Dubai Property & Real Estate Blog

Bally Chohan Al Ain

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:00:16 -0600

Al Ain is located within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Al Ain literally translates to The Spring and is home to the largest number of Emiratis within the UAE. The city is the fourth largest within the UAE and the birth place of, the first President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Bally Chohan has spent many summers in Al Ain where the climate tends to be less humid than the popular destinations of Dubai, Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah, although the actual temperature has often been recorded as greater than its city and coastal counterparts. Jebel Hafeet is popular with both tourists and locals and has a number of beautiful five star hotels which amply accommodate the needs of all types of guests. Al Ain and Oman shared an open border until 2006 when the UAE past a ruling for the boarder to be closed. Gulf nationals are able to pass through this border however expatriates have to proceed to neighboring border crossing points.

Tourism in Al Ain is growing and becoming not only a popular destination for UAE residents but for international travelers as well. Located equidistantly between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, international connections are very convenient and economical. Recreational activities include The Al Ain National Museum, The Al Ain Palace Museum, the Hili archeological site and many restored forts. Other places of interest include the Oasis in the city centre, the Zoo, Al Ain Fun City, a Heritage Village and Central Garden. Bally Chohan paid the Fun City a visit last year and was pleasantly surprised with the facilities and entertainment areas which are well maintained, clean and all staff are courteous. The attraction was superb value for money and is highly recommended. Al Ain has seven oases which are all very beautiful and a must see for all tourists.

If you are looking for more information on the Dubai Property market and other Dubai Real Estate breaking news please visit our website. We also offer other services such as Dubai mortgage advice, rent to own property, Cayman Islands property etc you can contact us here and we will be more than happy to assist and advise you.

The Bally Chohan Pottery Experience

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:51:10 -0600

Collecting pottery is a hobby of many people in the UK, with collectors paying substantial amounts of money for their interest. One of Bally Chohan favourite pottery makers is Moorcroft, named after William Moorcroft whose designs have been envied by many. William Moorcroft originally founded a studio within a large ceramic company in Stoke on Trent. After a split with the ceramic factory Moorcroft moved to large factory in Sandbach Road in Stoke on Trent, where the pottery is still made today. Funding came from the London department store, Liberty, who controlled Moorcroft until 1962 when the Moorcroft family bought out Liberty’s share. William Moorcroft sadly died in 1945 at which time Walter, William’s eldest son took over and managed the company as well as designs. Moorcroft pottery is envied the world over and a fine tribute to British pottery, design and craftsmanship.

Wedgewood pottery is also a favourite of Bally’s, as a master of British ceramics and pottery. The Wedgewood family and history in pottery and social reform dates back into the 17th century with every member of the Wedgewood family since Josiah Wedgewood working with or in the family business is one manner or another. The dynasty is famous for both contributions to the industry and public life. The generations of the Wedgewood family hold a dear pride for their heritage as leaders in their craft and pioneers of their industry.

Pottery is a proud British tradition with exemplary manufacturers demonstrating outstanding techniques and skill. The craft dates back centuries and in woven into the tapestry of modern day life so tightly we scarcely think of the amount of ceramics we use and take for granted. Collections are admired the world over and can reach lofty heights in auction houses. The skill and art is celebrated and enthusiasts (Bally Chohan included) can be seen throughout the country keeping a watchful eye in community jumble sales, car boot sales and (for the more sophisticated pocket) auction houses, for hidden pieces which have been long forgotten.

Bangkok Bally Chohan In Thailand

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:11:02 -0600

Thailand is one of the places Bally Chohan mentioned he has been to lately and we sat down and discussed many things about the wonderful City of Bangkok and in particular the buildings and infrastructure there which of course led on to one of our other favourite pastimes food! The buildings and property in Bangkok differ widely from run down old low story towers to state of the art high rises much similar to the ones you see in Dubai and London. Bangkok is a lot different to most places we have ever visited though due to its influx of travellers and holiday makers from all over the World all on a different quest in life from backpackers to the high rollers most seem to spend some nights in the capital before heading off to places like Phuket, Ko Samui, Krabi and the idyllic paradise of Phi Phi islands where one of the James Bond movies was shot on location.

The villas down in the South of Thailand are also some pieces of real estate to really be admired again each one of different depending on when it was built and how much the owners budget was they all share one thing in common though and that is location location location as from our travels this has to be one of the most peaceful beautiful places on the planet a lot different to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok but that is what is so special about this Country nearly every City you visit is quiet different from the last. Bally Chohan and myself sat down at a beach side restaurant and admired the views at the sun was setting across the bay and ordered a few cocktails and sampled the famous Thai cuisine, if you like your food a little spicy then you must a one time in your life sample the culinary delights on LOS (Land Of Smiles).

The next day we visited a new resort that was being built that housed about 20 deluxe villas these were located Hua Hin the ancient town which is one of the King of Thailand's favourite Cities and is renowned for its Spa`s and Golf Courses. The villas were of a very modern design two story and high tech with amazing finishing's ideal for long or short term rentals we thought as this was one of the more wealthy places the tourists seem to flock to in there numbers and I must say its mostly families here with kids who are looking for a bit of R and R.

For more adventures of myself and Bally Chohan on our holidays keep checking our Blog.

