Growing tourism in Jordan has prompted Crystal Lagoons to speak to several real estate developers in the country, with the goal of adding lagoons to the Aqaba and Dead Sea areas.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), Jordan welcomed 6.4m visitors in 2016, a 33.5% increase compared with 2015. The country’s real estate market is also on the uptick.
Crystal Lagoons says its technology has already had a positive impact on markets in the Middle East and Africa. The company has one large project in the Al-Rama area of Jordan, as well as 13 signed developments in Egypt, and two in the UAE. Talks for projects in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Dubai are also underway.
“The current oversupply in the residential market has put pressure on developers to be more competitive to sell their properties and this includes the amenities offered. Crystal Lagoons adds that wow factor with its ability to bring the idyllic lifestyle of the beach anywhere in the world,” said Carlos Salas, regional director, Middle East, Crystal Lagoons. “In our experience, developers are able to charge a premium on properties overlooking our projects and thus can attain a strong ROI.”
The firm says its lagoon technology uses up to 30 times less water than a golf course, and half of the water required to irrigate a park of the same size. Additionally, Crystal Lagoons says its technology requires far less chemicals than a traditional filtration system, and only uses 2% of the energy that is required by conventional water treatment systems.
Salas concludes, “Our technology provides a viable, sustainable solution, despite challenges such as water and energy supply. We can use any kind of water including brackish from underground aquifers, eliminating the need to consume valuable fresh water resources.
Zawya
21 June
