Emaar Properties has been around since 1997 and today holds the title of the largest property developer in the Arab world. The company is based in Dubai and focuses on construction investment across the Gulf, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi being the main markets. The scale of the operation is significant: more than 60 subsidiaries and upwards of 14,000 buildings in Dubai currently under various stages of development. The company also owns and runs the Gold and Diamond Park. The project most people associate with Emaar is Downtown Dubai, which the company started building in 1998. That development is home to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, which was completed in 2009. Emaar's Dubai holdings also include apartment blocks in the Greens and lakefront villas available for rent. The company was founded by Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar, previously the head of Dubai's Department of Economic Development. Beyond the UAE, Emaar has active projects in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Lebanon and the US. Sales have consistently hit record numbers, which says a lot about where the brand stands with buyers.