Bally Chohan Speaks On Burj Dubai

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:02:10 -0600

The Burj Dubai is finally set to open today after five years of construction by the Korean company Samsung Engineering I`m sure the opening will be a huge spectacle even by Dubai`s high standards especially as the local Property market is somewhat down I`m sure the local hierarchy will look to put the City firmly back in the positive spotlight once again. Bally Chohan was only saying to me the other day that he would personally try and attend the opening as like all of us who have watched this monster tower Burj Dubai go up over the years and catch a glimpse of what it had to offer.

Developed by Emaar Properties this is now officially the tallest building on the planet overtaking other famous landmarks such as Taiwan's famous Taipei 101 by almost 200 metres, imagine that! The total height of this building as said by insiders is around 824 metres but I think they are trying to keep that under their hat so that another Country cannot start to break new records as soon as their "baby" is launched. Bally Chohan also discussed with me about the other building that was set to start but has now been postponed due to the economic downturn which I suppose is understandable but you can bet your bottom dollar that in the future when Dubai`s market bounces back which is only a matter of time you`ll see this record broken in due course exciting times for the UAE again!

Bally Chohan Dubai Property News

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:01:39 -0600

Its been quite a year for 2009 Dubai Property with the Economic downturn affecting markets around the World such as London and United Kingdom UK in general. However Dubai was probably the most affected market on the planet due to its tremendous growth over the last 5 years or so. Bally Chohan commented to me about this last week but we both agreed that over the next couple of years we`ll see the local market come back here, perhaps not to what it was at its peak as the prices we`re truly way too high and over priced.

The areas that we considered to be value for money these days are mostly ready property over off plan such as the Emirates Living development by Emaar and the International City and Motor City developments by Nakheel and Union Properties. There seems to be some interest now from end users who were previously priced out of the market and had no alternative but to rent at absurd prices which is never ideal and a bit like flushing good money down the toilet. These people can now take advantage of the 50% drop in prices and also take their pick of where they would like to live, on top of this there is some real distressed sellers out there who need cash quickly and are prepared to do a deal to get their real estate sold in the quickest possible timeframe.

Bally Chohan has been visiting Dubai for many years now and although he has never bought a property here he said he is keeping a keen eye on the market to see where it is going and if there are any further drops he may invest in a family holiday home for his folks as it is still one of his favourite Cities with London. He also jokingly said that now at least he can get a table quickly at some of his favourite eateries where as in the past you had to pre book some 2 weeks in advance if you wanted to eat at a popular venue this is due to the amount of people who have lost jobs in Dubai or have simply been out priced by the cost of living which still seems high considering that the economy is so down still.

There are a few other Bally Chohan blogs around if you are interested to follow them and keep up to date with this mans famous travels.

Mr. Bally Chohan

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:43:33 -0600

Painting and decorating courses are in popular demand in the UK. The courses are designed to build on skills already learnt, create new skills and assist with new techniques and materials the industry has. Classes vary in length from 1 hour to a few hours with breaks.

The techniques for painting vary, equipment such as rollers or brushes are used and in some instances sprays are introduced. The effects can vary and depend on personal preference the student will find his or her own style and flair. Bally Chohan has attended some of these courses and has in the past decorated his own homes. The pointers that are given are useful as for simple tasks which most people undertake within their own homes. The attendees of the course all too often are not looking for a new vocation but merely looking to broaden an interest or develop a hobby.

Hardware stores and home centers can supply a broad spectrum of requirements, from professionals to individuals. The materials are generally well priced and the variety is plentiful. Often it is more rewarding to complete small decorating tasks and projects in our homes, and these courses provide the advice to equip the layman with the skills required. Bally Chohan noted that it was strongly advised that only qualified professionals should undertake works to gas supplied equipment or electrical equipment. Even water appliances and supplies should only be maintained by qualified contractors as more harm can be done if an overzealous layperson attempts these tasks.

Non hazardous tasks such as hanging wall paper and painting can also have safety risks, equipment should be secured before attempting to climb ladders. Flammable materials should be stored in suitable environments. Cleaning equipment, paints, glues and other substances should be stored away from young children as some materials used in their manufacture maybe harmful if ingested.

Bally Chohan has enjoyed his courses in both United Kingdom in London and Dubai and found them to be a beneficial hobby and wonderful life skill. The painting side is very therapeutic and individuals can exercise their creativity with use of colour and textures.

Bally Chohan Dubai

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:53:34 -0600

Bally Chohan has been involved in many charity events and developed many new methods for marketing events. Children’s charities have always been close to Bally’s heart and a personal interest. Marketing Fund Raising events has been an area of Bally’s expertise. The marketing can be developed and redeveloped in varying formats and mediums. The intellectual property is trademarked and developed specifically for his use.

Although fund raising events can be developed for any manner of charities, the charities closest to Bally Chohan’s heart are the charities for Children. Unicef, Children in Need and the Princes’ Trust Foundation have always been Bally’s favourite.

He has often sought worthy causes to follow of which there are many. Developing countries have been amongst the many Bally Chohan has supported although British charities have also been favoured. Bally Chohan has developed a network of peers who donate hours of time towards programs to regenerate housing projects and developments internationally. These projects and developments have been targeted towns and villages hit by natural disasters and historically lack funds to redevelop themselves.

