In 2008, for the first time in history, more than half of humanity was living in urban areas. Perhaps the most remarkable observation about this trend is the speed at which it has happened: as recently as 1900 urban areas accounted for 13% of the global population. Towns and cities are seen as the crucibles of opportunity for many rural...
The March 2018 announcement of a Dh30bn ($8.1bn) joint venture (JV) between Dubai-based Emaar Properties and Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties has created a wave of interest in the potential of such arrangements for the broader real estate sector. While the Emaar-Aldar agreement is unique in its size and scope, Abu Dhabi has seen an uptick in the...
Although it has become a strong contributor to economic diversification, Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector is being put under pressure by slower growth, brought on by the period of low global oil prices that started in 2014. Public and private sector spending cuts since 2015 have been reflected in capital value, with rental rates declining to...
Activity in Abu Dhabi’s construction sector contracted for the second year in a row in 2017 as the effects of the oil price drop beginning in 2014 were reflected in a narrower project pipeline. With major transport and energy projects approaching completion, the period of reduced investment across the wider UAE could continue to present...
With real estate a key source of foreign investment, Abu Dhabi’s government has been gradually easing restrictions on foreign ownership to sustain market growth. This imperative has taken on added importance since the drop in global oil prices beginning in late 2014, leading to new public and private initiatives to draw in further overseas...
As the global economy becomes increasingly digitised, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and its legal arm, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), have aimed to stay ahead of the curve. In May 2018 they announced that they had begun developing the Real Estate Self Transaction (REST) platform, an online portal that will enable all aspects of...
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