Dubai Forum After Opening of Burj Khalifa Delineates Sustainability Trends

A leading platform of discussion on sustainability trends in the construction industry of UAE, The Dubai Forum was held in Dubai on 5^th January. There were circa 40 speakers and panelists along with more than 400 delegates from 15 different countries discussing on the ways for obtaining the sustainability in the construction industry of the region.

The event was organized by Brand Dubai focusing on ‘Architecture for Sustainable Societies’. It was held under the benefaction of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rahid Al Maktoum and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.

The Chief Executive Officer of Brand Dubai, Mona Al Marri said in her address, “The UAE has the resources required for creating sustainable communities and The Dubai Forum provides a channel to gather inputs in the architectural, design, and planning areas.Taking forward the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, The Dubai Forum will publish an annual anthology on sustainability and environmental development in Dubai and across the UAE. Our objective is to create a body of work that will benefit professionals, scholars, students, educators and the general public in the Arab world."

The Chairman of Emaar Properties, Al Abbar commented on Burj Khalifa as the Landmark and the mouthpiece of an emphatic message to the world. He said, “It is a new accomplishment that has crowned the list of Dubai's great achievements. Burj Khalifa is not just a symbol of the UAE, but of the entire Arab world. The UAE is reinvigorating the spirit of the Arab renaissance, when our forefathers led the rest of the world in the sciences, mathematics and even architecture."

He while describing the Burj Khalifa as a structure to the creativity of human, said that it has given way to a ‘whiff of fresh optimism to the region’. “The 12,000 people who worked on the project have equipped themselves to take up a daunting task in the construction sector anywhere in the world. When wise leaders stand by their people and inspire them to push the boundaries, the impossible becomes possible. Burj Khalifa proves just that

Burj Dubai Inaugurated and Renamed as Burj Khalifa Transmuting Record Books

Escorted by the dazzling fireworks, Dubai unveiled the long awaited Burj Dubai, the tallest building of the world stretching half a mile in the air. The inauguration ceremony of the tower also gave way to the unexpected renaming of the structure which would now be called as “Burj Khalifa” in order to honor the leader of Abu Dhabi and also the president of UAE.

The building rises 2,717 feet (828 meters) from the desert sands. It can be astutely be called as the “vertical city which can accommodate 25000 people at one time. The building costing $1.5 billion is a property with luxury apartments and a hotel. Apart from this, it is a proud possessor of the world’s highest mosque and swimming pool on the 158^th floor and 76^th floor respectively.

The ceremony heard thousands of applauds accompanies the opening of the tapered spire with fireworks and multicolored laser lights to add to its awe.

The city’s 60year old hereditary leader, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Maktoum believes that the building and its surrounding development will help to augment the reputation among the international investors as well as restore the allure of Dubai as a business hub.

The chairman of the developer of the tower, Emaar Properties, Mohanned Alabbar initially said, “it had more than 200" stories, but he later backtracked to more than 165 inhabitable floors, given its tapered top. Promotional materials sent before the tower's opening said it contained 160 stories.”

As per the developers, the building which is nearly twice the height of the New York’s Empire State Building, is confidently safe.

Greg Sang, Emaar's director of projects, said the Burj Khalifa has "refuge floors" at 25 to 30 story intervals that are more fire resistant and have separate air supplies in case of emergency. Its reinforced concrete structure, he said, makes it stronger than steel-frame skyscrapers.

Frame Structure of Ocean Heights Completed

DAMAC Properties, the provider of luxury lifestyle and the pillar behind several other projects, announced the completion of the concrete frame of the tallest tower in Dubai Marina along with its development at Ocean Heights standing high at 84 floors.

Ocean Heights is the flagship of DAMAC and is expected to become one of the most iconic buildings of the area. With its twisted architecture, it already is being visible above all others in the surrounding area.

The Chairman of the main contractors Arabtec, Mr. Sajwani said, “This is a significant day for DAMAC Properties - the structural completion of our flagship building is a source of great pride and an occasion that we are glad we have been able to mark with the support of RERA, Arabtec and so many of the staff who have worked on site for the past three years. To think that this magnificent building has been constructed in a little less than two and a half years is a testament to their efforts and I pay tribute to their hard work and accomplishments. This has been a turbulent 12 months for everyone involved in real estate and it is therefore all the more impressive that everyone involved has remained so focused and dedicated to the task at hand. We are delighted to be literally ending this year on a high by finishing our tallest building.”

He added, “As a contractor we are always proud to be associated with quality projects and it is pleasing to be here to commemorate this milestone event for DAMAC Properties as we finish the main construction of Ocean Heights,' he said."A large part of our philosophy at Arabtec is to work hard with developers to build a relationship and to work together as one team on challenging projects like this. In the light of some of the recent negative news and speculation, I believe it is even more important that we recognize the efforts and achievements of everyone involved in the construction of Ocean Heights and celebrate how significant they are. Once completed in 2010 Ocean Heights will eventually offer 680 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. In addition the building will feature DAMAC Properties' Signature Series penthouse range - ultimate luxury apartments with the latest in hi-tech gadgetry and luxurious home comforts.”

Significant Progress on Tamani Hotel Business Bay

Dubai Properties newly appointed CEO, Mr. Abdul Wahab Halabi visited the progress of Tamani Hotel at Parklane tower. The impressive iconic development in Business Bay by KM properties has reached the 17^th to 18^th level core walls.

