Page 409 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

382 Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

Holding has reorganized its companies into property, business park, hos-
pitality, and investment units.
27
l DHCOG : Property developers such as Dubai Properties Group, Sama
Dubai, and Tatweer fall under DHCOG. Moreover, DHCOG holds the
hotel operator Jumeirah Group and the business park operator TECOM
Investments.
28
l DHIG : This was formed after combining previously separate entities of
Dubai Group and DIC. It controls six financial companies that are under
the responsibility of Dubai Group, including Dubai Capital Group, Dubai
Financial Group, Dubai Investment Group, Dubai Banking Group, Dubai
Insurance Group, and Noor Investment Group. Focused on the private
equity asset class, the DIC operates through global buy-outs specializing in
secondary leveraged buyouts in Europe, North America, and Asia. DIC
owns stakes in the Travelodge hotel chain, the Middle-Eastern operations
of the property consultancy CB Richard Ellis, and the UK engineering
company Doncasters.
29
l DW : This is a holding company that has been at the forefront of Dubai’s
rapid growth. It operates in different industrial segments and invests in four
main sectors:
- transport and logistics,
- dry docks and maritime,
- urban development,
- investment and financial services.
The DW portfolio includes some of the world’s best known companies:
- DP World (maritime terminal operator);
- Drydocks World and Dubai Maritime City;
- Economic Zones World (operates several free zones around the world);
- Nakheel, the property developer behind The Palm Islands and The
World;
- Limitless (the international real estate master planner);
- Leisurecorp, a sports and investment group;
- Dubai World Africa;
- Istithmar World.

LEGAL ASPECTS OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS ACTIVITY
The UAE legal system is essentially a civil law jurisdiction heavily influ-
enced by French, Roman, and Islamic laws. The increasing presence of

27. http://dubaiholding.com/media-centre/news/2012/Dubai-Holding-Commercial-Operations-
MTN-Limited-Bond-Coupon-Payments/.
28. http://www.dubaigroup.com/aboutus/dubaiholding_en_gb.aspx.
29. http://www.dubaiworld.ae/.