Himself and his colleagues have worked tirelessly to maintain clean water, housing and sewage systems in areas worse hit and without funding. Bally has seen many changes throughout the years but the work is never complete, there are always people in need and developments to be made. In roads are slow but Bally has found that tackling them project by project, development by development, each area at a time is the only method which truly works. Bally Chohan is a true believer in taking each project slowly and creating the best possible solution for each town and village, which can be developed upon. The solutions Bally has masterminded are bountiful and elaborate but instrumental in each Bally has developed techniques to ensure they are affordable solutions.

Bally has run teams of volunteers to war torn territories and areas hit by natural disasters and sought to bring hope to the villages and towns. Bally has seen how a small amount of assistance can revive the spirit of a town and village and develop the strength of its residents.

Bally Chohan

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:38:15 -0600

An interesting person I met on my travels Mr. Bally Chohan has been fortunate enough in life to pursue one of his private passions, travel. Bally Chohan has travelled extensively across North America, Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. Bally Chohan’s love of the Arts drew his attention time and time again to Paris where his appreciation of Fine Art developed. The beautiful French capital became Bally’s regular holiday destination during which time Bally developed an ardent palate for French food and the sophisticated Parisian culture.

Recent years have seen Bally Chohan maintain his fondness of adventure which has taken him across the globe from Agra to Abu Dhabi, from Shanghi to Seattle. His love of Modernism and Classical alike bring a glorious tapestry of contrast to his life. Fine fayre and the culinary delicacies of each new destination have also been a great and rewarding experience for Bally.

Throughout all of the travels and experiences Bally Cohan has embarked upon, London and the United Kingdom remain Bally’s home of choice. London’s charm and character is easily missed by many, as a grey and glum place to reside but for the Bally who recognised its charm and the hidden jewels London has, this city which remains understated and yet exceeds expectations. From the exuberance of high tea at The Ritz to noodles in China Town Bally Chohan has found London is home to the contrasts of city life which are embraced in a multicultural society which Bally Chohan has embraced.

Real Estate Web Design Dubai

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:19:02 -0500

Real Estate Web Design Dubai by Blue Beetle

I have been looking to have a re design on my website Dubai Property Portal for some time now but with being so busy focusing on the SEO and Search Engine Optimization the new design has been put on the back burner so to speak up until last week this...

One thing I do is always keep an eye out for who is on top of their game for Dubai Web Design and in particular Dubai Real Estate websites. There are so many companies out there showing off their flashy portfolios, some good and some bad but there is only one company who I consider to be way ahead of the competition for creativity, customer service, attention to detail, clean design, usability with a high quality end product and that is Blue Beetle in Dubai.

Over the years I have watched them progress into the market leaders for Dubai Property and Real Estate websites with names such as The First Group, Hydra Properties, Smith & Ken, Dubai Luxury Homes, Dubai Waterfront Properties etc etc and that is only the property related sites. They have also designed for the likes of Lloyds TSB, Jumeirah Group, Dubai World and many many more big names, actually have a look at their portfolio here and see for yourself as some of the designs really are awesome. I approached Mark Hirst at Blue Beetle with my ideas for a re design and new front/back end so it`s work in progress really but one things for sure I really can`t wait to see the end result and I know it will make a big difference to give our clients a much more user friendly platform to buy, sell and rent Dubai Property, so watch this space and I`ll update you with the progress from time to time up until the launch.

If you are looking for Dubai web design or development on your new or existing site get in touch with the guys at Blue Beetle like I did they`re impressive no doubt about that and are considered the number one Dubai real estate web designers by far.

Smith & Ken Appoint Dubai Property SEO Expert Mark Wallington

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:49:00 -0500

One of the things I`ve been busy with this week is finalising my SEO Search Engine Optimization proposal with Ben Smith the CEO of Smith & Ken one of Dubai`s leading property companies. So why did we both team up together? Well first of all when I looked at the Smith & Ken current website it was something I really wanted to be part of I have to say, its one of the best Dubai real estate websites out there! Plus Ben had some great ideas himself and a good understanding of Dubai Property SEO so I knew it could be the perfect combination.

But it gets better than that... Ben then told me they were having a new website launched at the start of September, I asked if I could take a look at the new design compared to the old as I could not really see how they could better what they had already??!! WOW is the only word I can describe to tell you the way it looks, absolutely genius work by the guys over at Blue Beetle Dubai Web Design, I always knew they were the best in the local market for churning out mega unique design work with exceptional functionality, great job guys I`m sure it will take the market by storm when its launched.

Now back to the SEO work, I think Smith & Ken were quiet impressed with all my initial ideas and the examples I showed them that I have done on my own project Dubai Property Portal over the last few years and obtaining top ranks in Google, Yahoo, Bing etc with some top notch Search Engine Optimization for Dubai property and all the developments within.

I`ll keep you updated on the progress of the work and the new website with the official launch date it should be very exciting and expect to see Smith & Ken all over the Search Engines very soon!

If you are looking for expert SEO or Search Engine Optimization work doing on your own website you can contact me Here.

Thanks,

Mark Wallington.

World's Best Property SEO

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:55:50 -0500

The World's Best Property SEO.