Business Bay, after its full development will become the same as Manhattan or Ginza, the business center of New York or Tokyo. The first phase of Dubai’s incredible revolution into a international hub began with the scouring of the Creek in the 1970s. It is expected that the new extension of the Creek will strengthen the entry of Dubai into the international business cities’ league. Added to its splendor, Tamani Hotel will contribute a lot for the cause.

While inspecting the construction of Tamani, Mr. Abdul Wahab Al Halabi was quite impressed both with the progress of the tower and with the commitment of KM Properties in fulfilling its role in the development of Dubai’s Business Bay. Mr. Abdul Wahab Al Halibi was also keyed up by the status of the project and conveyed his enthusiasm to the team of KM Properties.

The five - star deluxe hotel, Tamani Hotel at Parklane Tower comprises of thirty three storeys. The modern hotel includes commercial offices as well with leisure facilities which offer splendid views of Shiekh Zyed Road’s beautiful and impressive skyline and the new creek area of Ras Al Khor. The world renowned designer Carlos Ott has successfully designed Tamani Hotel and the major construction contractor of the project is Al Rostamani Pegel. The official interior designer who has been appointed by KM Properties is LW Design Group.

According to Mr. Sanjeet Joher, the Group Chief Operating Officer of KM Properties, “We at KM Properties are proud to announce that the project is progressing well. We are moving ahead despite the current economic climate and we are very much ready to create the developments that will form an integral part of Dubai's future Business District which is the Business Bay."

Property Investors Can Be Protected from Aftermath of Crisis- New Real Estate Laws

A new law is being worked upon by The Real Estate Regulatory Agency in Dubai which will give new rights to property investors. The law has not been revealed but according to a spokesperson, it is going to be comprehensive and seek to protect the investors.

‘Along with the Dubai Land Department we are studying a new law to protect the rights of real estate investors. Our ultimate goal is ensure justice and set up proper rules and regulations to regulate the relationship between developers and investors,’ the spokesman said. He also added that a draft will be ready to be sent to the Executive Office in order to get the approval by the first quarter of 2010.

The new law is expected to recollect the confidence among the investors of the Emirate followed by the exposure that the owners of developers Nakheel, Dubai World, has huge debts of $59 billion and is attempting to restructure some of it.

It is expected that the real estate industry will welcome more transparencies further.

According to Jason Manolopoulos, managing partner of boutique investment firm Dromeus Capital, the current crisis has raised concerns over corporate governance and transparency to a much higher level.

‘Investors should have been wary about the fundamentals of Nakheel. Everyone was fully aware of the overcapacity on Dubai real estate

I think 2009 will be remembered as the year when the idea that an implicit guarantee should be priced only slightly wider than an explicit guarantee was relegated to history,’ he explained.

‘Investors will have to differentiate, and the selling of companies on the basis of their connections and strategic importance will no longer work,’ he added.

‘It's clear there will be job cuts but it's too early to know the extent of it,’ Raj Madha, an analyst at regional investment bank EFG-Hermes said.

52 Countries and 3000 Exhibitors to Exhibit in Big 5- Dubai Real Estate Show

The Middle East’s top international construction exhibition Big 5 will attribute 52 countries with over 3000 exhibitors varying from main suppliers to regional distributors for Dubai real estate development. The four day long event was inaugurated on 24^th November by Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Dubai World Trade Center.

The Big 5 is going to occupy 43,000 square meter of the area and will comprise of 22 national pavilions. This makes it the first event to engage in the entire venue at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). The event is also 15 % larger than the last year.

Major exhibitors include: Harwal Group of Companies and Euroslot and Clipper from France, Belgium's Echo Engineering, Canadian Climatech, HCP Pumo Manufacturer from Taiwan and Tongdy Control Technology Co. from China and Germany's Hörmann KG VKG. Exhibitors will be showcasing everything from asbestos-free cement to waterless urinals which incorporate a TV screen, and fast-build wooden buildings to state of the art sectional steel water tanks.

The Big 5 Exhibition will feature an impressive arrangement of added value elements including the presentation of the Gaia Awards 2009. The Big 5 Conference will focus on the critical challenges of the present scenario and will run on November 24 and 25 at the Monarch Hotel.

High on the agenda will be the environmental issues throughout the exhibition. The cost for offsetting the carbon footprint at The Big 5 Green Stand will be Dh100.

Helal Al Marri, CEO of DWTC, said, "As has been evidenced by The Big 5's impressive growth this year, the demand in key sectors such as construction is clearly on the rise. Our recent infrastructure expansion that provides a total of over one million square feet of covered exhibition space at our DICEC venue is hence a critical step that will cater for the increasing demand and positive growth in the region's events sector. This growth reinforces rising levels of global business and investor confidence in Dubai as a global business powerhouse".

Palm Jumeirah Sits Away From Speculative Slides

With the value of UAE properties, real estate in Dubai and elsewhere sliding massively, a lot of tentative attention is being drawn from the buyers who are availing the best of opportunities in every deal they can from heel to toe.

But Palm Jumeirah is religiously not following the same in this context. The community has remarked its own real estate market prices and values on the island appear to have a rather concrete rock underneath them.

The reason and situation behind this cause is that Palm Jumeirah does not have to face any competitors like Palms or Deira which are also waterfront developments. This is due to the fact that Palm Jumeirah was complete quite before the crisis unlike these two developments. The two later developments have also been brought to a stand still.

Palm Jumeirah is still enjoying the positivity of exclusive demand with limited supply unlike the other Palms which are waiting for their fate. This simply implies that only the real investors who can be patients and can wait for returns can afford the Palm. However, the spectators seeking a property on the wink of an eye can’t pay for it.

