Widad Langkasuka in Langkawi, expected to be worth RM40 billion, will have seafront properties in its residential zones that could rival with those in Dubai, according to Datuk Dr. Mohd Rizal Jaafar, chief executive officer of Widad Business Group (WBG).
Additionally, it will have MICE facilities, including top-notch hotels and convention centres, health and wellness tourism destinations, education and research hubs to support the growth of cutting-edge research and design centres, as well as a hub for startups and investment firms focused on environmental sustainability.
The development will also see the growth of artificial beaches close to commercial areas where work and play coexist.
"All these would be tied together by a city-wide smart integrated command control centre that provides safety surveillance, smart solutions for municipal functions manages 5G connectivity, as well as output and data analytics for real-time response to communal level events," Mohd Rizal told NST Property.
Widad Langkasuka would be built over 1,979 acres and should be completed in 15 to 20 years. It involves the construction of eagle-shaped man-made islands.
WBG intends to launch a request for proposals for subcontracts for Widad Langkasuka's phase 1 development, known as Langkasuka Village, as early as the second quarter of 2023.
The gross development value of Langkasuka Village is RM4 billion. It will include a golf course, a commercial plaza, a designer mall with SOHO units, hotels, luxury condos, and serviced apartments.
According to Mohd Rizal, Langkasuka Village will have over 1,000 properties ranging from studio suites, commercial lots, and condominiums, to ultra-exclusive villas.
"Langkasuka Village offers a wide range of properties that embraces the smart living concept, green energy, and low carbon lifestyles with facilities for renewables powered energy sources, personal mobility vehicles, EV charging pods, and AI-enabled amenities, priced from the reasonable to the ultra-luxury ranges. Foreigners shall be eligible to purchase the properties," he said.
Mohd Rizal said WBG is confident in the development's ability to succeed, in addition to bringing in plenty of local and international visitors, as well as investors.
He asserts that Widad Langkasuka's thoughtful combination of residences and recreational activities undoubtedly increases the attraction of Langkawi to all types of long-stay guests, including those from abroad.
Mohd Rizal also said the hotel's rainforest theme and views of the Andaman Sea provide the company a rare chance to possess a valuable property that will draw leisure and golf travellers, event attendees, and group travellers.
"The rainforest theme allows us to showcase our commitment to green development with the adoption of state-of-the-art green technology in terms of amenities, waste treatment, and electricity generation. As such, we believe the property will attract well-known and prestigious hotel brands to pitch their proposals. We have had a preliminary discussion on varying modes of operation with internationally renowned hoteliers to invest or operate the hotel," he said.
Mohd Rizal said Langkawi is a popular destination for tourists and events like LIMA and the Ironman 70.3 Langkawi.
To further increase visitors' arrival in Langkawi, he said WBG intends to promote events with a global reputation such as the World Air Race, High Powered Boat Race, and Jet Ski races.
In essence, he claimed that Widad Langkasuka will elevate Langkawi toward being a top-tier and international ESG showcase destination by offering the community world-class sustainable facilities and smart public amenities while
"We believe that we must always harmoniously coexist with the environment, and this also includes reducing the pollution footprint we produce. As a result, the execution of the EIA study for Langkasuka City shall be done meticulously to not only safeguard the natural beauty of the site but, also to dogmatically adhere to the principle of an ESG-aligned development, and low carbon development," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Rizal said that WBG has planned for Widad Langkasuka to not only create new economic possibilities and jobs during the construction phase but also to give the island and the state of Kedah an even bigger economic boost after it is completed.
"We hope that our development and the initiatives we undertake will aid in the increase of arrivals back to pre-pandemic levels of 3.92 million and to further increase the numbers from there on," he said.