Is Mark Wallington the best property SEO out there? I must admit I`m doing this Blog here to show you my SEO skills and to also challenge myself to see if I can get to the number one ranking in Google for the search terms "World's Best Property SEO" to be honest I think I`ll do it lets see... As proof if you have landed on this page you have also witnessed first hand of what I could do for you in terms of property SEO if you have come via a Search Engine.

It`s also a test of my SEO Search Engine Optimization knowledge that I have picked up over the last 4/5 years whilst working on my own website Dubai Property Portal. I`ve tried to achieve some of the greatest rankings possible in the local real estate market there to drive traffic and clients which in turn means leads leads leads and revenue! The results that I have achieved so far have gone way above my expectations, just to give you an idea the main website and all the associated Blogs that I use get approximately 4,000 unique views per day (more about that below).

The property world in Dubai has seen a lot of changes in the last few years with regard to online marketing and media advertising. In the past most real estate and property companies used to use newspapers and magazines for listing their properties which got very expensive. These days everyone who wants to stay one step ahead of the competition and at the top of Google are using the best SEO techniques and individuals like myself to make this happen. SEO Search Engine Optimization is not something you can just click your fingers and make happen even if you have one of the best property websites on the world wide web, if it is not optimized correctly its as good as being listed right at the back of a newspaper, not on the back page but on the inside back page, useless.

SEO takes time and patience and many changes to the structure of the title tags, keywords, descriptions and of course great content and that's only scratching the surface, if you don't have the experience in making these changes it can be quiet a daunting task and one which most companies are simply not equipped to do themselves so they look to hire a good SEO.

If you are looking for someone to help you achieve high rankings for your property or real estate website please contact me on the following email Here for all your SEO and Search Engine Optimization requests whatever Country you are from.

Best Regards,

Mark Wallington.

*Note.

Thanks also go out to Activerain where I have been a featured member on the homepage for a very long time and also to REW where my Blog there has had over 720,000 unique views you both provide great platforms for internet marketers to drive traffic to websites.

Dubai Property SEO Search Engine Optimization

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:13:15 -0500

Dubai Property SEO Search Engine Optimization

If you are a Dubai Property company looking for SEO Search Engine Optimization on your website to increase traffic, leads and rank high in the Search Engines Mark Wallington can make this happen and you have come to the right place. Actually you have already witnessed how SEO works as you have now arrived at this page we set up to attract users on the internet looking for Dubai SEO, we can implement the same techniques for your own website to make sure you rank highly for search terms such as "Dubai Property" "Dubai Real Estate" and "Dubai Properties" etc etc.

These days it is of the utmost importance to gain high rankings in the Search Engine`s if you are to be found for clients searching to buy property in the U.A.E. if you are not visible or ranked high enough you will find it very hard to attract buyers and sellers directly as leads. This is where we can assist you and make sure we drive as much traffic as possible to your website that you can then convert into sales and revenue for your company.

SEO and Dubai Search Engine Optimization is now being widely used in the local market and to stay one step ahead of the competition or even to keep up with the big names you must have your website fully optimized with researched title tags, meta keywords, descriptions and good unique content all of which we will provide for you with a monthly Dubai SEO plan.

For more information and a FREE ranking report you can email us Here to find out more about Dubai Property SEO.

Regards,

Mark Wallington.

Stop Press...

See what it takes to be the World's Best Property SEO today.

New Rental Index From RERA Set To Show Easing Rents

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:16:45 -0500

Anyone familiar with Dubai will know that normally each passing year sees Dubai’s already sky high rental prices being increased further towards the point of madness. On top of traffic, rent in Dubai it is safe to say, is not one of the things Dubai residents would have high on their lists of lifestyle benefits of living in the Emirate. With some workers spending over 60% of their income on renting a property in Dubai alone, the situation was getting a little out of hand. Landlords were very much in the position of power, with most tenants being expected to hand over at least 6 months rent, in most case 1 years worth of rent, before being able to take occupancy of their home. However the rapidly deteriorating Dubai real estate market combined with the global economic crash has brought hope to Dubai tenants. Well that was the original idea.

In order to give a clear indicator of what rental prices should be, the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) released a rental index, which was to act as a guide to fair rental prices. However upon its initial release, the index wasn’t exactly an overwhelming success! The figures used to calculate prices were mid 2008 prices, when the Dubai real estate market was at its peak, and rental prices still sky high! It therefore bore no resemblance to the current market demand and rental prices, and therefore wasn’t exactly much use!

However RERA are now set to release a new an updated rental index using more recent market data, that should give a more fair indication of what rental prices should be in the current climate. Although it has not yet been fully completed, RERA have revealed a average price drop of 10-15 in some developments. This is still some way off the expected price drops and current market prices, but RERA say this the index is still undergoing completion, and these prices have been formulated using only a few developments rental prices. The full index should be released later this month. However will it fully show the drops being seen in rental prices, or will RERA have overstated prices yet again? Those who work in the sector believe the rental prices have declined some 30% across Dubai properties, but will the new rental index get it right this time?

Are you looking to sell Dubai property at the best rates possible? Contact us now!

Direct From Owner No Commission 1 Bedroom International City

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:43:57 -0500

Direct From Owner No Commission

Welcome to a fascinating world of unique architectural styles, where the timeless heritage of a glorious past is captured in a vibrant, flourishing destination - International City.

