Updated: May 24, 2013, 12:00 AM
In pictures: Business picks up for UAE property model makers
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 21, 2013: Architectural models made by 3dr Models at their Al Quoz area office in Dubai on May 21, 2013. Christopher Pike / The National
This is a sprawling, three-dimensional vision of a development that was once slated for Abu Dhabi, and all of it in precise, mathematical proportion.
For the past four years the company, along with fellow architectural model makers, has struggled as the property market in Dubai went through the downturn. However, in the last year there has been a huge uptake in business, the first heralds of the proper???
“It doesn’t have the same bang that it had in 2008,� he said. “But I can see now that the projects have been really studied, in terms of architecture and infrastructure. It’s much more professional than during the boom.�
Mr Bterrani said some projects were being radically altered, with as much as 80 per cent of the original design being changed.
In addition, he said the company was working on seven multi-million dirham models reflecting major new announcements due to be made at the real estate event. The developments – still under the wraps of secrecy – were all on a huge scale, he said.
Mr Bterrani’s company makes architectural scale models of new property developments, which are then displayed at exhibitions such as Cityscape.
“Dubai is in for a big surprise this year. They have more wow-factor than those five years ago, which weren’t as well thought out. Now these developments are very logical, very professionally designed and more impressive because of that.�
“We know what’s happening in the market before anyone else,� said Mr Bterrani. “If it’s doing well, we do well too. In the last year, it’s really started to pick up again.�
It is life in miniature. The streets are filled with tiny cars, parked in front of tiny villas each with tiny swimming pools. And everything is perfect – as you’d expect from a model.
The company, which has its head office in Hong Kong, went from having around 30 per cent of its business come from Dubai in 2008, to around five per cent. That is now heading back towards 10 per cent.