New Delhi, August 24, 2009: In a pioneering initiative, Emaar MGF Land, one of India’s largest real estate developers, will launch the first mixed-use gated community in the entire North-East in Shillong on August 25, 2009. With this Emaar MGF will become the first national developer to drop anchor in the North-East. The scenic 84-acre Windermere Estates at Umpling is being readied with an initial investment of Rs 400 crores. Once completed, Windermere will potentially transform the realty landscape of the ‘Scotland of the East’ with a veritable mix of world-class villas, modern community retail centre, clubhouse and a hotel.

The development of Windermere Estate will have a multiplier effect on the local economy and provide employment opportunities, which will directly and indirectly benefit over 1,000 people. More importantly, this move is a reflection of Shillong’s growing stature as a prominent business and education hub and a world-renowned tourist destination in the North East.

Speaking on Emaar MGF’s plans for Shillong, Mr Sanjay Choudhary, CEO (East), Emaar MGF, said, “We have keenly studied the North-East market. Our internal deliberations clearly identified Shillong as the city with tremendous value-proposition and growth for evident reasons; well-traveled populace, changing tastes and a desire to own the best. Strategically, Shillong is crucial to Emaar MGF as it mirrors the company’s pan-India focus.” Mr Choudhary further added, “We at Emaar MGF are confident Windermere will be a game-changer for the city’s realty market with premium abodes that come along with world-class amenities and best-in-class infrastructure.”

Commenting on the project, Mr Pyngrope, JV partner, Windermere Estate said, “Windermere Estate is my vision of revolutionizing the realty landscape of Shillong”. With Emaar MGF’s expertise in developing the Commonwealth Games Village in Delhi and its JV partner, Emaar, the iconic Burj Dubai, the company will bring in similar expertise and know-how to develop Windermere Estate as a project that is socially, ergonomically and environmentally-friendly.”

Strategically located in the developing area of Shillong, Windermere Estate is 8 km from Police Bazaar and only 6 km from the Golf Club and the Golf course. The project is a mix of exquisite villas (designed by internationally acclaimed Fenn Associates of Bangkok), villa floors, plots and a clubhouse with a heated swimming pool, fine dining, guestrooms, snooker, squash, health club & spa and other amenities. Significantly, this project will offer its residents a world-class lifestyle coupled with a ten-metre wide black-top internal roads, a captive water supply and sewage treatment system and 24-hrs power back-up. The project has rainwater harvesting as a part of its plan to conserve natural resources. Windermere Estate will also have a Star Hotel that will provide quality hospitality, fine cuisine and entertainment to the ever-increasing flow of international and domestic tourists to Shillong and to its local populace.

Emaar MGF, a joint venture between MGF Developments Ltd and Emaar Properties PJSC, Dubai, is one of India's leading real estate developers. The company has been instrumental in bringing the largest FDI in the Indian real estate sector. Headquartered in New Delhi, the company started operations in India in mid-2005 and is engaged in pan-India projects across Residential, Hospitality, Retail and Commercial. As a real estate company, Emaar MGF aims to make a real and positive impact on the lives of the people with development of outstanding quality realty projects. The company is driven by its mission to develop and deliver unique integrated lifestyle and work place environments and planned developments and to be recognized as a responsible corporate citizen and an employer of choice. Emaar MGF is constructing master planned developments including residential, retail and hospitality properties to provide fully integrated self contained communities. Emaar MGF is developing integrated townships and gated communities in Hyderabad (Boulder Hills), Mohali (Mohali Hills), Delhi (Commonwealth Games Village 2010), Gurgaon (Palm Drive, Palm Springs, Emerald Hills), Indore Greens and Jaipur Greens. The company has also launched the Fortune Select Metropolitan hotel in Jaipur this year