Designed to mirror the charming allure of the United Arab Emirates, the new Emirates precinct is the latest residential offering in this lively multicultural neighbourhood that is home to over 60,000 people.

Though distinct in its appeal, the new Emirates precinct seamlessly integrates into the montage of architecturally different themes that includes Russia, Italy, Spain, England, France, Morocco, Persia, Greece and China.

International City is located along the Dubai-Hatta road between Interchange 5 and 6 of Emirates Road.

Apartments Number 111
Property Location/ building name Emirates cluster @ International city
Number of Bedrooms 1
Number of Bathrooms 1
Development Name International City
Completion Date December 2009
Estimated Square Feet 764
Original Purchase Price (AED) 679,600

Selling Price(AED) Including Transfer Fees 700,000 net to owner (not including transfer fee)

Additional Features

Pool
Garden Garden
View
Parking Parking
Gym
Doorman Doorman

Additional Information(Including % paid up to date)

Paid 40% by cash, the remaining is financed by Noor Islamic Bank

Contact Owner Mrs. Parveen Habib
Mobile Number: 050 551 2808
Alternative Mobile Number: 050 651 2813
Email Address: Parveen.habib@noorbank.com

Dubai Property Distress Sales Bargains To Be Had!!

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:34:24 -0600

With the financial problems being experienced in the west now slowly filtering through to other economies around the world, Dubai can join the likes of China and other large Asian countries in seeing its economy slowly take a turn for the worse. This therefore puts Dubai real estate in a very unfamiliar situation, with this perhaps the first time here that property prices are not on the up. And with this being a first, no one is really sure as to how long things may last, and what happens next. After all real estate prices can be complicated enough, without the current external factors also added on top. However what we do know is that the current property prices decline presents buyers with a great opportunity to pick up a bargain!

Whilst houses prices are still not exactly give away cheap, they are certainly becoming more and more tempting. Whilst prices have fallen with both off plan and secondary market property, it certainly seems that it is the secondary market that has been the hardest hit. Many of those working in the Dubai real estate sector believe the current fear behind the price drops is a little overblown and prices will soon bounce back, but in either case, it means for the time being you can purchase real estate in some well know areas for almost 20% less than a few months ago! With prices in Emaar’s popular Downtown Dubai development according to some reports down by as much as 22%, there is some very high standard real estate up for sale with big discounts!

But who wants to buy now if the market is only going to continue to fall, right? Well the beauty of the Dubai property market at the moment is that long term; it still looks a very solid investment! Property is still underpriced in relation to other big cites, and the Dubai government has a strong hand in dictating market supply, ensuring things don’t get too out of control. The general picture being presented of the Dubai property market is that the current price drops being experienced will not be a long term thing, therefore making this a great time to jump onto the market.

Are you looking for a property in Dubai at the lowest price possible? Contact us now for the best deals on the market!

The European Business Centre Dubai

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:17:12 -0600

As Dubai begins to play an ever growing role in Middle Eastern and World business affairs, its reputation as a place to come and work or set up office is being ever enhanced. With a rapidly expanding business sector Dubai wants to become the new Hong Kong or Singapore, and with all that is being built and developed here, Dubai surely has all the right pieces in place. With government incentives for foreign businesses and enterprises setting up in Dubai, companies small and large are beginning to see the advantages of moving here. With tax breaks and other financial incentives, plus no personal income tax, Dubai property and offices has few competitors when it comes to offering businesses an environment in which to thrive and prosper. However for all its positive business initiatives and great business areas, Dubai can still be a confusing place to get an office and working environment up and running.

It shouldn’t be hard, but often is. And this is where the European Business Centre can come to your recue. Offering a state of the art working environment included the latest technologies throughout, the multi purpose commercial project aims to take all of the hassle and bother out of setting up office in Dubai. Situated at the highly regarded Dubai Investment Park, the European Business Centre can provide international firms wanting to come to Dubai with an up and running office and much much more. Whereas many offices sold in Dubai real estate only come as a shell, with none of the fittings and basic infrastructure needed to operate completed, the European Business Centre is ready for you to move in and work from day one, and thus can save you all the troubles normally involved in buying your own office.

But you get a lot more than just the latest and state of the art offices here. The EBC will also provide you with a huge range of invaluable services. Setting up of your company, helping you to find the local partner required by law, visa support legal advice, bank account help and even a lifestyle guide to Dubai are just some of the areas where you can receive advice and help when starting up. And once you get things going, there is also a range of operational support service such as IT and technology help desks and maintenance, security plus tax and legal help. Then factor in a huge range of permanent and temporary flexible offices to suit your needs, and the EBC looks like a pretty smart bet. So for those looking to come to Dubai and set up here, the ECB really does look to have all angles covered to make the process exceptionally easy and efficient for you, whilst still offering the highest standard of office space and technology available in Dubai properties. Sounds like a winner.

Registration Deadline Draws Near For Ajman Property Developers.