Global Investors’ Gaze at Dubai Real Estate Again

With the real estate prices gradually coming on track, the investments in Dubai real estate are being much talked about by the global investors. Due to the weakening of the clutch of recession all around the world, these investors are looking forward to the market going towards reasonable scenario.

Tej Kohli, a real estate investor and founder of Ozone Real Estate commented, “The latest results from the Dubai House Price Index from Colliers indicate that real estate prices in Dubai have grown almost seven percent during the third quarter of the year from the previous quarter”.

He also added that the results are a fair indication of tremendous recovery and also signalize a bounce in the market.

Kohli confirms, “The stability in property prices is set to be steady from this point on, given the fact that real estate prices are moving to more reasonable levels. The best indication about the Colliers report is that transactions Increased by 64 percent during the third quarter, due to relative stability in prices and affordable housing. Moreover, the growing property boom will be further strengthened by a series of new launches and openings within the emirate, the report said.”
Kohli also pointed out that world’s tallest tower Rose Rayhaan will also witness a gala inauguration by the mid of December followed by the reopening of five-star hotel Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa.

The first quarter of next year will also welcome the opening of high profile hotels The Conrad Hotel and Ritz Carlton along with a series of other projects including new airport.

Further the opening of crescent shaped The Palm Jumeirah Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa, Jumeirah Golf Estate, Dubai International Airport and Tigerwoods’ Al Ruwaya Resort are also entering into the shoes of development in 2010.

The swerves of launches show that Dubai is moving fine on track. Kohli concluded by appreciating the rise of global tourism by 4% as compared to same period last year.

Dubai Villa Stock Welcomes the New Handovers

According to Dubai Properties Group, the leader in Dubai real estate market, the handover of entities in The Villa and Al Waha Villas is expected to take place in December.

Al Waha is a fully sold-out development with 260 villas out of which 50 are three bedrooms and 50 are four bedrooms. One can choose from the rooftop view or the garden level preference if looking for two bedroom location.

Apartments for lease at 558 Community
Of the 558 Community, 134 are of the four-bedroom type, 102 are three-bedroom and 180 are two-bedroom entities.. There are also 48 two-bedroom and 96 three-bedroom apartments to accommodate 558 residences. All villas are spacious and have an upstairs sitting room to boot.

The 558 Community also houses a block of three-storey apartments in its centre and features a large pool. These residences are being leased for Dubai Properties by Salwan Property Management and are not for sale. “We will offer our services to third parties in Al Waha and are managing phases 1 and 2 of The Villa project,” says Saeed Bushalat, CEO of Salwan Property Management. One- and two-year rental contracts are on offer, which come with the provision that there will be no value increases for the first two years.

Mirdif versus 558 community
Dubai Properties’ Shorooq community which includes 668 villas in Phase One, has 353 units ready for tenants to move into. According to Salwan, the rents for a two-bedroom villa here would amount to Dh170,000 compared with the 558 Community’s rates of Dh130,000 a year before summer.

However, after summer DPG stated that introductory promotional packages would be offered during the initial stage of leasing. This makes perfect sense as the market price for many areas in Dubai find themselves in a state of fluctuation this year.

“Mirdif and 558 Community are two totally different projects,” explains Saeed Bushalat of Salwan Property Management. “The unit sizes are bigger in Mirdif. Our rents correspond to the going market prices in the area. It is close to the centre of town and the shopping centers. The 558 Community has not got that yet.”

DPG also started handover of over 2,000 residential and commercial units at its Executive Towers in Business Bay in September. “Handover should be complete by the year-end. We have sold most units in the towers, but kept retail, hotel and some of the apartments to be leased by Salwan,” commented Khalid Al Malik, DPG Group’s CEO.

Hesham Delineates the Ways to Maintain Price Rise

With Dubai real estate market coming back on its track, Hesham Elfar of Coldwell Banker UAE delineated the postulates to ensure that it stays the same way.

Dubai developers along with the realty agents are wondering after the watching the price rise in properties that whether the market has really bottomed out. Commenting on this Hesham Elfar, CEO of Coldwell Banker UAE, said, “One thing is for sure, if we have not reached the bottom, we are very close to the bottom."

According to Hesham’s predictions, there may be a further plunge in prices before things progress. "In the next six months, villa prices should remain stable while apartments might see a drop of 5-7 per cent due to excess supply expected in the coming months. With commercial properties we are expecting a downtrend in prices, also due to upcoming supply."

The players of the realty world however, must not become too contented. Hesham believes that there is a lot more to be done before Dubai can spring back. "Firstly, the residence visa issue should be re-evaluated, as this has lured a lot of people into investing in real estate in Dubai. They have replaced the three-year visa with a six-month multiple entry visa, which is expensive and requires a lot of paperwork. It makes life more complicated; with this visa people cannot buy a car here or place their kids in school. It's very important to resolve this issue, because it will attract foreign investors."

Hesham added that in order to fuel the commercial market, incentives should be offered to the companies to set up shops in the UAE by the governments. "When companies set up offices in a country they create job opportunities, housing requirements and increase consumer spending -this is important for the economy. They should especially offer incentives to financial institutions and trading companies."

But primarily, the industry needs lucidity, he added. “They need to have clear, transparent regulations in real estate and ensure that buyers' rights are protected."

Palm Jumeirah Crosses 70% Construction

According to Nakheel, the developer behind Palm Jumeirah, 70% of its construction has been finished. A senior official said that the master plan is also being visited.

