Emivest and City of Lyon negotiating 7 partnership agreements for 'Lyon-Dubai City' Project

May 1, 2008 - PRLog -- Lyon-Dubai City as a project is first of its kind and will combine commerce, business, residence and public and private infrastructures. Like many great adventures, this project grew from a meeting between  the Emirates Investment and Development Company(EMIVEST) and Lyon city.

At the beginning, Emivest wanted to create an academic francophone entity in Dubai. The company chose to develop the links with Université Lumière Lyon 2.  During this involvement, it was the city of Lyon, which appeared to be a city harmoniously combining historical heritage and modernity, economic development and quality of life, which led ultimately to this incredible project “Lyon-Dubai City”.

Partnership agreements are currently under negotiation with 7 Lyon institutions in the fields of education, culture, sports and hobbies: University of Lyon 2, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Institut Paul Bocuse, the Olympique Lyonnais, EM Lyon, The Fabric Museum, Insitut Lumière.

They will operate in the centre of the future urban Lyon-Dubai City when establishing:
-   The French University of Dubai, a joint conception between the University of Lumiere Lyon 2 and EMIVEST. It will be open in fall 2008.

-   The OL Academy, it is a centre of high level soccer training and sports carriers under the administration of “L’Olympique Lyonnais”.

-   The OL Brassier, for Lyon restaurant equipments.

-   A hotel management school of BA and Master levels which pedagogue application and teaching dynamics reflect the know-how of Insitut Paul Bocuse.

-   The Fabric Museum which will benefit from the exceptional treasures of the Fabric Museum of the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

-   A cultural partnership around cinema and new ways of maintaining and spreading the cinematographic patrimony directed  by Thierry Frémaux and Institut Lumière of Lyon

-    A management school oriented towards entrepreneurship that will be directed by EM Lyon and plans a curriculum for students moving between Lyon, Shanghai and Dubai.

The two chambers of commerce of Lyon and Dubai will actively collaborate in the achievement of these projects in addition to creating an airline company to fly between Lyon and Dubai.

Today, EMIVEST does not only want to build a university but a real French district deeply inspired from Lyon!


"We're not going to just copy the buildings and make a type of Lyon decor, but reinstitute the city's atmosphere with boutiques and cultural places in the heart of the city, transport, a social mix, streets and lanes. The city will be organized on European lines so that in a bistrot there you will find the same atmosphere as in a bistrot in Lyon," said urban specialist Jean-Paul Lebas, who is working on the project.


On the 9th of January 2008, Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, chairman of Emivest, Gérard Collomb, senator and mayor of Lyon, and important Lyon institutions, signed a letter of intent for the implementation of this French district around a French university in Dubai.

According to Mr. Gérard Collomb, Senator - Mayor of Lyon and President of the Grand Lyon: “Since the first meeting with Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, we shared the vision to implement a new district in Dubai. One can enjoy the identity and spirit of Lyon in the profound unique character of Lyon-Dubai City.”

He further added, “We will always be next to Emivest and Dubai authorities to guarantee the cooperation with the Lyon partners and protect the initial spirit of the project.
This tight collaboration with Dubai is a wonderful lift for the influence and fame of Lyon in the world and spots the beginning of an important story of friendship between our two cities.”



Despite the aspect of a residential district, the declaration of intent also formalizes the close-up between many Lyon institutions and the United Arab Emirates.

The urban characteristics of Lyon cannot be reduced to emblems and symbols. They also are the fruit of the strong presence of water thanks to the 2 rivers. Add to that, more recent characteristics aims to provide comfort to the users by minimizing individual transportation and setting up pedestrian streets or little circulation zones, strongly developing public transportation, encouraging light modes of transport and developing the banks of the Rhone river…

Definite objectives of sustainable development will be associated to the urban project currently in process. They will take into consideration the environment as well as the governance, social and economic development.

A particular attention will be granted to what favours intergenerational and intercultural relations.

The aim is to offer the residents, users and visitors of this future district, the same feelings and satisfaction they can enjoy in the centre of Lyon.