Construction & Real Estate
From The Report: Dubai 2020
View in Online Reader
Construction in Dubai was a major factor in the expansive economic growth seen in the early 2000s. However, the sector has witnessed a slowdown in recent years as lower oil prices depressed consumer demand. This was particularly the case for real estate, which slowed building activity. The investment prospects associated with Expo 2020 and a raft of regulatory reforms aimed at attracting foreign investors have helped to stabilise the real estate market, and many industry players are optimistic that the period of lower growth levels is coming to an end. The authorities are confident that Expo 2020 will not only stimulate real estate activity, but also the wider economy.
Articles from this Chapter
Centre stage: Infrastructure development ahead of Expo 2020 fuels growth
Over land and sea: China’s implementation of a new trade network is energising the global construction industryOBGplus
From 206 BCE to 220 CE, China’s Han dynasty fostered a booming trade industry for silk, a precious commodity in high demand among the elites of the Mediterranean. The Silk Road was the name given to the network of trade routes connecting the East and West at the time. Later, spices and other precious cargo would be traded using the system, fostering not only economic, but also cultural links between Asia and its contiguous continents. As such, the network became the information superhighway of its time as well, transmitting knowledge and expertise across distance and cultures. Extremely rapid economic expansion in China in the four…
Over land and sea: China’s implementation of a new trade network is energising the global construction industryOBGplus
From 206 BCE to 220 CE, China’s Han dynasty fostered a booming trade industry for silk, a precious commodity in high demand among the elites of the Mediterranean. The Silk Road was the name given to the network of trade routes connecting the East and West at the time. Later, spices and other precious cargo would be traded using the system, fostering not only economic, but also cultural links between Asia and its contiguous continents. As such, the network became the information superhighway of its time as well, transmitting knowledge and expertise across distance and cultures. Extremely rapid economic expansion in China in the four…
Attractive terms: Government and private sector initiatives seek to encourage foreign investment and first-time homeownershipOBGplus
Although Dubai’s real estate sector has experienced some downward pressure and declining returns for developers and contractors since the fall in oil prices that began in late 2014, the investment prospects associated with Expo 2020 and a raft of regulatory reforms aimed at attracting foreign investors have helped to stabilise the market, and many industry players are optimistic that the period of lower growth levels is coming to an end. The authorities are confident that Expo 2020 will…
Positive signs: Investment in property related to Expo 2020 begins to bear fruitOBGplus
The long-anticipated Expo 2020 will run from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021. Located close to Dubai World Central airport in Dubai South, the site of the event is expected to cover a total of 438 ha. Expo 2020 will be the first of its kind in the MENA region, and under the theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, it aims to act as a convening point for innovative technologies and business leaders across the world. The event is forecast to attract 25m visitors, 70% of whom…
Confidence booster: Arrival of large US brokerage firm a boon for the local marketOBGplus
Despite the real estate market’s subdued performance, one of the largest brokerage firms in the US opened up a new office in the emirate, which is expected to boost investor confidence and reinvigorate the sector. In May 2019 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) announced its arrival in the Middle East market with the opening of a new office in The Greens. The UAE has become its fourth overseas market, following London, Berlin and Milan. Broad Reach The BHHS’s decision is a major…
Urban adaptation: Rapid urbanisation and young, growing populations put pressure on emerging markets to solve housing deficitsOBGplus
Urbanisation is a mega-trend redefining contemporary life in both developed and emerging markets across the world. This mass rural-to-urban movement of people and expansion of cities to absorb formerly isolated villages is a relatively recent phenomenon, at least in the developing world. According to the UN, in 1950, 751m people lived in urban areas; however, by 2018 this number had risen to 4.2bn, equivalent to roughly 55% of the world’s population. By 2050 the UN estimates that this figure will rise to 68%. This growth will not be distributed evenly, but rather disproportionately concentrated in the developing world, with high rates…
Urban adaptation: Rapid urbanisation and young, growing populations put pressure on emerging markets to solve housing deficitsOBGplus
Urbanisation is a mega-trend redefining contemporary life in both developed and emerging markets across the world. This mass rural-to-urban movement of people and expansion of cities to absorb formerly isolated villages is a relatively recent phenomenon, at least in the developing world. According to the UN, in 1950, 751m people lived in urban areas; however, by 2018 this number had risen to 4.2bn, equivalent to roughly 55% of the world’s population. By 2050 the UN estimates that this figure will rise to 68%. This growth will not be distributed evenly, but rather disproportionately concentrated in the developing world, with high rates…
