The city of Johor Bahru is Malaysia's 'Southern Gateway', receiving 60% of foreign tourists who visit Malaysia. It is a major holiday and shopping destination for neighbouring Singaporeans due to the comparatively lower cost of goods and services.

Johor Bahru is the Central Business District and the State Capital of Johor. It is also the main gateway into and out of Singapore (via the Causeway).

The current key economic activities in Flagship A are financial services, commerce and retail, arts and culture, hospitality, urban tourism, plastic manufacturing, electrical and electronics (E&E) and food processing.

As of February 2008, land prices in Flagship A range from RM30 to RM150 (US$9 - US$45) per sq ft for residential use, and RM70 to RM280 (US$20 - US$45) per sq ft for commercial use.

In the future, a multi-modal terminal will be developed in Flagship A, as well as an MRT/LRT system connecting Johor Bahru City Centre to other areas in Iskandar Malaysia.

Key players in Flagship A include global financial institutions - Citigroup, HSBC and Kuwait Finance House, major manufacturers - YKK, Celestica, Lion Group, Sumitomo and Kerry’s Ingredients as well as local developers - Danga Bay Holdings, Pelangi, Mah Sing and Crescendo.

Location
Johor Bahru is located within the central region of Iskandar Malaysia. It is bound by Senai to the north, Nusajaya to the west, Singapore to the south, and Pasir Gudang to the east.

Key Landmarks
Besides the Causeway connecting Malaysia to Singapore, other key landmarks in Flagship A include Danga Bay, Sultan Ibrahim Building, Istana Besar, Istana Bukit Serene and the City Centre.

Population
One of Southeast Asia's most populous urban areas, Johor Bahru is an important industrial, tourist and commercial hub for Southern Peninsular Malaysia. With a population slightly above 1 million in the city, the population growth rate is among the highest in Malaysia.

Historical Background
Johor Bahru was founded in 1855 by Temenggung Daeng Ibrahim, the father of Sultan Abu Bakar, one of the best-remembered Malay Sultans, together with a Chinese businessman, Wong Ah Fook. The town was originally named Tanjung Puteri, and it started out as a small Malay fishing village. Sultan Abu Bakar moved the seat of government from the old capital at Teluk Belanga in Singapore to this city in 1866. He changed the name of the new capital of his kingdom to Johor Bahru.

Connectivity
There are two major highways linking the city centre to the suburbs, with the Tebrau Highway linking the city to the north-east and the Tun Abdul Razak (TAR) Highway/Senai-Skudai Highway linking it to the north-west. The Pasir Gudang Highway and the connecting Johor Bahru Parkway cross Tebrau Highway and TAR Highway about midway, serving as the Middle Ring Road of the metropolitan area. The Causeway links the city to Singapore with a six-lane road and a railway line. Additionally, three more highways are being constructed which are the Coastal Highway (Danga Bay-Nusajaya), the Eastern Dispersal Link (JB CIQ-North/South highway) and East-West Link (Permas-Pasir Gudang).

Danga Bay
Danga Bay is an integrated waterfront development within Iskandar Malaysia covering approximately 450 acres. Set to dominate the financial, commercial, residential, educational, tourism and leisure sectors, this "Vision City of the South" has all the makings of a luxury lifestyle centre - that include an international financial and commercial centre, a multi-model terminal and other iconic developments. As an oasis along the coast of Johor Bahru, Danga Bay is one of the must-visit sites in the south of Peninsular Malaysia. The name Danga Bay is synonymous with luxury, high standards and exclusivity. This prime waterfront city offers an integrated and sophisticated lifestyle for all ages with a wide range of attraction. Every year, many interesting events which incorporates fireworks are held there especially during festive seasons. A vision city in the making, the development comprises of five precincts. Each precincts has its own distinct planning mixture to reflect the development intent. These parcels will be constructed in phases.

CIQ Complex
The Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim (BSI) is the largest Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Malaysia. Located at Bukit Cagar (formerly the site of Lumba Kuda flats, Kampung Bukit Cagar and recreation park), it occupies an area of 232,237 sq m. Comparisons have been made to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, a major entry point into Malaysia, and Singapore Changi Airport, a major entry points into Singapore.

The Causeway
The Johor-Singapore Causeway (Tambak Johor in Malay) is a 1,056-metre causeway that links the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia across the Straits of Johor to the town of Woodlands in Singapore. It serves as a road, rail and pedestrian link, in addition to supporting the water pipeline system into Singapore. The Causeway connects the Skudai Highway (Federal Route 1) on the Malaysian side and the Bukit Timah Expressway on the Singaporean side. On a typical day, it carries 60,000 vehicles.

City Centre
Given city status in 1994, Johor Bahru is a rapidly growing city. Latest census figures indicate that it is fast becoming Malaysia's second largest city, with a population of over 1 million. Shopping opportunities abound in Johor Bahru. Modern malls, arcades, handicraft centres, bazaars and markets offering international and local products all vie for attention. Local craftwork is sure to catch the eye and make lovely souvenirs.

Sultan Ibrahim Building
Constructed in the 1940s, the Sultan Ibrahim Building, located at Bukit Timbalan, dominates the Johor Bahru skyline. The Japanese army used it during World War II in their final assault on Singapore. Today, the building serves as the main office building of the State and houses the State Secretariat. The Saracenic character and mosaic detail make this one of the most interesting buildings in Johor Bahru. State civil service offices had  since moved to Kota Iskandar in Nusajaya in the fourth quarter of 2008.