• An Arabic-style villa in Palm Jumeirah. Dubai is recording a sharp increase in the sale of homes valued at more than $10 million. Photo: Engel and Voelkers
    An Arabic-style villa in Palm Jumeirah. Dubai is recording a sharp increase in the sale of homes valued at more than $10 million. Photo: Engel and Voelkers
  • A Dh48million mansion in Emirates Hills. In Dubai, 22 homes worth more than $10m were sold in the first five months of 2021, the most since 2015, and up from 19 homes in the corresponding period in 2020. Photo: Engel and Voelkers
    A Dh48million mansion in Emirates Hills. In Dubai, 22 homes worth more than $10m were sold in the first five months of 2021, the most since 2015, and up from 19 homes in the corresponding period in 2020. Photo: Engel and Voelkers
  • A custom-built luxury villa in Dubai Hills Estate. Dubai was one of the first cities to reopen its borders to international tourists in July 2020. Photo: Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    A custom-built luxury villa in Dubai Hills Estate. Dubai was one of the first cities to reopen its borders to international tourists in July 2020. Photo: Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • A rendering of a luxury villa in Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City. The sharp increase in Dubai's luxury home market reflects similar patterns in other global cities. Photo: Meydan Sobha
    A rendering of a luxury villa in Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City. The sharp increase in Dubai's luxury home market reflects similar patterns in other global cities. Photo: Meydan Sobha
  • Night-time rendering of a mansion at Meraas’ Bvlgari Residences on Jumeirah Bay Island. Photo: Meraas
    Night-time rendering of a mansion at Meraas’ Bvlgari Residences on Jumeirah Bay Island. Photo: Meraas
  • The Il Primo apartments in Downtown Dubai. The smallest units of around 4,979 square feet are being sold for £3.5 million each. Photo: Emaar
    The Il Primo apartments in Downtown Dubai. The smallest units of around 4,979 square feet are being sold for £3.5 million each. Photo: Emaar
  • The swimming pool at the MAG 318 upscale residential tower in Business Bay. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The swimming pool at the MAG 318 upscale residential tower in Business Bay. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai property records best ever third quarter as value of sales hits $11.5bn


Deepthi Nair
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai recorded real estate transactions worth Dh42.4 billion ($11.5bn) in the three months to September 30, making it the best third quarter in the emirate’s history in terms of the value of sales transactions, according to listings website Property Finder.

The emirate registered 15,926 real estate deals in the same period, making it the best third quarter for sales transaction volumes since 2009, Property Finder said on Wednesday.

The company said 56.6 per cent of all transactions in Dubai during the third quarter were for secondary or ready properties, while off-plan properties accounted for 43.4 per cent.

The off-plan market accounted for 6,909 transactions worth Dh13.5bn in the third quarter and the secondary market registered 9,017 deals worth Dh28.85bn, the statement added.

“To date, off-plan sales had the highest value of sales transactions in the Dubai real estate market in over eight years [since December 2013],” Lynnette Sacchetto, director of research and data at Property Finder, said.

“Off-plan sales started to increase considerably in 2021 and the amount of sales transactions between secondary and off-plan are now about 50:50.”

The UAE property market, which softened due to a three-year oil price slump that began in 2014 and oversupply concerns, is showing signs of a recovery as people upgrade to larger homes with outdoor amenities amid a remote working and learning trend sparked by Covid-19.

Economic support measures and government initiatives – such as residency permits for retirees and remote workers, as well as the expansion of the 10-year golden visa programme – have helped to improve sentiment.

Residential transaction volumes in Dubai were up 76.8 per cent in the first eight months of the year, while secondary market transactions jumped 120.7 per cent and off-plan transactions rose 39 per cent, according to real estate consultancy CBRE.

The volume of off-plan transactions in Dubai during the third quarter of this year increased 14.7 per cent compared with the previous quarter, while the number of secondary market deals fell by 6.02 per cent, Property Finder said.

