Latest news with #BeltoneLeasing&Factoring
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly's new home - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly
The final design of the new home stadium of Egyptian sports club Ahly was unveiled on Friday at a high-profile ceremony in Luxor's Hatshepsut Temple, attended by club dignitaries and partners. The event also served as a run-up to Ahly's participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup which will take place in the United States from 14 June to 13 July. Construction, in the city of 6 October in Cairo, is set to begin immediately, with completion targeted within close to four years. The event was attended by Egyptian football officials, players and celebrities from all over the world. Egyptian powerhouse Ahly, chosen by the African Football Federation as the African Club of the 20th Century, have taken an enormous dive toward realising their long-awaited vision with the official launch of the 'Project of the Century', a sprawling sports city in Sheikh Zayed, west of Cairo, during the FIFA Club World Cup trophy ceremony. Backed by a group of local and international partners, the landmark stadium aims to transform Egypt's sports infrastructure and cement Ahly's status as a continental powerhouse. It will deliver a 42,000-seat stadium designed without a running track to maximise fan proximity to the pitch, aligning with global standards, specialized facilities which include a sports hospital, museum chronicling the club's 120-year legacy, a sports university, a youth academy and a hotel. The two-phased construction will first prioritise the stadium and hotel while phase two introduces the university, hospital and auxiliary training pitches. Egyptian financial heavyweight Beltone Leasing & Factoring has committed LE4 billion ($80 million) to the project, with developer Al Qalaa Al Hamraa for Facilities Management securing additional funding to meet the total estimated cost of LE8 billion to LE9 billion. Beltone's role as exclusive financial advisor highlights the initiative's strategic importance to Egypt's economic and sporting ambitions. The collaboration includes 15 global and regional firms, including Hilton International, UAE-based Palm Sport, and leading engineering consultancies, ensuring world-class execution. Ahly President Mahmoud Al-Khatib hailed the project as a 'historic milestone', emphasising its role in diversifying the club's revenue streams and elevating Egypt's global sports profile. 'From 1907, all club members, officials and fans lovers, we all dreamt of this moment.' Al-Khatib praised Mohamed Kamel, CEO of Al Qalaa Al Hamra, for his work on the stadium. Kamel had said: 'This isn't just a stadium – it's a holistic hub for health, education, and athletic excellence.' 'In our journey,' Al-Khatib said, 'we faced some things which were solved and also when we claimed this land at Sheikh Zayed, we faced obstacles that the highest structures we could build could be only six metres tall. We presented our plan to officials who were very cooperative when they saw our seriousness and insistence. After we drew up plans we received the go ahead allowing us 30 metres in height for the stadium and an additional 12 metres for other buildings in the club,' Al-Khatib, a former Ahly football star, said. Al-Khatib then shared with the audience his personal battle with health issues. 'In 2023, I went through health problems which were not good. I went abroad [for treatment] and then after returning, I shared my condition with my fellow board members and I told them I needed a long break.' He recalled that board member Amri Farouk had at the time slipped into a deep coma. 'So, we all forgot about having breaks and focused on our work. 'Three months ago, I started feeling unwell and rumours broke out about my health and the results of my medical tests. I wanted to forget all the news and the pressure. However, we were close to January, the time when we needed to focus on our players and those who wanted to join the club. We had already set a date for the unveiling. So, it was important for me to continue. 'And now that all is good with football and the launch of the stadium, I discussed with my colleagues about taking a break after this event. So, with your permission, I am taking a break for a while, then have another check-up and wait for the results.' During his address, Kamel unveiled the stadium's once closely guarded design via a video showcasing its standout features, including stands emblazoned with the club's iconic name and logo, a suspended circular screen beneath the roof, premium changing rooms, and adjacent restaurants and cafés. The sports city is poised to boost tourism, generate employment and inspire future athletes. By integrating cutting-edge medical, educational, and training facilities, the project aims to nurture homegrown talent and position Egypt as a regional sports leader. With groundwork now underway, Ahly's legion of supporters eagerly anticipate a new era for the club and Egyptian sport. So far, the club plays its matches in Cairo Stadium and Al Salam Stadium. Training is held in Ahly's old downtown club overlooking the Nile. * A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
15-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly unveil new stadium in historic ceremony at Hatshepsut temple - Egyptian Football
Egyptian powerhouse Ahly have taken a monumental leap toward realizing their long-awaited vision with the official launch of the "Project of the Century", a sprawling sports city in Sheikh Zayed, west of Cairo, during Friday's FIFA Club World Cup trophy ceremony. Backed by a consortium of local and international partners, the landmark project aims to transform Egypt's sports infrastructure and cement Al Ahly's status as a continental powerhouse. A 42,000-seat stadium: Designed without a running track to maximize fan proximity to the pitch, aligning with global standards. Specialized facilities: A sports hospital, museum chronicling the club's 120-year legacy, a sports university, a youth academy, and a hotel. Phased construction: Phase one will prioritize the stadium and hotel, while phase two introduces the university, hospital, and auxiliary training pitches. Egyptian financial heavyweight Beltone Leasing & Factoring has committed EGP 4 billion (USD 80 million) to the project, with developer Al Qalaa Al Hamraa for Facilities Management securing additional funding to meet the total