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:30:00 -0600

Whilst Dubai property is usually the Emirate of choice when it comes to making property headlines in the UAE, that doesn’t mean the other Emirates are not doing their own thing too. Abu Dhabi has achieved much success in this regard but has yet to fully move out of its neighbors’ Dubai’s shadow. Ajman property has also achieved a good deal of success by following in Dubai’s footsteps and opening up the property market to foreigners and offering freehold property ownership. However Ajman property has also not found itself immune to the property price crashes seen elsewhere, and now cracks have started to show in the market. With some off plan property plummeting up to 50%, Ajman property is now going through some testing times. The very recently formed Ajman Real Estate Regulatory Agency(ARERA) has already been put to work, with numerous and wide ranging controls being implemented to try and get the market back on track.

Developers are now being required to register with the ARERA and fulfill a number of criteria in order to be allowed to continue to operate within Ajman. These include setting up Escrow accounts and a moratorium on unaudited real estate payments. With a number of developers having taken payments for property that has yet to even see construction start, the government has been forced into tightening regulating in the face of falling buyer confidence. With developers having an initial deadline of the 5th March to begin the registration process, and then the 1st of May to have everything to be complete and submitted, there is not much time before developers are forced to show their hand.

The ARERA is taking non compliance of its new legislations quite seriously, and developers who don’t heed their warning can expect a minimum fine of AED 100,000 and be prevented from doing any business within the Emirate of Ajman. Advertising on unregistered projects will also result in fines. Developers who have not started construction on their projects will also be required to cease taking payments from investors until construction has begun. This new legislation has been welcomed by those involved in Ajman real estate, and the new laws should help stabilize the market and increase buyer confidence, which can only be a good thing at this time.

For more information on Ajman property, Dubai real estate or Dubai properties contact us.

The Grass At The Greens Emaar Causes Quiet A Stir

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:13:33 -0600

Dubai is starting to become a place where residents are getting used to putting up with strange and in some cases plain odd things when it comes to their homes. Dubai property developers have made a name for themselves by creating weird and wonderful freehold real estate projects, something I am sure most appreciate. Unfortunately some developers like to carry the crazy and unique part over to their dealing with residents; well the crazy part anyway. There have been quite a few reports of property owners and Dubai developers coming to blows on numerous issues in the past, and unless there is a large charge from Dubai real estate developers any time soon, don’t expect such problems to go away fast! Emaar has in the past hit the headlines for giving residents at the Greens and the Lakes, who were renting apartments, only 2 weeks to move out or purchase their property for the going market rate, and this is only really the tip of the ice burg.

Only recently residents at Jumeirah Beach Residence one of Dubai properties biggest developers were hit by what they saw was a unreasonable services charges price rise from the developments management company. The 129% increase did not go down well, but the management company has since said it would look into improving efficiency to bring this down. The newest development to see residents displeased with what their developer has decided to change is the Greens Community. So what is the uproar about this time? Well it seems developer Emaar has decided to replace grass in some of the central court yards with artificial grass. It seems Emaar has deemed the move necessary to fix some leaking water from entering underground garages. However residents don’t seem to agree with the changes and now an online petition has been started to voice resident’s displeasure at the changes. With a 100 signatures already collected there are clearly a good deal of people not happy with the move, but Emaar is going ahead as planned anyway.

Emaar states the work is necessary, and only a small area is being changed to artificial grass, and the Greens will still retain much of its landscaping. However it is understandable that residents at a development called ‘The Greens’ are slightly uneasy with their greenery being replaced with plastic!

Three Dubai Property Developers Announce Plans Of Handing Over This Week.

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:06:39 -0600

This week has seen not just one, nor two, but three different Dubai property developers looking set to hand over freehold properties in the Emirate. The delivery of the properties will be a relief to investors in the projects, and with all the recent project cancelations from Dubai developers in response to tightening credit and the property market crash, it could be a while before we see such a large delivery of property at the one time such as this. So what developments can owners expected to very shortly be receiving the keys for? Well to start is Damac’s second completed tower at Jumeriah Lake Towers, Lake View Terrance. The 40 storey tower, housing some 536 apartments has already received its certificate of completion. Overall the project looks to have been a big success, and now only 10 apartments remain for sale in the tower, and with the difficult market conditions, Damac are offering special incentives for those who purchase the units. The handing over of the tower marks the end of Damac’s 2008 property phase where it brought over 2000 units to the market with more expected in 2009/10.

But Damac are not the only Dubai real estate developer who will be celebrating this week, as Dubai’s largest developer Nakheel has also announced it will be starting to hand over some 300 villas at Jumeriah Village this week, in what is just the start of a larger handover that should see over 2200 villas at the development ready for occupation by the end of 2009. With 96% of available villas already having being purchased the development has proven very popular and once fully completed should be home to 300,000 people and cover 811 hectares! And also keen to get in on the handover act this week is Cayan Investment and Development. Whereas the above two developments are introducing freehold residential real estate to the market, Cayan will be delivering 12 stories of freehold commercial property to what is currently an undersupplied market.

The AED 120 million Cayan Business Centre project at TECOM has offices available for rent still, and offers super modern office facilities and the building features a huge glass atrium at its centre. So this week will see a lot of happy owners take possessions of their properties, but how long it will be before we see such large handovers again for Dubai properties is anyone’s guess.

Will Dubai Property Home Owners Associations Satisfy Residents?

