Emaar founder says company not approached about Gaza reconstruction

ABU DHABI - Dubai-based real estate developer Emaar's founder and chairman Mohamed Alabbar said in an interview at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday that his company has not been approached regarding Gaza reconstruction efforts. 

The recent conflict in Gaza has impacted Emaar Properties financially, though there are no reports of a direct aid initiative from Alabbar himself.

 In early 2024, Emaar reported a drop in fourth-quarter revenue from its hospitality division. This was partly attributed to "geopolitical tensions from the Israel-Gaza war affecting the segment's performance."

In 2005, Alabbar met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to discuss his company's interest in developing settlement land that would be evacuated by Israel. He said the goal was to help the Palestinian people and create jobs and homes. 

This 2005 proposal was met with criticism from some who argued it would legitimize the Israeli occupation and was not the right approach for the Palestinian cause.