estimated cost of EGP 8–9 billion. Beltone's role as exclusive financial advisor highlights the initiative's strategic importance to Egypt's economic and sporting ambitions. The collaboration includes 15 global and regional firms, such as Hilton International, UAE-based Palm Sport, and leading engineering consultancies, ensuring world-class execution. Design Reveal & Timeline The stadium's final design was unveiled at a high-profile ceremony in Luxor's Hatshepsut Temple, attended by club dignitaries and partners. The event also served as a prelude to Ahly's upcoming participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Construction is set to begin immediately, with completion targeted within 200 weeks (approximately four years). Ahly President Mahmoud El-Khatib hailed the project as a 'historic milestone,' emphasizing its role in diversifying the club's revenue streams and elevating Egypt's global sports profile. Mohamed Kamel, CEO of Al Qalaa Al Hamraa, added: 'This isn't just a stadium – it's a holistic hub for health, education, and athletic excellence.' During his address, Kamel unveiled the stadium's closely guarded design via a video showcasing its standout features, including stands emblazoned with the club's iconic name and logo, a suspended circular screen beneath the roof, premium changing rooms, and adjacent restaurants and cafés. The sports city is poised to boost tourism, generate employment, and inspire future athletes. By integrating cutting-edge medical, educational, and training facilities, the project aims to nurture homegrown talent and position Egypt as a regional sports leader. With groundwork now underway, Ahly's legion of supporters eagerly anticipates a new era for the club and Egyptian sport. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Zawya
11-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Beltone Leasing & Factoring signs EGP4bln syndicated leasing term sheet with Al Qalaa Al Hamraa
Cairo: Beltone Leasing & Factoring, a subsidiary of Beltone Holding, has announced the signing of an EGP4 billion syndicated leasing term sheet with Al Qalaa Al Hamraa for Facilities Management to finance the construction of Al Ahly Club's stadium and its adjoining sports city in Sheikh Zayed, known as the "Project of the Century." As one of the largest sports and entertainment developments in Egypt, the project will feature a world-class 42,000-seat stadium, an innovative sports hospital, a sports museum, a leading university, a specialized sports school, and a hotel, further enhancing Egypt's position on the global and regional sports stage. Beltone Investment Banking acts as the exclusive financial advisor to Al Qalaa Al Hamraa Company in the development and capital raising for Al Ahly Club's 'Project of the Century,' reinforcing its commitment to supporting strategic investments that drive economic growth. Amir Ghannam, Deputy Head of NBFIs – Leasing, Factoring & Consumer Finance at Beltone Leasing & Factoring, commented: "This partnership underscores our commitment to financing transformative projects that drive economic growth and community development. Project of the Century is set to become a landmark in Egypt's sports infrastructure, redefining the nation's sports investment landscape. We are proud to support its realization and contribute to a project of this scale and significance." Mohamed Kamel, Chairman and CEO of Al Qalaa Al Hamraa, commented: 'Al Ahly Stadium represents a groundbreaking milestone in the investment and development of Egypt's sports sector, strengthening the country's presence on both the regional and global sports stage. We are also proud to collaborate with Beltone Leasing and Factoring as our strategic partner in this national endeavor. Together, we are committed to establishing an inclusive sports city—an iconic destination that will serve as a premier hub for sports enthusiasts across Egypt.' By integrating world-class sports, educational, and medical facilities, Al Ahly Club Sports City will foster a dynamic and healthy community. This collaboration between Beltone Leasing & Factoring and Al Qalaa Al Hamraa marks a milestone in Egypt's sports investment landscape. About Beltone Leasing and Factoring: Beltone Leasing and Factoring, a subsidiary of Beltone Holding, specializes in providing leasing and factoring solutions and services. The Company holds a leading position in the Egyptian leasing and factoring market, owing to its strong contribution to delivering innovative financial solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large companies across strategic sectors. These sectors include real estate development, logistics support services, transportation, healthcare, education, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, printing and packaging, chemicals, and oil. About Beltone Holding: Beltone Holding ( is a leading provider of financial services with a distinguished track record spanning decades in the Middle East and North Africa. The Company offers a comprehensive and expanding range of financial solutions and services, including securities brokerage, underwriting and advisory services, asset management, research, and direct investment, as well as non-banking financial services such as leasing, factoring, consumer finance, venture capital, microfinance, real estate finance, and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing. The company has an ambitious vision to revolutionize the financial sector in the region, leveraging the global expertise and knowledge of its team to provide innovative, value-added solutions, create additional opportunities for its clients, enhance market value, and achieve impactful results. For more information, please visit the company's website: Investor Relations: ir@ About EL QALAA EL HAMRAA El Qalaa El Hamra for Facilities Management is the company responsible for the construction of Al Ahly Stadium and sports city in Sheikh Zayed City, known as the "Project of the Century." Established in June 2024, the company marks a significant step forward towards enhancing Egypt's leading position in sports infrastructure development and investment. With a strategic vision and state-of-the-art infrastructure, El Qalaa El Hamra aims to elevate the sports landscape in Egypt, offering a comprehensive destination that combines sporting excellence, education, and community development. For more information, please visit the company's website El Qalaa El Hamraa – Project of the century
