First there was Cityscape, the Dubai property show that during the boom became a byword for crowds of investors pushing and shoving to slap down deposit cheques for off-plan properties they expected to soar in value overnight.
Now, as the Dubai property market once again shows signs of dangerously high price growth, the organisers behind Cityscape are setting up a new spin-off consumer real estate show aimed at specifically targeting owner occupiers and small investors.
Yesterday Cityscape Group announced that it is to stage its debut Next Move Live event at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from February 20 to 22. It is aimed at Dubai residents looking to buy and rent in the city.
According to Cityscape, about 22 developers have signed up to the new event including Aldar, Damac, Pacific Ventures and Flash Properties.
The organisers said they hoped the event would be a one-stop shop for consumers, who will be able to rent or buy homes at the venue.
They said it would differ from Cityscape, which is a business to business trade show aimed at large-scale investors and property professionals, although it also attracts developers showcasing luxury apartments.
“As the only dedicated consumer event in the UAE, visitors will be able to access information directly from property developers, agents and banks, and can even make a decision on the show floor to purchase or rent their next home,” said Wouter Molman, the director of Cityscape Group.
“UAE residents and property developers alike have been calling out for this kind of event,” he added.
The news comes just a few weeks after the Dubai Land Department director general said that he expected house prices in the capital to rise by 35 to 40 per cent this year after climbing 30 per cent last year.
He warned that the city is planning new rules to control speculation on properties that are sold off-plan before they are built to prevent Dubai experiencing another property boom and bust.
“This is definitely a sign of further growth in the housing market,” said Craig Plumb, the head of research for Jones Lang LaSalle’s Dubai office. “We applaud anything that encourages more end users rather than speculators to enter the market. However, we believe that the increased activity in the market at the moment is driving prices to rise at rates which are unsustainable, so I suppose it’s a case of buyer beware.”
Cityscape, which is owned by Informa Exhibitions, was inaugurated in Dubai in 2002 and has already spawned a host of similar events in Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Riyadh, Jeddah, Qatar, Latin America and Asia. The shows are aimed at financial institutions, developers, high net worth individuals, property advisers, architects, designers, construction companies and government authorities.
Last year unruly crowds caused upset at an Emaar sales event close to the Cityscape main exhibition hall.
lbarnard@thenational.ae
