Real Estate

The real estate market in Abu Dhabi is continuing to undergo a period of correction, with prices flat, slower demand and more supply expected to come to market in 2012. But while the market is expected to remain subdued in the near future, new real estate laws anticipated in 2012 could improve the situation in the longer term.

The introduction of a real estate regulatory agency in Oman is expected to instil greater confidence among foreign investors and promote better practices in this growing segment. Early this month the Council of Ministers took a first step towards getting the agency off the ground: it directed that a committee be formed to gauge the opinions of players involved in the sector to determine exactly what the agency could contribute

The Van earthquake in late October, which stunned Turkey and dominated press headlines for weeks, has also brought renewed efforts to deal with the country’s decrepit and dangerous urban housing stock.

Continuing to attract international attention and investment, Egypt’s real estate sector is performing well in what has been a turbulent year for the country’s economy. Unsurprisingly, given the country’s massive population, recent reports have emphasised the potential of Egypt’s property market, particularly in the residential, leisure and office segments, in the wake of the country’s political revolution. A deal inked by Qatari Diar, one of the region’s larger real estate companies, worth around half a billion dollars serves as a clear testimonial to investor confidence in its long-term future.