Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman, Al Habtoor Group received His Excellency Arthur Spyrou, the Australian Ambassador to the UAE at the Al Habtoor Group Head Office on Al Wasl Road on Monday 30 May 2016. It marked the first meeting between the two. Joining the Ambassador was Kim Debenham, Deputy Head of Mission and Moin Anwar, Trade & Investment Commissioner (Middle East). HE Spyrou was appointed Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in November 2015. He is also accredited to Qatar until the new Australian Embassy in Doha opens later this year.
The Al Habtoor Group Chairman informed the Ambassador about the Group’s business throughout Dubai and internationally. They also discussed the strength of the UAE economy and its business environment.
Al Habtoor said he would like to encourage more Australian businesses to Dubai. “Dubai is the land of opportunity,” he said. “Businesses flourish here. The UAE gives equal opportunities for everyone irrespective of where they come from. Our strength is our diversity.”
HE Spyrou said Australia has a strong and long-standing relationship with the UAE adding that it is Australia’s largest trading partner in the Middle East. He added that there are currently 266 flights to and from the country each week, and the UAE is currently the 9th biggest home for Australians around the world.
The Ambassador informed Chairman Al Habtoor about potential investment opportunities in Australia’s hospitality sector and invited the Chairman to the capital Sydney.
Al Habtoor said he is always on the lookout for good investments abroad. This year he announced the purchase of two new hotels in his international hospitality portfolio; one in London and one in Vienna. The acquisitions brought the number of hotels in the Al Habtoor Group’s portfolio to 14.
Chairman Al Habtoor and Ambassador Spyrou also discussed the upcoming US presidential election. Spyrou commended Al Habtoor on his recent article ‘The most agonizing wait in US history’.
Al Habtoor gave the Ambassador of his best-selling autobiography, ‘Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor – the Autobiography’ which charts his life from humble beginnings to the helm of one of the UAE’s largest conglomerates.