Opinion Real Estate Take a fixed rate mortgage in a volatile economy Variable rate and trackers have their advantages but go for security in uncertain times October 31, 2022
Real Estate Rising business occupancy boosts profits for Tecom Tecom Group, the Dubai-based operator of business parks and free zones, announced today that third quarter revenue rose by 12.5 percent year-on-year, driven by rising occupancy levels. Revenue reached $133.4 million as demand rose across the Tecom portfolio for office, warehouse and worker accommodation. The company, which is owned by the investment vehicle of Dubai’s […] October 26, 2022
Real Estate Egypt’s SODIC offers to buy Orascom Real Estate for $125m Egyptian property developer SODIC has offered to buy Orascom Real Estate for $125 million, the residential compound builder’s parent company Orascom Development Egypt said on Tuesday. Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties and state holding company ADQ bought a controlling stake in SODIC late last year, and the purchase of Orascom Real Estate would further expand their […] October 26, 2022
Exclusive Real Estate Six Senses sells 75% of branded Dubai units ahead of 2024 debut The first Six Senses Residences in Dubai is planned for 2024 as the CEO of the global luxury hospitality brand reports demand from affluent and existing UAE residents. Neil Jacobs said the progressing construction of Six Senses Residences The Palm, alongside a 61-room hotel, represents a “new milestone for the brand”. “The property price growth […] October 23, 2022
Analysis Real Estate Dubai tenants jump on property ladder as rents soar Dubai has seen an increase in end-user homeowners as its property market matures and begins to move away from the speculators and flippers of the boom days before 2008. Surging rental rates and expats opting to live in the UAE longer have also made the jump from tenant to homeowner increasingly more attractive, industry experts […] October 21, 2022
Real Estate Dubai revival sees developer Deyaar’s Q3 profit surge 72% Dubai property developer Deyaar on Thursday reported a surge in third quarter profit while revenues rose 72 percent over the same period on the back of a revival in the emirate’s real estate sector. The company made a profit of AED36.3 million ($9.88 million) in the third quarter from AED8.1m in the same period last […] October 21, 2022
Real Estate Indian billionaire buys $163m mansion on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah India’s Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has purchased a luxurious mansion for $163 million (AED 598.72 million) on Palm Jumeirah, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Ambani bought the mansion last week from the family of Kuwaiti tycoon Mohammed Alshaya. The latest villa purchase is close to a $80 million mansion which he […] October 20, 2022
Real Estate Arab buyers eye prime New York properties as Russians exit market The wealthiest city in the world has seen a sharp rise in interest from Middle Eastern property buyers, replacing the void left from the exodus of super-rich Russians. A spokesperson for real estate firm Knight Frank told AGBI that the number of enquiries for New York property from Middle Eastern customers had increased by 50 […] October 19, 2022
Real Estate Union Properties finalises $162m deal to restructure its debt The developer of Dubai's MotorCity has repaid $60.7m to lenders after a turbulent year that included fraud allegations and a new board October 18, 2022
EXCLUSIVE Trump-branded properties in Dubai report 100% growth Donald Trump may be the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation in the US, but his name is still big business in Dubai, where properties in the Gulf city bearing his brand name have appreciated by nearly 100 percent and continue to command strong demand. The former US president is under multiple probes, including the […] October 16, 2022
Analysis Real Estate Dubai property values ‘fairly priced’ despite 30 months of rises Property prices in Dubai are still fair despite more than two years of increases seen during its “Covid comeback”, according to new research. The UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2022 said that despite a “buoyant year”, the market in Dubai is not overpriced. “Dubai’s housing market has been a rollercoaster ride over the past […] October 12, 2022
Exclusive Real Estate Rents for Qatar tenants soar ahead of World Cup Tenants in Qatar are losing out in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup as rents soar by nearly a third, with landlords able to secure longer-term leases at higher rates due to a lack of supply in the market. “Residential rents have risen around 30 percent year-on-year,” said Adam Stewart, the recently appointed head […] October 11, 2022
Real Estate New PIF firm to build mixed-use destinations in 12 Saudi cities Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has launched Saudi Downtown Company (SDC), which seeks to build and develop downtown areas and mixed-use destinations in 12 Saudi cities. The cities include Madinah, Al Khobar, Al Ahsa, Buraidah, Najran, Jazan, Hail, Al Baha, Arar, Taif, Dumat Al Jandal, and Tabuk. […] October 4, 2022
Real Estate Dubai’s latest property craze: luxury underground bunkers A Swiss design firm is tapping into the latest must-have property desire for the UAE’s super rich – luxury underground bunkers. Prices start from $10 million and the developments are used for everything from pools and garages to panic rooms and secure meeting rooms. Oppidum, a design firm established in 2015 in Lucerne by entrepreneur […] October 2, 2022
Exclusive Tech Metaverse will boost online home sales ‘five-fold’, says Damac One of Dubai’s largest real estate developers is already close to $500 million in property sales each year online – and the metaverse is expected to help this grow more than five-fold when it is fully utilised as a selling channel. Many observers may be sceptical about the nascent Web3 sector, but Damac Properties is […] September 30, 2022
Analysis Real Estate Saudi developer to sell utility NFTs on its $1.6bn Oman project Saudi Arabia’s largest listed real estate developer plans to drop a limited number of utility non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for its $1.6 billion project in Oman next month. Unlike the art and collectibles digital asset, utility non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are built to give their holders certain perks, such as exclusive access to events and items or […] September 29, 2022
EXCLUSIVE Economy ‘Everyone’s attacking Truss but her plan will attract foreign investors’, says Damac exec The British government's plans to reduce taxes and planning red tape will attract Gulf investors, says Damac executive Ali Sajwani September 28, 2022
Analysis Tourism From Bulgari to Versace: Dubai’s rich splash out on branded homes The UAE is expected to attract the largest net inflow of high net worth individuals globally in 2022 – and with that comes a growing demand for luxury housing. Catering to this income bracket, the branded residences sector has grown by 230 percent across the world over the past decade. Savills, the real estate services […] September 25, 2022
Analysis Real Estate ‘Jury’s still out’ on hybrid working, says top fund manager “The jury’s still out” on the post-pandemic model of working partly in the office and partly at home, according to a leading UAE real estate investment trust (REIT) manager. Thierry Leleu, CEO of Equitativa, told AGBI that the “office sector is a sector that we are confident in here in the UAE.” Equitativa is manager […] September 21, 2022
Real Estate Pakistan property sees surge in Gulf-based interest Pakistan’s real estate sector has seen increased interest from Gulf-based investors over the last year, according to data from the country’s largest property portal. The Pakistan Property Show was held in Dubai’s World Trade Centre earlier this month. With over 60 exhibitors, it attracted around 20,000 attendees, including Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, director general of […] September 19, 2022
Analysis Real Estate Rents near record levels in Dubai as interest rates bite House price growth in Dubai fell to its slowest rate in 18 months in August, with experts saying that the rising cost of mortgages is starting to impact the market. While the city’s real estate sector is hitting record highs, rising interest rates are putting the squeeze on some landlords. As a result rents are […] September 15, 2022
Real Estate Burj Khalifa broke its sales record in 2021 – and is set to do it again The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, recorded its highest residential sales in volume and value last year – and is on track to break that record in 2022. Data from property consultancy Knight Frank and real estate analytics portal REIDIN shows that the volume of residential transactions at the Dubai skyscraper hit 106 in […] September 14, 2022