Meanwhile, the value of off-plan sales transactions increased 47.1 per cent compared with the previous quarter. The value of secondary sales deals also rose 4.2 per cent.

The top areas for secondary sales transactions for villas and townhouses in the third quarter were Damac Hills 2, Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches, Nad Al Sheba and The Springs, according to Property Finder.

“The prices of villas and townhouses continue to rise due to very high demand and low supply and we are only expecting 6,000 new units to be completed by the end of 2021. Therefore, this doesn’t add much of a dent to the supply equation,” Ms Sacchetto said.

We are only expecting 6,000 new units [villas and townhouses] to be completed by the end of 2021
Lynnette Sacchetto,
director of research and data, Property Finder

The most popular areas for ready apartments were Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Marina, Meydan, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and Downtown Dubai.

The top areas for off-plan sales transactions for villas and townhouses included Arabian Ranches 3, Dubai Land, Tilal Al Ghaf, Dubai South and The Valley, Property Finder said.

As for apartments, the top areas of interest were Business Bay, Dubai Marina, JVC, Downtown Dubai and JLT.

__________________

Property of the week: Dubai Marina penthouse with a swimming pool in the living room

  • The Elite Residence six-bedroom penthouse with an indoor pool in the living room. All photos: Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    The Elite Residence six-bedroom penthouse with an indoor pool in the living room. All photos: Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • A modern open-plan kitchen with integrated appliances
    A modern open-plan kitchen with integrated appliances
  • One of the two spacious living areas
    One of the two spacious living areas
  • The penthouse apartment has six en-suite bedrooms
    The penthouse apartment has six en-suite bedrooms
  • Palm Jumeirah views from the bar area of the Elite Residence penthouse
    Palm Jumeirah views from the bar area of the Elite Residence penthouse
  • A home office area in the penthouse
    A home office area in the penthouse
  • The private indoor pool spans a portion of the living room
    The private indoor pool spans a portion of the living room
  • A cosy spot to relax
    A cosy spot to relax
  • The dining room
    The dining room
  • Ample space for entertaining
    Ample space for entertaining
  • The property has a bright and spacious open-plan set-up
    The property has a bright and spacious open-plan set-up
  • There is a modern lighting feature throughout the penthouse
    There is a modern lighting feature throughout the penthouse
  • The property has ample sea views
    The property has ample sea views
  • A private indoor swimming pool in an apartment is a rarity even in Dubai
    A private indoor swimming pool in an apartment is a rarity even in Dubai
  • One of eight spacious bathrooms in the property
    One of eight spacious bathrooms in the property
UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

The specs

Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel

Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power: 1877bhp

Torque: 2300Nm

Price: Dh7,500,00

On sale: Now

 

Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Eyasses squad

Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)

Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)  

Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)

Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)

Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)

Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)

Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)         

Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)

While you're here

Michael Young: Where is Lebanon headed?

Kareem Shaheen: I owe everything to Beirut

Raghida Dergham: We have to bounce back

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20Sandman
%3Cp%3ECreators%3A%20Neil%20Gaiman%2C%20David%20Goyer%2C%20Allan%20Heinberg%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Tom%20Sturridge%2C%20Boyd%20Holbrook%2C%20Jenna%20Coleman%20and%20Gwendoline%20Christie%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

The specs

Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm

Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Hidden killer

Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.

The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.

Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.

Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.

Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu. 

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl

Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: Dh99,000

On sale: now

RESULTS

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri

3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Harbh, Pat Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi

3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham

4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri

4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Hydrogen: Market potential

Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.

"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.

Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.

The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.

Where can I submit a sample?

Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.

Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:

  • Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
  • Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
  • Al Towayya in Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
  • Bareen International Hospital
  • NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
  • NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Indoor Cricket World Cup

Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty

Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

MATCH INFO

Everton 2 Southampton 1
Everton: Walcott (15'), Richarlison (31' )
Southampton: Ings (54')

Man of the match: Theo Walcott (Everton)

AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission 10-speed automatic

Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km

Updated: October 13, 2021, 11:30 AM