football
The new owner of Malaga football club has announced that he is studying the viability of a major project for Marbella
04.07.10 - 12:56 -
Meeting. Abdullah Al-Thani (second left) during the meeting with the mayor of marbella, Ángeles Muñoz. Josele-Lanza
The purchase of Malaga CF is only the first of several plans the Qatar sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani has for the Costa del Sol. On Sunday the sheikh announced that he plans to invest in a major business project in Marbella. At a meeting with mayor Ángeles Muñoz and deputy mayor Francisca Caracuel, Al-Thani went one step further and explained that his project was at an advanced stage and added that it was related to the tourism sector. Few details were revealed except that the sheikh is currently studying the financial viability of the scheme.
The sheikh did say, however, that Marbella represented an excellent opportunity for investment due to its tourism potential and because it is a name that is recognised the world over. In the brief 20 minute meeting, the sheikh was accompanied by his top executive Abdullah Ghubn, the CEO of NAS, Al-Thani’s group of 15 firms; by the lawyer, Yasmin Al Sahoud; and by Taysir Al Sahoud, another of his advisors.
The mayor expressed her satisfaction that Al-Thani had chosen Marbella as his destination. Muñoz recalled that the sheikh’s family had had a good relationship with the town. “He is a great businessman in his country and it is wonderful news that he has set his business sights on Marbella”, said the mayor after the meeting. No dates were set but Muñoz pointed out that more detailed meetings regarding the business project in question would soon be held.
Neither the sheikh nor the mayor revealed what exactly the business project involved, although Ángeles Muñoz did say that it was a significant investment that would “without a doubt” benefit the local economy. Muñoz expressed her gratitude to the sheikh for having chosen Marbella, as, with his prestige, he could have gone anywhere in the world to invest money.
During the official reception held in the mayor’s office, Muñoz gave Al-Thani a copy of the book “La Crónica de Marbella”, by Fernando Alcalá.
On Monday the regional head of Tourism, Luciano Alonso, said that he was “hopeful” as he awaited further details of the future project. Alonso stressed that “Arab” tourism was “interesting” for Andalucía, a place where visitors feel “much more comfortable” than in other parts of the world.
