Abdiweli Hassan, the founder of Business Bay Square (BBS) Mall, is investing KES 65 billion (about $530 million) to develop a 60-acre, mixed-use project within Tatu City Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The new development will include homes, retail space, offices, warehousing, and a mosque.ย
The Tatu City project builds on Hassan’s success with the BBS Mall in Nairobi’s Eastleigh district, one of East and Central Africa’s largest shopping and entertainment centers.ย
Project details
- Massive investment:ย The KES 65 billion investment is a major inter-African real estate deal for Kenya.
- Extensive development:ย The 60-acre plot will feature multiple facilities, with residential units located near 30 acres of parks and recreational space.
- Strategic location:ย The development will be part of the Tatu Industrial Park, located approximately 30 minutes from Nairobi. As a Special Economic Zone, it offers investors tax breaks and duty exemptions.
- Planned amenities:ย In addition to the commercial and residential properties, the development will include a mosque, an office complex, and a petrol station.
- “Live-work-play” vision:ย The project is designed to create a vibrant urban community, aligning with Tatu City’s holistic vision for residents.ย
Abdiweli Hassan’s background
- Prominent businessman:ย Hassan is the Chairman and founder of Business Bay Square and Ten Commodities Wholesale Limited.
- Accomplished developer:ย He is credited with the transformation of Nairobi’s Eastleigh area through the creation of the BBS Mall, which is owned by Ten Commodities Wholesalers Limited.
- Previous experience:ย The BBS Mall project, which opened in 2023, includes thousands of shops, hospitals, restaurants, banks, and a mosque, demonstrating Hassan’s experience with large-scale, integrated developments.ย
Significance of the partnership
- Attracting visionary developers:ย The partnership highlightsย
Tatu City
‘s ability to attract major developers like Hassan who have a track record of successful, large-scale projects.
- Inter-African investment:ย The deal showcases the growing trend of inter-African investment, withย
Tatu City
ย positioned as a hub for both domestic and international capital.
- Record-setting project:ย Stephen Jennings, the CEO of Tatu City’s developer Rendeavour, praised Hassan for his vision, calling it a “record-setting investment in Kenya’s future”.
