If it’s good enough for Brad - it’s good enough for Teesside

Aug 19 2008 by jez Davison, Evening Gazette

THE rich and famous are flocking to the home of the world’s first fashion island, part of the A-list “World” development... and Teesside is hot on their heels.

Brad Pitt, Boris Becker, Giorgio Armani and a host of Hollywood A-listers have cashed in on Dubai’s property boom, which is expected to generate $50bn in real estate investments by 2010.

Teesside firms are also profiting from Dubai’s growing economy and thriving free trade zones, with exports from the North-east rising to £37m in 2007. But with this figure only a fraction of the £2bn worth of UK exports to Dubai last year, Teesside has only just begun to exploit the potential of the colourful, cash-driven emirate.