Ghassan Youssef is the managing director of Rakeen, the real estate arm of RAKIA (Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority) in the United Arab Emirates. Rakeen recently launched its new ultra high-end project in Beit Meri, Lebanon. ‘Beit Meri Sunset’ is comprised of 10 residential villas and nine apartments. Executive sat down with Youssef to discuss issues related to the project and the company’s investment plans in Lebanon. E I know you started the sales of your project in Beit Meri in September. How much have you sold so far? And to whom? We secured 20 percent already in the first two weeks. People interested are half locals, half [other] Arabs. But the target [segment] in Lebanon is always the locals and Lebanese expatriates. Then it is our cousins, the Arabs who love Lebanon and want to have a stake in the country. So they target Lebanon, whether for business or