Marwan Al Qamzi, Group Managing Director of Nakheel Development Projects told, "We have finished construction on nearly 70 per cent of Palm Jumeirah. On our part, we sold a couple of fronds on the project but they still have not been built. It is part of the plan to keep them until we come up with some unique designs compared to what you have seen so far. You cannot freeze the master planning. You have to update it as you go. You have to update to meet market demands and customers requirements.”

The Kingdom of Sheba and Ottoman Palace are the inclusions of this waterfront project. Ottoman Palace is almost complete according to Qamzi. He added, “Both will finish by early April to June next year. The Kempinski Hotel is 85 per cent complete.” Work of Marina Residence started in March 2007 after Shimizu Corporation was awarded the contract in 2006 to construct superstructures, basement, architectural works, landscaping of the project and interior finishing.

Regarding rampant payment issues in the market, Qamzi said the developer was addressing the situation. "We are in discussions with all contractors about delays in payment since there are areas where we need to sit and discuss," he said. The Marina Residences did not benefit from the fall in prices of building materials. "With the change in prices, we have negotiated prices on projects that were led at the peak and at the beginning of the phases. However, this was not possible with the contractor at the finishing stages on the Marina project," said Qamzi.

"This is the last one under construction for the time being from our end," he said.
The final touches on the West side of the project are still going on. "Meanwhile, the East side near the Anchor Marina, which comprises a green area with a clubhouse, will be finished in two months," said Qamzi.The Anchor Marina is expected to berth more than 700 vessels, according to an earlier statement from the company. "The residents of Palm Jumeirah will be accorded priority in berthing," said Qamzi.

The developer confidently remarked that Palm Jumeirah project will witness the island emerging as one of the pioneers in resorts in the coming five to six years.

Burooj plans to develop middle-class projects

The real estate right hand of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and the developer supporting multifaceted realty ventures in the UAE and Middle East, Burooj Properties held its annual planning workshop. The event focused on the earlier achievements of the company the future plans taking into account the present condition of the market.

The members of Buroojs Board of Directors, including Chairman Mr Khamis Buharoon, Deputy Chairman Mr Khaled Khouri and Managing Director Mr Adel Ahmed Al arouni,as well as Mr Tirad Mahmoud, CEO of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, and board members, Mr Mohammed Ismail Al Fahim and Mr Masarat Husain attended the two-day workshop.

Highlighting the workshop, Mr Adel Ahmed Al Zarouni, Managing Director of Burooj Properties, said, "It is critical for property developers to stay abreast of the latest developments and changes in the real estate market, and even more important is to regularly convene a roundtable for all parties involved in the company’s growth and expansion to evaluate previous achievements and discuss future plans. We at Burooj have committed to holding such meetings on regular basis."

Said Al Zarouni: "Based on our evaluation of the market reality and potential, we have agreed to continue development works in the Abu Dhabi property market and to target middle income groups through a series of residential projects that cater to the needs of the this growing market segment. Demand for freehold residential units in Abu Dhabi is also increasing in response to the recent regional market changes and the proven resilience of Abu Dhabi real estate sector."

"We are also looking at the possibility of working in property asset management," he added.

It was also announced by Burooj Properties that its Burooj Views project at Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi is ready to be delivered to customers in the first quarter.

World’s Tallest Building to open on 4th January 2010

Burj Dubai, world’s tallest building will finally open up on January 4, 2010. The date happens to be the fourth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum becoming the ruler of Dubai, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of Dubai. Emaar Real Estate Company is actually paying gratitude towards the ruler who has proved to be the builder of modern Dubai by launching the majestic tower on this day as said by its Chairman, Mohammad Ali Al Abbar.

"We decided to inaugurate the world's highest tower during an anniversary that is dear to the hearts of everyone. The Burj Dubai reflects the ambitious vision set by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid who had been "the first supporter of the company and all of its projects since its inception" Emaar chairman Mohammed Alabbar said in a statement.

The 164-storey structure became the tallest in the world in mere 1,276 days due to the effort of over 5,000 consultants and skilled construction workers. In a single month from 2004 when it started, the tower had surpassed the Sears Tower in Chicago with the most floors in the world. It reached 100 levels in by 2007.

Burj Dubai offers Giorgio Armani’s The Armani Hotel and Residences along with other residences and commercial places. It also affixes Downtown Burj Dubai, popularly described as the new “heart of the city”, which is a busting community and s Dh73 billion mixed-use mega project. Known by many names Burj Dubai will be called as home by only a fortunate group of people. The goal of the developers has been not only to develop the world’s highest building but also to symbolize the world’s highest aspirations. The tip of this tower will be visible 60 miles away and its external size covers the area as big as 17 football fields.

Gazumping- A New Way to Force Up Prices

The premium Dubai properties are pushing up sale price after the settlement of the final figure with the buyer. The practice popularly known as “Gazumping” has given way to the price rise of around 15% as reported by real estate agents.

The term was first heard of in UK in 1980s and early 1990 when property prices were jaunty. Gazuming often results in the loss of money, spent on pre-approved mortgages, for the original buyer .It involves a seller withdrawing of an agreed sale after accepting a second higher offer.

"In the last month, we have seen sellers of high-quality units failing to honor their commitments.Eight or nine of our high-value deals have gone sour. In most of the cases the owners randomly increased prices by eight to 15 per cent,” told Parvees Gafur, Executive Vice-President of Sales.

"There have been cases in the past few months where the seller has increased the price by 10 to 15 per cent. But none of our deals have gone bad since we had other listings in the particular area", added Vineet Kumar, Asteco's Head of Sales in Dubai.

