Abu Dhabi-based Sorouh Real Estate has signed a 30-year residential lease agreement with Défense Conseil International (DCI) Group, a French government-related company, for its Al Rayyana development project in the emirate.

Al Rayyana is a purpose-built, gated apartment community that is being developed overlooking the Abu Dhabi Golf Course.

Once completed in the first half of 2012, Al Rayyana will be a large scale residential leasing project, which will significantly strengthen Sorouh’s recurring income portfolio.

Jean-Louis Rotrubin, Chairman and CEO of DCI, said the agreement is for almost 20% of the total project (287 units out of 1,537 available units) at prevailing market rates.

“It is a pleasure for us to have signed this agreement with Sorouh. Al Rayyana is situated in a very attractive location at the entrance to Abu Dhabi and near the major highways. Its apartments and facilities will be completed to an excellent standard and the development will serve our needs well,” he noted.

Abubaker Seddiq Al Khouri, Managing Director of Sorouh, said, “We are very proud to have DCI as a long-term tenant at Al Rayyana and to be able to help accommodate a growing community of French expatriates.”

“Al Rayyana is an important development for Sorouh as it will form an important part of our cash generative recurring income portfolio.”

“Despite challenging market conditions, today’s announcement reaffirms our view that there is still significant demand for high quality real estate in desirable locations in Abu Dhabi,” he added.