Hollywood and Bollywood join the Middle East celebrity property train

SRK gets into Middle East property

Hollywood actress Hillary Swank and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan are the latest celebrities to attach their names to prestigious developments in the Middle East.

Academy Award winner Swank has been signed as the face of development Aquitainia and will launch a $1.49 billion project on The World islands development in Dubai.

Popular US singer Kelly Rowland will join her and perform at the sales launch next month.

The double island development is spread over one million square feet on the Nakheel archipelago, and aims to emulate the spirit of France and Spain.

Other celebrities connected with The World include footballer David Beckham, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are reported to have purchased property there.

Meanwhile Shah Rukh Khan is developing a property in the UAE in association with TSA International Investments. The project is a cluster of buildings on Al Dana Island in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the UAE's seven emirates.

The Indian actor will be in Dubai to announce the project at real estate expo Cityscape Dubai and the official launch takes place later in the month.

They join a growing number of global celebrities with interests in Dubai. As well as investing in property Brad Pitt has teamed up with an Los Angeles-based architecture firm to help design and construct a five-star, environmentally friendly hotel in Dubai.

Fashion designers Giorgio Armani and Donatella Versace are each developing and designing luxury hotels.

Top professional athletes have gotten in on the act too. Tiger Woods and Greg Norman are designing their own Dubai golf courses. Formula One legend Michael Schumacher and tennis champion Boris Becker have their names connected to offices in Dubai's Business Bay.

In November pop star Kylie Minogue will perform at a private party being thrown for 2,000 celebrities by the managers of a new luxury hotel opening on Dubai's Palm Island.