trading and industry, real estate, technology and financial services.

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The company was first established in 1988 by Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. Currently, he is chairman of Injaz, a youth-centred non-profit organisation, as well as president of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation.

He previously served as chairman of Tamweel, a Shariah-compliant property mortgage and finance corporation and vice-chairman of Dubai Islamic Bank.

Widad@Langkasuka aims to change the landscape of Pulau Langkawi and become the main attraction of the island.

Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman and founder of the Bin Zayed Group

Currently, almost 90 percent of the 1,979 acre site consists of the ocean and WBG intends to erect a man-made island which