Ahmed Hassan, our Managing Partner, has been retained as an advisor to the President of Najwa Tourism & Investment Company Ms. Sirin Al-Masri, for the US$50 million development of a unique eco-resort and spa in Wadi Rum. The first 7-star luxury resort in Jordan, set to be one of the best in the world, is located 300 km from Amman in the Wadi Rum Desert of southern Jordan.

The project is the first entry of the Al-Masri Family into the luxury hotel market. It currently controls a multi-billion empire across the Middle East, including Astra, the fifth largest privately owned company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan's largest bank the Arab Bank as well as Zara Investment, one of the Middle East’s largest hotel investment companies.

Much of David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia was filmed on the project site and represents one of the most fascinating and pristine natural sites in the world. The rugged desert terrain combined with the majestic mountains engulfing the site act as both ecological arks and unlikely natural sculptures carved by the forces of water, wind, and sand.

Ahmed’s role is to ensure the site will be sensitively developed, with the theme of sanctuary central - both as an ecological sanctuary for the recovery of the natural systems, and the creation of a sanctuary for people to recover from the varied stresses of today's fast-paced life, while ensuring its commercial viability in the international market place on par with some of the world’s most luxurious resorts in the Maldives, Seychelles, and Dubai. Ahmed advises a large client team, which includes renowned and award winning international architects and designers, such as Daniel Ost and Savin Couëlle.