Saeed Mirsaeedi, Investment Manager at Sherwoods Independent Property Consultants, said: "We have seen instances where the seller has increased the sale price after listing at a certain price. They have also been removing their listing in order to wait for the market to recover rather than sell at a lower price."

Gafur said, “ There was a shortage of high-quality finished units and as a result sellers were listing their properties with a more than one agent. In most of the cases property owners do not give a written commitment to sell a unit at a particular price.”

"A seller gives a verbal commitment of the price at which he is ready to sell. We then take about three to four days to find a buyer. During this period the seller goes to other agents who may say they can obtain a higher price, and so when we contact him with a buyer, he rejects the offer," said Gafur.

Realty Laws by Early Next Year in Abu Dhabi

According to a legal expert, Realty laws in Abu Dhabi like those dealing with escrow accounts, brokers, strata title and mortgages is expected to be executed by near the beginning of next year.

David Nunn, Partner of Simmons and Simmons stated, “Currently, the Department of Municipal Affairs has confirmed the real estate laws are under consideration and so we can assume that they are in draft phase. I am not aware that the planning and the building regulations law have yet been drafted although I believe that the underlying regulations have been worked out,"

As per Emirates Business reports of December last year, five draft laws have been concluded to manage the realty sector in Abu Dhabi. The laws will set regulations for real estate developers, contractors and brokers. In addition to it the rules will also check the off-plan sales, licensing of high-rise residential towers and property registration.

"I anticipate all these new laws although there was scope under the existing law 19 of 2005 to introduce regulations dealing with some of these matters," he said.

The new laws will be imposable once they are published in the Gazette, Nunn said. "I am confident the new laws will be more sophisticated than any real estate laws we have in the region.”

Salwan will now Manage Executive Tower at Business Bay

Comprehensive property management services will be provided to the Executive Towers development at Business Bay. Dubai Properties has appointed Salwan for that matter as it will now be responsible for managing this 12 tower self contained Dubai real estate development for an area of 8.7 million sq ft. Executive Tower comprises of 10 residential towers, a Business Bay hotel and a freehold office tower. Dubai Properties has also mandated Salwan to extend the leasehold options for Executive Tower units. An amount of AED 15.38 per sq ft will be levied as service charge for maintaining the landscaped areas, indoor car parks and various infrastructure works within the development.

CEO of Salwan, Saeed Bushalat said: “As one of the leading property management companies, we are pleased to extend our offerings to Executive Towers. Our value added services are designed to exceed client expectations while ensuring the long term plans and sustainability of the development. We look forward to a fruitful relationship with the property owners and retailers at the development.” As the portfolio for properties around Dubai is growing Salwan currently owns and manages approximately 18,000 commercial as well as residential units at different Dubai locations.

An official spokesperson for Dubai Properties said: “In our committed endeavor to provide competitive services for offering a niche lifestyle experience, we have appointed Salwan Property Management to manage the Executive Towers that is quickly moving towards its handover phase. We believe Salwan has the expertise, the capabilities and the resources to provide premium services to the Executive Towers community and ensure the sustainable maintenance of the development.”

For Dubai properties, Executive Towers is the first project in Business Bay and following the successful release of Jumeirah Beach Residence a second major freehold project is to be handed over.

Rakeen to Commence Infrastructure Work on Al Marjan Island Property in RAK

Rakeen is one of the most dynamic property developers in Ras Al Khaimah which has instigated phase two of the infrastructure work on Al Marjan Island property. The phase two of the project will get started in August this year. Al Marjan is a man made island in Ras Al Khaimah. Rakeen further revealed that this phase two of the infrastructural work will be completed in 18 months, thereby, covering Island 3 and 4 of Al Marjan. The costing of the project will come out to be Dhs365 million.

The infrastructure work of phase two will include various facilities for drainage, telecommunications, channel crossings, landscaping, electricity, street lightning and fire fighting installations as well. The Infrastructure Manager of Rakeen, Dr.Fawzi Shadid said: “It is our top priority to fast-track the completion of infrastructure work as various projects that are being built on Al Marjan are dependant on the infrastructure facilities. With Phase One of the infrastructure work progressing well on schedule, we are now fully prepared to commence work on the second phase after we identified the Contractor for the job.”

The Director of Development of Rakeen, Herbert Krause said: “This project means a lot to everyone at Rakeen and in Ras Al Khaimah, as it is pioneering in so many ways: building technology, environment and marine ecology, tourism and hospitality, residential exclusivity, leisure and sports facilities, and also because it enhances the skyline and the international image of the emirate.” This pioneering development project extends the coastline of the emirate by an additional 21 kilometers. This master development is expected to be completed in June 2010 at the cost of Dhs366 million.

Design of Homes in Samarah Sea Resort Property gets completed

The second phase of the design of The Apartments in Samarah Sea Resort, a residential community has been completed by Emaar International Jordan, country subsidiary of well known Dubai real estate developer Emaar properties. The construction of the development is set to instigate shortly. The progress of this real estate project highlights the dynamics of the property sector of the Dead Sea region and Samarah’s great contribution to the local economy.

This project will be acknowledged for its higher and better property development standards. Moreover, these standards have been brought in by Emaar properties. Emaar properties are a reputed property developer which has a track record in developing internationally acclaimed projects around the globe. This real estate project that is being developed comprises of a cluster of 8 low-rise buildings. It forms an integral part of the Rift Living homes. Samarah Dead Sea Resort is a mixed use project incorporating the best modern amenities including beach clubs, hotels, retail units and various other leisure facilities.

