Tag Archives: dubai-map
DLD auction highlights growing demand for UAE properties
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) raised a total of AED 85.6 million (£14.9 million) by selling 11 properties at a recent private auction.A selection of 13 leasehold properties in Dubai were put up for sale and the DLD managed to find buyers for all but two of them, with the units fetching 11.7 per cent over their base price overall.The most expensive property at the auction was an apartment building in the Al Murraqabat area of eastern Dubai that went under the hammer for AED 39 million – AED 1 million above its base price.Humaid Omran Al Shamsi, manager of the DLD's public auction section, told Gulf News that the UAE Central Bank's recent approval of a new cap on mortgage loans has not dampened investor demand.”Most participants are investors, as opposed to end users. The emirati buyers all paid in cash. There is no effect from the mortgage rules, the prices speak for themselves,” he explained.Mr Al Shamsi added that property auctions have benefited from increasingly buoyant demand among investors over the last 12 months. He commented: “It's excellent. Now most of the property market is active and investor confidence is back.”Earlier this year, data supplied by the DLD revealed that a total of AED 58.6 billion was invested in the Dubai property market during 2012. The total number of investors reached 18,635, with foreign buyers numbering 13,573. Indians accounted for the biggest proportion of overseas buyers, making AED 9 billion worth of purchases over the year, while British citizens spent AED 5 billion on property in Dubai. The figures were hailed as further evidence of the growing recovery in the emirate's real estate sector, with the government having taken steps to stabilise the market and restore investor confidence.Looking for properties in Dubai? The First Group can point you in the right direction Continue reading
Justin Bieber books out Dubai golf course
Music megastar Justin Bieber will have plenty of privacy when he visits Dubai next week, as reports have suggested the Canadian has booked out an entire golf course in the city.The 19-year-old will take to the stage at The Sevens Stadium on May 4th and 5th and both shows have sold out.Dubai has everything that a young celebrity could possibly wish for and Bieber's team have wasted no time in ensuring he is well looked after.A source told the Sun newspaper that his managers are keen to keep him “under the radar” during his time in the UAE.”They have hired out an entire golf course for two whole days to give him much-needed privacy as well,” they were quoted as saying.It is also believed that Bieber's team have approached the owners of two waterparks to see if they can provide the star with full exclusive access to the facilities.Although Dubai is famous for being a playground for the rich and famous, it is fair to suggest that Bieber will be the biggest star to have performed in the city.There had been talk of the youngster buying a plush property of his own in the Middle East, but this has not been confirmed as yet.Bieber's Believe Tour is one of the biggest events on the planet and it is a real coup for Dubai to secure two back-to-back performances from the teenage sensation.Earlier this month, chief operating officer at Done Events – the company that has organised the shows – Thomas Ovesen said the fact that tickets for the original concert sold out so fast highlights just how popular the singer is in this part of the world.”The fans have spoken – this is the biggest concert yet to be staged in Dubai and one that has now completely sold out,” he commented.Bieber first came to prominence at the age of 15, when he became a YouTube star. Continue reading
Fifa happy with progress of UAE stadia
Fifa officials are happy that the UAE will be ready to stage an international football tournament in October 2013.The sport's governing body has visited the six venues that are set to be used in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup UAE 2013 and they confirmed the six-day inspection went well.Games will be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Sharjah between October 17th and November 8th.Fifa also ran the rule over 30 different training venues across the Arab country to check they are up to scratch.”The objective of these inspections is to assess how well the venues are making headway with their facilities in preparation to host the tournament in October,” a representative of the organisation remarked.”There has definitely been progress since our last visit to the UAE, but there is still work to be done before the venues are 100 per cent ready.”Director of the tournament Mohammed Abdulla bin Bdoua was quoted by Emirates 24/7 as saying this international competition will be the largest football event ever to take place in the UAE.The youth tournament was first introduced in 1985 and it is held every two years.UAE officials will be desperate to put on a good show and a successful competition could lead to bigger and better things in the future.The Middle East is not traditionally renowned for being a footballing hotbed, but there is no doubt that the game is growing in stature in this part of the world.Qatar will stage the 2022 Fifa World Cup and the UAE's Pro League is becoming more popular, with top players like Ghana's Asamoah Gyan and former Barcelona, Porto, Inter, Chelsea and Besiktas winger Ricardo Quaresma both currently plying their trade in Dubai.There is no question that Dubai's facilities are top notch too, as a number of professional clubs – including Swansea City, Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, Borussia Monchengladbach and Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala – have held training camps in the city so far this season. Continue reading
