AL Maraqq Group
Consumer Report

On the 3rd of December we received an email with the subject: Architectural Design of Al Maraqq Group Hotel. Supposedly this was a Saudi Arabian Company called Al Maraqq Group (http://almaraqqgroup.com/) that wanted to invest in Kuwait by designing a 5 star hotel with a budget of 170 million usd. We are attaching the original email.

After searching of their website and information online and being falsely reassured by an acquaintance that the company was legitimate we showed interest in designing the project.
After a long list of email exchange and skype conversation with this person Said Al Farouq Abdul Rami from Al Maraqq Group they accepted our portfolio saying the board members were impressed and they would like to send them our fee proposal. After they accepted our fee proposal they informed us of they wanted to book tickets for us so that we could visit the site and meet the board of directors in Kuwait. The catch was that we had to pay a membership fee of an organization called The Kuwait Architects League (http://kal-online.org/) in order to design in Kuwait. This fee was 3,700 usd for an international architect designing in Kuwait. The strange thing was that they needed the membership paid through western union in the UK to a Donald Campbell.

We were very suspicious after this point so we decided to check with the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) who had informed us immediately within minutes that this was probably a scam. Fortunately we had not fallen victims but we were very close. I am sure others must have, because everything regarding this scam was very convincing.
Original scam email below:

Dear sir,
re: architectural design of al maraqq group hotel

I am Mr. Al Farouq Abdul Rami– Deputy Managing Director of Al Maraqq Group of companies.

Our company, Al Maraqq Group, has its base in Saudi Arabia for the past 30 years. Visit us at www.almaraqqgroup.com.

Our company wishes to approach your firm for the Architectural design of Al Maraqq hotel in Kuwait.

We are in need of an International Architects who will handle this project on the scope of Architectural Design, Design director and consultancy of the proposed Project in Kuwait in which you will lead the building team.

We are also looking for a company that we will be assigned the construction management responsibility for the above project.
Client’s brief is as follows:
-Total construction area of the hotel is approximately 35,369 m2, with 250 rooms.
-Number of stories will be determined by your design
-Two underground floors to be designed as car parks with a capacity of not less than 500 cars. Also facilities such as goods receiving area, garbage handling, kitchen storage area etc., take place at these floors.
-Lobby & Bar with a capacity of at least 90 persons
-Two restaurants. One with a capacity of 150 seats, and the other will be a specialty restaurant with 76 guests capacity
-One floor to be designed for the functions of meeting and exhibition purposes. There should be a ball room with the capacity of 600 individuals.
-A SPA where maximum comfort for the guests is aimed.
-A studio for Pilates and dance courses
-Other facilities include but not limited to:
Health club, currency exchange place, 2 outdoor and 1 indoor swimming pools, a tennis court and a library.

-The estimated building cost should be controlled to $ 170 million

We will like to confirm the following

- The possibility and capability of your firm to design and handle such project

- If your firm is familiar with architecture of Kuwait. Have you done any project in any Kuwait Specifically?

- The possibility of obtaining the necessary requirements from Kuwait Building Authority for International Architects coming to Kuwait. Visit www.kal-online.org for further details

We will be pleased to work with you in order to establish this tourism investment in Kuwait.

I wish to inform you that Kuwait is a friendly country with lots of opportunities for architectural and construction firms owing to our wealth of experiences there.
We will be glad to receive your reply as soon as possible to start making arrangements.

Kind regards,
Said Al Maraqq
—
AL MARAQQ GROUP
Al-Wady Street Radwa 10
Block 22 Royal Commission Yanbu Industrial City
P.O. Box 303567
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Email: said@almaraqqgroup.com
Skype:— said. Almaraqqgroup

Company: AL Maraqq Group
Country: USA

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