The Rift Living homes are directly located on the Dead Sea. These homes are adjacently located to the waterway and across Wadi Mukheiris from the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre and the sales center. The project work is currently progressing as per its schedule. GM, Emaar International Jordan, Radzi Zakaria said: “Samarah Dead Sea Resort is an unparalleled development in the Dead Sea region as it integrates the world-class design and development competencies of Emaar Properties. As a resort-themed project, Samarah is billed to energize the tourism and property sector growth of the Dead Sea region. This perfectly fits with the Government's plans to boost the region through focused investments.”

Steady Shift Shown by Dubai Properties

A Dubai based property consultant, Sherwoods Independent Property Consultants, has announced that Dubai real estate market has entered a new phase which is showing the signboard of recovery. It has been announced that a steady shift has been seen in Dubai property prices thereby, prices are moving towards a more reasonable level. Moreover, in starting of the 4^th quarter of the year 2009, more concrete growth signs in terms of real estate investments and property prices are expected to be seen. It has been predicted that the coming year 2010, will be a year for stabilization and a specific new direction for the real estate sector.

Sherwoods credited the most important players of the industry for quickly adjusting to the changes in the market environment. The MD, Sherwoods Independent Property Consultants, Iseeb Rehman said: “I would say that the prices have been corrected to reasonable levels, which has created more value offerings to buyers and investors. The positive signs we are seeing should result in more tangible proof of growth around the 4^th quarter of 2009, during which property prices will further stabilize and we can also expect a marked increase in property investment.”

In 2010, Dubai will get transformed into a stable market as far as property investments are concerned. The available property prices today, are the best for long term investments and the investor is expected to make good profits out of it. At this point in time, investors those who want to invest in property sector for short term are not advisable to do so. Sherwoods acknowledged the remarkable performance of the property sector in a situation of global economic downturn and Dubai’s decision to enhance the infrastructure in the emirate.

Attractive Finance for Executive Towers by Dubai Properties

Dubai Properties is a subsidiary of Dubai Properties Group (DPG). It has announced its coalition with the Standard Charted Bank in order to offer Easy loan mortgages. This easy loan serves as a great funding option for potential buyers and those who are the existing owners of the residential units at Executive Towers. This master development is a unique property in Dubai ideally located at one of the prestigious development in Business Bay. The Executive Towers comprises of both commercial as well as residential units.

Customer’s property will be evaluated directly by SCB as a part of this easy loan by some independent surveyors and finance is being offered with minimal documentation requirement from the client. This easy loan mortgage product is beneficial for those who are resident in the UAE and they should also meet some specific eligibility criteria for that matter. This mortgage product offers financing of up to 40 percent of the total property price. The Group CEO of Dubai Properties Group, Mohamed Binbrek said: Dubai Properties' alliance with Standard Chartered, one of the leading Mortgage Providers, is part of an endeavor to provide our clients with viable loan options. We are focused on leveraging synergies across the real estate sector and aim to continue delivering strong investment values to our customers and give them the confidence and security to invest in the real estate market.”

The advantage of these financing terms can be taken by the customers for the final payment for tenure of 3 to 25 years. This financing term is on Dubai Properties Executive Tower residential property units. The financing term for the final payment varies from Dh150000 to Dh10 million. As part of the loan customers can also finance their land registration charges.

After Emaar and Dubai Properties Merger New Entity to have Dh194bn

Emaar properties have a proposed merger with three Dubai Holding entities and it has been said that now the combined assets are Dh194 billion. Moreover, with their merger a new entity has been created. Emaar Chairman Mohamed Alabbar said to Dubai Financial Market: “The new entity will have Dh13.4 billion of debt obligations, around seven per cent of total assets valued at Dh194bn.”

Dubai properties, Sama Dubai and Tatweer, all three entities of Dubai Holding have a solid land bank, thereby, contributing positively to the consolidation. At the end of the year 2008, the 3 real estate developers excluding Emaar properties has a total asset of Dh126 billion, moreover, an external debt of Dh3.4 billion. This complete are just 2.7 percent of the total assets of the 3 companies. As per 31^st March 2009, the total book value of assets of the largest listed Arab developer was at Dh68bn. The total debt obligation comes out to be 15 percent of total assets that is Dh10bn. Sama Dubai, Dubai properties and Tatweer are the three entities of Dubai Holding which are valued at Dh126bn as of December 2008. Moreover, they have external debt obligations as well which are around Dh3.4bn.

Although, four of them will join their assets, however, they will also share a debt of Dh13.4 billion. Out of these 4 Emaar properties is the only Dubai real estate developer that is being listed on DFM which at the end of March had the total assets worth Dh68 billion and the debt obligation of Dh10 billion.

Infrastructure Work going on at Business Bay Development in Dubai

Key infrastructure work is going on at Business Bay development. It was announced by Dubai Properties, a subsidiary of Dubai Properties Group. The key infrastructure work includes district cooling, water network, sewage and power connectivity. The total amount that is being spent on this work is Dh10 billion. The master developer is also pulling up the socks for the delivery of Executive Towers which is also a part of Dubai property sector. Business Bay is a master real estate development; however its work is steadily progressing.

Business Bay is a master development for Dubai Properties and is an 80 million sq ft development. It is ideally located on Dubai Creek’s extension. In February 2009 this real estate project was energized by a power substation of 132/11 Kv. This was to feed the first and the second phase of the development on the west side of this real estate development.

