Cityscape Dubai 2009 opens tomorrow

Cityscape Dubai 2009 opens tomorrow

Most talked about real estate show a platform for industry challenges – comprehensive study of Dubai market to be published

Cityscape Dubai 2009 – the most talked about exhibition dedicated to the real estate industry, now in its eighth year, opens its doors tomorrow (Monday 5 October 2009.

“Now, perhaps more than ever, the eyes of the world are on Dubai and Cityscape with the event generating acres of media comment in advance of opening,” said Rohan Marwaha, Managing Director of Cityscape. “We now look forward to a continuing role in providing a transparent platform to encourage the adoption of measures to tackle the challenges facing the industry,” he added.

“As part of this process, we shall be publishing the Cityscape Intelligence ‘Focus on Dubai’ – the most comprehensive report of its type on the current state of the market which is being made available free of charge to visitors to Cityscape Dubai 2009.”

“With inputs from the Financial Times; project research company Proleads; real estate consultancy DTZ; the ratings agency Moody’s Middle East; and advocates Al Tamimi and Company, the report provides a unique resource upon which to advance debate on the challenges.”

The subjects covered in depth in the “Focus on Dubai” report include:

 An assessment of the state of the foreign direct investment market in the United Arab Emirates.

 An investigation into the nearly 2000 active real estate projects in the UAE, including a detailed market analysis.

 An analysis of the UAE banking system and the future growth potential of the property market.

 A review of recent legal and regulatory changes in property law and what can be done to make Dubai a more robust market.

“As part of the real estate story of the year, 2009 has seen Cityscape’s first decline in growth as the world adjusts to new economic conditions,” Marwaha added. “However, the high quality of Cityscape Dubai as the industry’s main networking event is well maintained. The major institutional investors, master developers, high net worth individuals and senior real estate professionals, which are the backbone of Cityscape, will be in attendance.

“Cityscape Dubai is still a very large show, by any standard.”

Cityscape Dubai consists of a four day exhibition featuring the most significant real estate investors, developers and service-led firms. Entry is free for professionals. In a reflection of the changed market conditions, this year the organisers say exhibition space is down about 30% on previous record years with total participant numbers forecast to be about 20% lower.

The Cityscape Dubai conference runs alongside the exhibition and focuses on global real estate investment and development issues with a panel of international speakers. In addition, the Cityscape Dubai Facilities and Asset Management Conference has attracted delegates in the design, build and post-occupancy of buildings.

The World Architecture Congress (5-7 October 2009), also part of Cityscape Dubai, has been put together in association with Continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and UK chapters and the International Committee of the American Institute of Architects.

There will also be a Cityscape Dubai Green Day on 7 October which will include green communities, construction methods, energy saving issues, financing green buildings, regulations, facilities management, whole life costs and new materials and products.

New initiatives have also been added to improve face-to-face networking, discussion and access to topical information. Senior executive level Investor Round Tables will be held each day. Cityscape Connect sessions take place on 6 and 7 October 2009 with subjects such as Dubai prices, market transparency and affordable housing.

There will also be a City Leaders Forum on 5 October 2009 and a CEO Business Lunch on 6 October 2009. There are also the Cityscape Awards, the prestigious architectural awards under the theme Design for an Emerging World at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on 6 October 2009.

Cityscape Dubai’s foundation sponsors this year are Dubai Properties Group, a member of Dubai Holding, and a pioneering community developer offering services in real estate, retail, and hospitality and lifestyle management; Emaar, the Dubai Financial Market listed global property developer and provider of premier lifestyles; and Nakheel, developer of the iconic Palm Jumeirah and The World. Tanmiyat, a Saudi Arabian investment company and real estate developer in the Middle East, is the platinum sponsor and the Aqaba Development Corporation from Jordan, a private sector company aimed at accelerating the development of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, is the silver sponsor.

For full details of Cityscape Dubai 2009 and its events, please visit: www.cityscape.ae


About Cityscape
Cityscape, organised by IIR Middle East which is part of Informa plc, encompasses a series of exhibitions and conferences that take place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; Asia; Saudi Arabia; USA; Latin America; and India.