Cityscape conspiracy theory

Readers who have been around Dubai for the last year will recall rumours emerging at Cityscape Dubai last year that Deyaar Development and Union Properties were in merger talks. At the time, executives from both companies denied any knowledge of any such talks.

Photo caption: The stands of Deyaar Development and Union Properties abut each other at Cityscape Dubai 2009. Bradley Hope / The National

At this year's Cityscape, where I am reporting from today, the rumours are back and are fueled in no small part by the fact that Deyaar and Union properties have set up their stalls right next to each other (as evidenced by the above photo). Attempts to interrogate Marcus Giebel, Deyaar's chief executive, were unsuccessful. He only smiled.