The Group CEO of Dubai Properties Group, Mohamed Binbrek said: “Business Bay is our most acclaimed and ambitious project up to date. The unprecedented logistics and scale of construction that encompasses the development is closely supervised by Dubai Properties and relevant business partners and stakeholders, and we are determined to deliver all foundational function in a timely manner. In line with our promise to our stakeholders, our status is backed by projects such as Executive Towers and the Creek extension at Business Bay, amongst other spectacular developments around Dubai. Client needs stand as our topmost priority and we will continue to bring on stream projects that serve as a benchmark for generations to come.”

A broad and widely spread road network has also been laid out throughout these two phases of this spectacular project in order to serve both the commercial as well as residential premises.

In Q3 Dubai Rents are expected to Decline Further

Dubai is expected to face the signs of rent stabilization. According to landmark advisor the rents for residential property units in real estate in Dubai will further decline in the third quarter. The Director of Research, Landmark Advisory, Jesse Downs said: “For the Dubai market, there are distinct signs of market stabilization and a return of confidence from end-users. Sale prices have even increased in some cases. This increase is largely due to the dynamics of each development.”

According to the Landmark, the sharpest decline was seen in the apartments and there was an oversupply of this segment because of combining of the economic downturn and quality of high-rise apartments completed in the year 2008. Earlier, price differentiation was based on factors such as location, quality finishing and views etc; however they have now been replaced with other factors. The developments which are experiencing price increase are smaller villa developments. Among end-users these developments follow value recognition in terms of its quality, amenities, layout, location and all. If we compare Landmark’s May guide with that of June, it shows that Palm Jumeirah has now got stable rents while a fall of 7 to 25 percent could be seen in Dubai Marina studios.

Jesse Downs believe that distressed sale opportunities are largely furnished as the sellers have refused to lower down the prices which already exist. For sough-after residential developments with limited availability of homes, buyers are paying high rates in some cases. Rent guide is developed by using the broker survey, mystery shopping and transactional data. She further added: “Dubai tenants will see even more opportunities to upgrade their accommodation as rents will continue to fall. However, high-demand areas will experience a faster rent rebound as deal-seekers rush in.”

Discovery Garden Property has got a New Rate Fixed by Nakheel Real Estate Firm

Discovery Gardens is a well structured community comprising of six themed communities developed by Nakheel. The community offers an area of 26 million square foot freehold residential community. Its construction has been inspired by garden living developed in the heart of New Dubai. Nakheel is one of the leading Dubai real estate developers and has recently planned a revised budget for Discovery Garden community. Before re-setting the property rate, the revised price has been agreed formally with RERA, Dubai property market regulator. This price change will mean an approximate reduction of Dhs5 per square foot in service changes for homeowners.

Managing Director of Nakheel Asset Management and Design (NAMAD) Abdulrahman Kalantar said: “When we first set the service charges for Discovery Gardens, they were based on our best estimates for this new Nakheel community. Following a lengthy review, we have been able to take advantage of recent reductions in the cost of goods and services, which has in turn reduced our overall service charge budgets.”

Nakheel made some necessary preparations with following the introduction of the new strata law in April, 2008. Once the regulations are being finalized by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) these preparations are to register the Owner’s Association with RERA, these necessary preparations are to register the Owner’s Association with RERA. Moreover, these new lowered service charge rates will be backdated to 1^st January, 2009. If there will be any rebates for householders they are being credited against next year’s service charges effective from October 1^st, 2009.

Dubai Land Deals Reach Dh2.15b

Last week in Dubai the total worth of the land transactions reached an amount of Dh2.15 billion. In return the sales also got exceeded by Dh1.41 billion. According to the Land Department during this period the total value of mortgages was Dh736.89 million. Al Ruwayyah was the most valuable plot and it was sold for Dh207.2 million. As the week ended, The Department registered a total of 81 transactions. During this week Dubai real estate has shown vast improvement by delivering such prominent sales and registrations. Apart from the Al Ruwayyah, the next two prominent sales were shown for plots in Emirates Hills-3 and on the Sheikh Zayed Road.

These two sales were again tremendously huge as the plot on Sheikh Zayed road is acquired for Dh124 million and the one on the Emirates Hills is for Dh20 million. As far as week sales are concerned, the area of the Emirates Hills was the most active among all. Not only this, but Palm Jumeirah followed 14 sales. The period was under review during which it got disclosed that mortgages worth Dh524.86 million were registered, out of which mortgage for Marsa Dubai was the most significant with Dh214 million. Moreover, area in Al Jadaf was another for Dh94 million. Apart from all these sales and Dubai land transactions, by value Al Ruwayyah recorded the highest turnover followed by Sheikh Zayed Road for Dh124.01 million and last but not the least Emirates Hills-3 at Dh59.68 million.

In Al Ruwayyah the largest area which was sold was a 430,338 square foot plot. On Sheikh Zayed road a plot of 64,586 was acquired whereas, a 40,000 square feet area got disposed of in Jumeirah-3 for Dh15 million. This was the report and data acquired related to property transactions and registrations by Dubai Land Department.

ETA Star handovers Liberty House Real Estate Development

ETA Star is one of the leading real estate property developers in the UAE. This real estate company has now started handing over residential and office units to Liberty House owners. It is located in Dubai International Financial Centre district (DIFC). This property development company has already begun the handling of Dh700 million. Liberty House offers a complete range of freehold residential accommodation. The project is a 42 storey freehold tower; L shaped comprising of luxury studios, 1-2 bedroom duplexes and 1-2 bedroom apartments.

The Executive Director of the ETA Star, Abid Junaid said: “With great pride, we are pleased to say that we are amongst the first private property developers to deliver a project in the DIFC district. Keeping in mind to the current scenario, the delivery of the magnificent Liberty House holds strong significance in our hearts as this validates our trust and commitment towards our loyal patrons and customers. We will continue to strive towards completing our projects as per schedule.”

