Retail property potential big in Abu Dhabi

Emerging real estate market dynamics, long-term return on investment and a robust regional retail sector will be on the agenda at Cityscape Global 2012 next month, as it gets set to host a series of conferences identifying new ventures for those attending the show. Taking place from October 2-4 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Cityscape Global will host three dedicated industry conferences: the Global Real Estate Summit, Retail City, and the World Architecture Congress. Focus sessions on Iraq, Turkey and East Africa will take centre stage at the Global Real Estate Summit, underscoring their status as lucrative markets for investors from the region who are attending Cityscape Global to learn more about international property opportunities. Designed to offer privileged insight and analysis for attending delegates, the sessions will identify the prospects on offer for those in search of the diamond in the rough. “The emergence of markets offering profitable returns such as Turkey and East Africa present a strong, positive outlook but additionally present unique challenges by means of investment and development,” Cityscape Global exhibition director Wouter Molman said. “These shifting economies require investors to go in with open eyes with the necessary industry intelligence and embrace unconventional means to reap what they sow.” Meanwhile, recent developments within the Middle East illustrate a strong rebound in the retail real estate sector in the region, set to be a hot topic of discussion at Retail City. The Middle East is home to eight of the top 20 countries in the Global Retail Development Index according to consulting firm AT Kearney, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while the overall Middle East and North Africa retail sector is expected to be worth $1 trillion by 2014. Added Molman: “In the short term, some of the Middle East markets are fortunate enough not to have experienced the turmoil of some of their neighbours, allowing them to benefit as stable safe houses in the region.” Rounding off the three conferences at Cityscape Global 2012, the 8th World Architecture Congress will address survival lessons learnt among the international and regional architectural community as a result of a two-fold economic and political crisis in the Middle East. New Meydan landmark Meanwhile, the Meydan Group will showcase a major new landmark project at Cityscape Global. In addition to the announcement, Meydan will present significant development updates across its current roster of ongoing investor projects, including Meydan Heights, for which work has begun on 528 villas for Emirates airline pilots and co-pilots, after the major deal was announced last year. Meydan Business Park now features three Emirates NBD buildings for more than a thousand of their key customer service personnel. Another luxury development of 63 private lands for signature villas in a unique gated community with a private clubhouse, some plots overlooking the Meydan Golf course with its own private lake, has already attracted investors, with 40 per cent of the plots already sold. Also showcasing their development, Meydan’s partner, the Sobha Group, will unveil their much anticipated first visuals and block model of their prestigious project Sobha City. Cityscape Awards Also at Cityscape Globa, a shortlist of 36 pioneering real estate projects at the forefront of emerging markets will be centre of attention, when they contest for the highest accolade at the event. The winners of Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets will be celebrated on October 3. The shortlist of projects include property developments from the UAE, China, Qatar, Albania, Singapore, Turkey, Argentina, India, Kazakhstan, Libya, Malaysia, Korea, and Russia, reflecting the global appeal of the awards for 2012. From khaleejtimes