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:16:05 -0600

The Dubai property market is really in a bad place at the moment, with Dubai’s property developer’s struggling to attract buyers in the harsh financial climate. It is not exactly surprising given the world’s economy is as bad as many can remember, and people are being made redundant left right and centre. This combined with Dubai properties already being on the edge due to speculation created somewhat of a perfect storm. The results have seen sales of Dubai freehold real estate slump. With big restrictions on credit, plus many companies in Dubai downsizing and making workers redundant, it is a pretty hard environment at present, and as a result has left the Dubai government which a large responsibility to sort out the whole mess. No easy task it would seem. But could good actually come of all this for Dubai residents?

The government has been introducing all kinds of new legislation and regulations to make living and buying Dubai property more appealing. One long standing complaint of Dubai residents has been the handling of property service charges. Up until now residents were forced to hand over sums of money for the upkeep and maintenance of their properties communal areas. They were given no say in how this was run, and often had to deal with large price increases from the property management companies employed to run the schemes. The lack of a say, and the price increases have never been popular with residents, but this should now be set top change with the new ruling that the responsibility to carry out such work will now rest with Home Owners Associations. Residents, via the home owners association, will now themselves be responsible for the running and looking after of their developments and will have to decide on things suchs as maintenance costs, service contracts and such.

This all sounds good and well on paper, as it is what residents have been asking for, for some time. However how will it play out in reality? It is now for residents to step up and take responsibility for these things, but will people be willing to do so? Those who run the home owners associations will be expected to give up their free time and will have to deal with the extra pressures involved in such things, all on top of their day jobs and family lives. Hopefully Dubai real estate residents will be wiling to step up to the task, but maybe for some the reality isn’t quite as good as what they had hoped for.

Dubai Property Investors Urge RERA To Act

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:39:48 -0600

There is no denying it; things are hard in Dubai at the moment. For a place that sees sunshine almost everyday of the year, the city has an air of gloom around at the moment. The world financial crisis and resulting residential freehold property crash has seen a number of companies downsizing and laying off workers, whilst many developers are putting projects on hold. With no idea of how long the current financial downturn of the world markets will last, people in Dubai have a lot on their minds.

The Dubai real estate market lies at the heat of the problem, having a knock on effect all across the city, and with investor confidence at an all time low, things will probably need to chance here first. The importance of the freehold property market to Dubai cannot be underestimated, so the comings and goings have wide ranging implications for the city. And now the Dubai Property Investors Group is pleading with the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) to ensure the future prosperity of the Dubai real estate market before it is too late.

The Dubai Property Investors Group is made up over 300 lawyers, investors and developers, both local and international, who have banded together in an effort to encourage the Dubai Government to take action for the good of the property market. With so many developments currently on hold or cancelled, with a recent estimated worth in the hundreds of billion of Dirham’s, the investors are asking the government to guarantee projects from developers that are now unable to proceed with construction despite already having accepted payments from buyers. They are asking that all payments to developers’ be stopped until there is evidence that developers can deliver on contracts and promises in what are financially difficult times.

The investors argue failure to act now and route out bankrupt developers will just lead to a continuing in the property price falls current being witnessed. They also are asking that the Dubai government hold back a number of planned larger projects such as Dubailand, so as to ensure there in not an oversupply of property to hit the market which would further hit property prices. Good idea, bad idea? It is hard to say. Should a government play such a large role in manipulating property prices? Will the Dubai government even listen? How this plays out we will have to wait and see for the future of Dubai properties in general.

We also cover more Dubai Property news here.

Dubai Sports City Edges Closer To Completion

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:39:16 -0600

The massive tourism and entertainment park Dubailand has plenty going on and has a vast array of project to offer tourists and property buyers alike, so it says a huge deal for Dubai Sports City that it is the one project to generate the most interest. Since its conception, Dubai Sports City has attracted an almost constant stream of media interest both for its world class sporting facilities but also for its wide ranging and high quality freehold real estate. Dubai Sports City has certainly been one of the most successfull projects to launch for Dubai property, so when other projects are meeting with delays and cancelations it should not come as too large a shock to hear Dubai sports city is moving towards completion. Everything here is running on schedule and it won’t be long at all until facilities here start to welcome guests and participants.

In fact the 50 million square foot development which features both commercial and residential real estate will start hosting tournaments in the first half of 2009! The World Hockey Academy will open in March and will then host the Asia Cup tournament in May. Costing AED 14.7 Billion, Sports City will focus on 5 major sports but will feature academies and facilities for a huge range of sports and activities. With a Manchester United soccer school, Butch Harmon Golf academy, David Lloyd Tennis centre and the International Cricket Council will have a headquarters here; Dubai Sports City has attracted some of the largest names in sport. There is even an 18-hole Ernie Els designed golf course! All of the academies will be opening their doors and accepting clients in 2009. Things here certainly are moving along quickly, and the middle of 2009 will then see the opening of the ICC academy and the soccer school.

But it not just sports facilities here that are worthy of note. With a wide array of apartments here plus luxury villas just off the golf course, Sports City has some of Dubai’s most popular freehold real estate. With a layout design to facilitate easy movement around the project plus a strong focus on providing a healthy and fun living environment on top of a wide variety of shops and facilities, Dubai Sports has a large amount to offer both property and sports enthusiasts.