Liberty House is a full fledge unit comprising of office space, residential accommodation, car parking etc. This property in Dubai consists of office spaces on 10 floors. Above this there are 20 floors providing luxurious residential accommodation. Moreover, car parking is not at all an issue as 6 levels of car parking are available. This office property in Dubai in Liberty House is centrally located around an atrium space thereby, providing a lively and a comfortable environment for the employees. Moreover, the apartments are being developed with contemporary designs and a great level of sophistication is also involved. Apartments are designed keeping in mind the modern lifestyle with terrace areas. Thus, it has become a perfect residential and a commercial property.

Dubai’s Airport Development Investment has Increased

Dubai has confirmed an amount of Dh63b to be increased in Dubai airport development project. So far an amount of $7.2 billion have already been invested in this Dubai real estate project. Despite of these challenging times, the infrastructure in Dubai is still going on for that matter. President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “These are challenging times for aviation. Passenger and cargo traffic has dropped off dramatically in most parts of the world leading to billions in industry losses. Dubai has been a beacon of light during these turbulent times. During the first quarter Dubai Airports recorded 2.1 per cent passenger traffic growth.”

In order to expand Dubai International Airport, an amount of $7.2 billion have already been invested in it. The expansion of Dubai International Airport includes a second concourse which got opened in the year 2008 and Terminal 3. This all has been done to increase the airport’s capacity to around 60 million passengers per annum. Shaikh Ahmad further added: “Dubai has been a beacon of light during these turbulent times. During the first quarter Dubai Airports recorded 2.1 per cent passenger traffic growth. That increased to 6.5 per cent in April and 7.1 per cent in May. In total, Dubai International forecasts a four to five per cent increase in passenger traffic for the first half of this year.”

The expansion also encompasses construction of Concourse 3 which is yet to be completed. It is expected to get completed in late 2011. In return the total airport capacity will get a boost to 75 million passengers every year. The government of Dubai is heading forward with its long term vision for the betterment of travelers and of course for the betterment of Dubai airport as well.

Damac Properties, a Dubai Real Estate Developer Aims At Meeting Delivery Schedule

Damac Properties has proclaimed that the company is focusing on meeting their delivery schedule. They are aiming at delivering 25 towers by 2011. Hussain Sajwani, Chaiman of Damac Properties, believes in looking at the market more optimistically. Also, he believes negative attitude or destructive talk would not help the market recover.

Sajwani said “The brand Dubai has suffered in the last few months due to negative rumours, gossip and speculation, which prompts me to reject the cynicism by looking ahead into the future of the property market in Dubai and talk about the recovery process. We have to talk about taming the current situation with our positive attitude towards the change& we need to lead by example”.

He also added “I have heard all kinds of rumors about Damac. We have adapted our business to meet the challenges that exist at the moment and we have had to take a long, hard look at our efficiency rates and our longer term projections and targets. The corrective measures we have taken have been prompted by viewing the road ahead. We are a successful company and I do not feel that I should refrain from talking positively about the future.”

Damac Properties has, also, declared that they would assign Dh2 billion worth deal for construction work to continue, in 2009. The company is expected to meet its target of delivering 7100 units by the end of next year. This year Damac Properties has delivered 800 residential units at The Cresent in IMPZ and 536 units at Lake View, Jumeirah Lake Towers. Damac Properties has declared, Park Towers at DIFC and Ocean Heights at Dubai Marina are nearly 40% complete. These properties are expected to complete their construction by 2011 and have 25 towers delivered.

"No one is pretending that these times are easy. We have had to alter our plans and change the way we do business, but we have tried to meet these challenges in the best way we can,'' he said.

"We were criticised by some for making what seemed harsh choices, but in making these tough decisions we have gone a long way to protect the future of the company," he added.

"We will continue to concentrate on those developments where construction is already under way. We will also monitor the market for the right time to revisit those projects which we had announced but not yet started," Sajwani said.

Dubai Property Madison Residency Is Handed Over By Deyaar in May

One of the fastest growing real estate company Deyaar Development, has announced the handing over of Madison Residency by May 2009. This is the first Dubai real estate project to be delivered by Dayaar in 2009. The company is organizing a seminar for the owners on the handover process of the residential units. This orientation process would focus on the procedure required for the final documentation of handing owner respective properties to the owners. Also, the 2009 operating budget for the building would be discussed and the home owners would be explained the amenities and facilities of the property.

This property is situated along the Sheik Zayed Road, on Technology, E-Commerce and Media (TECOM) freezone. Madision Residency hosts 312 residential units. This outstanding property includes 161 opulent studios, 99 two bedroom apartments and 52 one bedroom apartments. The property is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities which include swimming club, health club, roof garden, strong security system, under-ground parking and generously spread retail services.

Markus Giebel, Chief Executive Officer of Deyaar, said: "An orientation program in the lead-up to the delivery of Madison Residency further underscores Deyaar's continued commitment to providing our customers with best international quality and service experience and is in line with our 2009 strategy to facilitate increased communication with customers. A program of this nature is an essential practice followed by leading global developers. It provides customers the opportunity to understand the exact documentation procedure for the final handover as well as the facilities management contract and amenities provided at the project. Such a program proved to be very successful on our Al Seef II project that was recently handed over."
Giebel added: "Positioned in one of Dubai's most prestigious and sought-after locations, Madison Residency stands out for its close proximity to the key business hubs of Dubai and the world-class lifestyle it provides."