Chairman of Abu Dhabi group, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan and Bahria Town’s Malik Riaz sign the investment agreement in Abu Dhabi on February 15. —File Photo
Chairman of Abu Dhabi group, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan and Bahria Town’s Malik Riaz signed the investment agreement in Abu Dhabi on February 15. —File Photo

ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan has cancelled a tentative agreement with a Pakistani businessman that envisioned spending $45 billion on a real estate project in Karachi over 15 years - a cancellation that comes less than two weeks after the deal was signed.

No reason was given for the cancellation in a statement by the Abu Dhabi Group, which Sheikh Nahyan chairs.

The memorandum of understanding with Pakistani real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain to build residential properties on an island had been touted in Pakistan as the country's biggest ever foreign investment.

The statement received by Reuters said no financial obligation or commitment had been assumed by the Sheikh, the conglomerate, or his privately owned construction firm Dhabi Contracting.

“It is...unfortunate that discussions between the parties could not reach any conclusion and the Memorandum of Understanding has been cancelled,” it said.

Abu Dhabi Group, which invests in emerging markets, has large investments in Pakistan including Bank Alfalah Ltd , Warid Telecom, Al Razi Healthcare and Wateen Telecom.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...