To advertise Dubai real estate or for more information on packages we offer for developers and agencies who with to showcase their developments or properties with us use this link to find out more ways to advertise Dubai property successfully.

Dubai Property Developers Call For Visa Change.

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:21:27 -0600

There is no denying that the Dubai government certainly got things right when they decided to open up the property market here in 2002, allowing foreigners to purchase freehold property in new development areas. Previously foreigners were unable to do so, so 2002 was the start of what has now turned into one of the most well know and admired property markets in the world. Not only has Dubai become a must see holiday destination but with all the great freehold real estate on offer plus a great living environment, it has become a popular place for people all over the globe to live. And it is all this foreign investment that as resulted in likes of the Burj Dubai and the Palm Jumeirah being built, and has allowed Dubai to truly prosper. So it was a little bit of a surprise when the Dubai government decided it was to change the regulations surrounding foreign visas and property purchases.

Previously developers were able to issue visas to foreign investors who purchased a residential or commercial freehold property in Dubai. It was this 3 year renewable visa issued to expatriate investors that really helped attract people from a round the globe to buy property in Dubai and helped make Dubai property a huge success. Despite this the Dubai government decided earlier this year to take away this privilege from Dubai developers. However since then things in the Dubai property market have changed quickly. The last few months have seen Dubai property go through its first downturn, something which was once considered unthinkable. But the reality of the situation is that now the Dubai property market is in a bad way, with very little selling. With the situation as it is, Dubai developers are now calling for a change in the law back to what it was in 2002.

Whilst just this won’t be enough to turn around the fortunes of the Dubai property market, anything that can help promote investment in Dubai real estate at the moment should be encouraged. The Dubai government is currently looking at a number of ways to help get things here back on track, and reinstating the property visa would certainly be a good place to start.

Dubai Developers To Work Tighter To Hold Back Property

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:56:59 -0600

The Dubai government has recently hinted it will work towards holding back some the Dubai property that is currently under construction in order to maintain a healthy level of new property supplied onto the market, and to help strengthen the property market in what are testing times all around. The idea is to manage the supply of new properties coming to market to ensure there is no large influx of properties which current market demand levels could not account for, and that could lead to a further reduction in freehold property prices. Is such an idea workable under the current market framework? Well we can’t be totally sure, but with Dubai’s 3 main developers controlling somewhere in the region of 70% of the freehold property within the Emirate, then this is the place to start.

And this is exactly what the Dubai government through its advisory council has planned. By cooperating with the big three developers, Emaar, Nakheel and Damac, the hope is everyone can work in synergy, and pull together to ensure a suitable and sustainable level of supply for both now and in the future. The council has highlighted the fact that real estate market are cyclical markets, and by taking measures now, Dubai can help itself overcome problems now and in the future that could possibly rise from an oversupply of property. The government will also work with the smaller private developers in order to cover all angles and ensure maximum effectiveness in its efforts. Quite what those outside of the Dubai properties market think of such government involvement is anyone’s guess, but if it proves effective no one here will be complaining! With things getting tough, any help to get the market back to where it was a few months back will always be viewed as a positive thing.

With the current market situation all developers have been readdressing their future development plans, especially with the recent liquidity difficulties that have arisen when trying to secure project funding. This has seen the likes of Emaar offer rent to own schemes, plus now allowing owners to sell properties before having paid 30% of the properties worth. If this is enough to help ensure strong demand remains to be seen, but it is reassuring to see all parties working together for the benefit of the Dubai real estate market.

You might also want to check out my Dubai photo gallery for some images of interest.

Citigroup Backs Dubai Property.

Dubai Property (Real Estate) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:24:03 -0600

With so much financial uncertainly now casting a large shadow over the world, speculation as to what will happen next continues to run rife. These are difficult times, with much contradictory information being thrown about. And this is certainly the case in the Dubai real estate market, which has seen contradictory reports on the future of property prices here for some time now. A quick scan of some of the Emirates property headlines reveals one article claiming Dubai property agents believe the negativity of the current market situation is being overblown, only for another article to claim most agents are really struggling in the current financial climate. With the media far from unanimous in their opinions at present, it therefore becomes difficult to get a real understanding as to what is really happening in the Dubai freehold real estate market. However there are some good noises coming from the latest Citigroup report on Dubai property.

The report whilst detailing some of the current realities to befall the Dubai real estate market does go someway to backing the strength of Dubai property, ruling out a collapse in the Dubai freehold property market. Whilst allowing foreigners to buy property in Dubai has opened up all kinds of doors for Dubai and the surrounding Emirates, this plus the large mortgages up for grabs only a few months ago has lead the sector to become somewhat exposed in this difficult time. And with banks now requiring high equity payments on any loans taken out in order to cover themselves, the resulting effect has been a reduction in real estate demand. However importantly the report highlights Dubai’s ability to closely monitor supply to the market as a key factor as to why Dubai can avoid any property crash.

So whilst the past levels of growth will not be sustainable for the time being at least, careful management of property coming onto the market will play a key role in Dubai property weathering the current financial storm. The report also states it believes Dubai properties to be too important, and to holds too much value to fail in a property crash. Therefore the report, whilst hardly the final say in the matter, does give some substantial backing to the strength and long term investment potential of Dubai property, which can only be a positive thing.