International Property Show 2016 unveiled biggest edition from April 11 to 13

During a press conference held today (Tuesday, 2nd February), Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions unveiled the 12th edition of the International Property Show, the Middle East’s biggest property sales platform for local and international real estate. Accredited by the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), the International Property Show is all set to feature exhibitors from 100 countries, bringing the world’s renowned property developers, consultants, traders and investors over three days from 11 – 13 April 2016 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show is positioned as a one-stop shop opportunity for investors, end users, consumers and real estate professionals from the Middle East and the rest of the world.

The press conference was attendedby Mr. Dawood Al Shezawi- President, Strategic marketing & Exhibitions, Mr. Abdulbasset Betraoui- Managing Partner, Land Sterling and IPS 2016 Bronze Sponsor, and Mr. Kamran Mehdiyev- IPS Project Director.

Speakers at the event announced that the International Property Showtriggered transactions of over US$ 40 billion between 2006 and 2015. Over the past ten years, the exhibition attracted around 99,883 visitors, with the UAE generating the highest value of deals. An average of 13,680 m2of display area was allocated every year for this leading property show.

Licensed by RERA, the show is the only one of its kind that provides direct real estate transactions on its floorwhere all exhibitors are officially entitled to collectdown payments for transactions madeas well as presenting title deeds topurchasers at the show.

Since inception, the exhibition remains the only of its kind focused on B2B and B2C meetings. According to Mr. Dawood Al Shezawi- President, Strategic marketing & Exhibitions, organisers of the show, the exhibition does not target specific regions, but it boasts an international reach to explore new vital real-estate destinations that could carry promising real estate investment opportunities, allowing visitors to benefit fromthe high ROI in these markets.

In his speech, Al Shezawi revealed that the 12th edition is focused on attracting participations from the most sought-after markets by UAE investors such as Turkey, India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Egypt. New markets on the exhibition’s radar includeAustralia, Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. These markets arecategorizedunder the most promising regions for UAE investors.

“We attract participants from new countries following an in-depth study of their markets, to ensure display of effective opportunities to investors in the UAE and the wider GCC region. We also organise a pre-event networking function, to put together confirmed participants and visitors prior to the actual kick off. We anticipate trade visitors from over 100 countries during the next edition of the International Property Show,” emphasisedAl Shezawi.

Over 70% of the five-hall exhibiting area is sold out at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, including a debut Pakistan Pavilion over an area of 645m2. Also, the event allocated many platforms for seminars, government presentations and other presentations about promising investment opportunities.

Commenting about the new additions this year, Al Shezawi saidthat investment immigrants visas are on offer to various destinations in Europe and Australia, where visitors can obtain permanent residence visas to these counties when investing in real-estate. Moreover, the exhibition developments include discounted offers on unit sale prices, following coordination between the organisersand the exhibitors.

The participants are expected to come from the following sectors: Investors, Real Estate Brokers and Agents, Property Developers, Financial Institutions, Legal Services, Facility Management and Media & Marketing, Investment Brokers, Management Services and Architecture & Design, and Government. Moreover, participants will also include Company Directors, Real Estate Professionals, CEO/Managing Directors, and Chairman/Partners.

Being held alongside the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), the world’s premier emerging markets-focused FDI event held for the past 6 years in Dubai and organised by the UAE Ministry of Economy under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will further boost the importance of this show and its leading role in the regional property sector, according to Kamran Mehdiyev, International Property Show Project Director.

On display at International Property Show 2016 also modern sustainable technologies and trends that are conquering the market, such as the ‘recyclable houses’ along other topics such as the security and quality of the real estate projects.

One of the world’s oldest art auction houses and Emaar Properties’ broker, Christie’s International Real Estate, is the Platinum Partner of this edition of the show. In 2014, Luxury property brokerage Christie’s International Real Estate made its first expansion into the Middle East by opening an office in Dubai. The move, the latest stage in the rapid global expansion, helped the auction house break half year sales records by 12 percent when it reached the USD 4.5 billion milestone for the first time ever in 2014. 

“Integrating centuries of experience with a hand-selected network of talented brokers, Christie’s International Real Estate will be this year’s International Property Show main highlight,” says Brian Etemad, CEO, Christie’s International Real Estate.

The Silver Sponsor of the event is Wahat Al Zaweya,an eco-friendly,self-sustainable, mixed-use community spread over 22.7 millionm2at the Faqaa corridor of Al Ain region. “We are showcasing units adjacent to the Dubai-Al Ain highway, since it links the urban, industrial, and tourism centres of Al Ain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Hatta. We are a repeat exhibitor at the International Property Show, as it offers us a platform to do direct retail sales onsite, and attract the most diverse number of visitors,” said KamiliaAlqam,Marketing Manager, Wahat Al Zaweya Real Estate Investment and Development.

The British firm of chartered surveyors and property consultants, Land Sterling Chartered Surveyors and Property Consultants is a Bronze Sponsor. “Our presence at International Property Show this year will provide rigorous analysis and sound research services. Our primary business specialises in providing advisory services of commercial and residential property throughout the Middle East and North Africa. We have found in the exhibition focus this year an effective platform to reach out to the entire region, which we think holds a huge potential,” said Abdelbasset Betraoui, Managing Partner, Land Sterling Chartered Surveyors and Property Consultants.

International Property Show identified its top 15 participating countries that are likely to take center-stage in the show including the UAE, UK, India, France, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Russian Federation, USA and Philippines. Similarly, the show will tackle offerings from the relatively new strong markets such asGreece, Western countries, Australia, Canada, Spain.

Al Shezawi predicted an increase by 25% in value of transactions at International Property Show 2016, compared with the previous edition. “Investors tend to search for new investment channels within the real estate sector that will ensure stable growth in their revenues. One of these most noticed trends in the region is the affordable housing.”

“Due to the current uncertainty in the real estate sector, and the emergence of first-time buyers, and those looking for affordable housing options, the International Property Show serves as the best platform to showcase these trends and practice them onsite. Investors would be able to experience these trends and measure its financial returns directly on the exhibition floor,” noted Al Shezawi.

“Housing is an economic asset, an investment and a market commodity. Governmentsin the region are undertaking bold initiatives to expand affordable housing for low and middle income groups. International Property Show will put on display affordable house units that are expected to attract first-time buyers, as well as different category of younger investors who wish to benefit from the relatively current lower prices,” added Al Shezawi. “Housing market in the Gulf and the wider Middle East region is spurred by rapid population growth. Globally, homeownership is an important asset as the equity grows, and it boosts a better quality of life. There are major developers that will be offering a wide range of options for low and middle income investors over three days of the show.”

“Traditionally, the bulk of developers in the Gulf were into luxury projects. However, the scene is changing and affordable housing is generating huge interest at both developers’ and end users’ sides. Builders are addressing the demands of this niche,” noted Mehdiyev.

Likewise, globally, the real-estate sector drives some investors into alternative revenue sources. “Global real-estate firms are monitoring the changing market carefully, and trying to diversify their investments. This means spreading the capital across different investment vehicles, and not placing all capital solely in one place. The point is to primarily spread risk. This can be split into Property sector diversification, meaning commercial, residential, and industrial, orgeographical diversification, or alternatively, changing between Direct property investment and indirect property investment,” elaborated Mehdiyev.

Registration for visitors at the International Property Show 2016will be opened following the press conference. Organisers are accepting space bookings although only limited space is available. All those that act sooner will benefit from the advantages provided at the show.