Iran ready to build houses in Iraq

TEHRAN - Minister of housing and urban development here Saturday voiced Iran's readiness to construct residential units in Iraq.

Mohammad Saeidikia, who made the statement in a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Bayan Dazee, underlined bilateral economic relations especially in the housing sector.

Given scores of problems and hardships Iraq is grappling with, Iran is keen to help the neighboring state in economic and housing sectors, he added.

"Iraq's strength and prosperity mean Iran's strength and prosperity," he said, adding Iran always is on the side of Iraq.

Saeidikia suggested the visiting Iraqi delegation to study Iran's construction strategies in the hope of signing a memorandum of understanding.

Iraqi Minister of Housing and Construction Bayan Dazee mentioned the most important responsibilities of the ministry as urban development, highway and, road building, and restoration of state buildings.

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: zawya.com

Qatari Diar CEO Nasser Hassan Al-Ansari in Top 100 CEOs List

One of the leading regional business titles, CEO Middle East, unveiled on Tuesday its annual list of the region's best performing executives. Nasser Hassan Al-Ansari, CEO of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment CompanyQatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
News | Profile | Officers
, was a prominent name in the list recognized for his vision and leadership of Qatar's global real estate development company.

Chosen from companies headquartered in the GCC, the criteria used found the business leaders who had displayed outstanding qualities from a variety of fields.

The publication stated that "Qatari DiarQatari Diar
Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
News | Profile | Officers
has had an eventful year. The company has signed agreements to pursue development projects in Morocco and the Sudan and also managed to grab 13 acres of prime property space in central London's Chelsea district. Fully owned by the Qatar Financial Authority, the group's US$1bn capitalisation allows for a wealth of projects in the future."

Edward Poultney continues reporting that while the UAE led the list for the sheer breadth of candidates to choose from and Saudi Arabia put in an expectedly strong showing with some established regional giants, Qatar-based groups pushed the country to the fourth largest presence in the chart.

In a change from the 2006 list, the judges looked beyond share price increases to include growth, brand impact, diversification and expansion, project completion and newly-established companies.

The list also looks across industry sectors to gain a balanced insight into 2007's 'Who's Who' of the Gulf's corporate leadership.

Courting controversy, some of the companies who made the final cut are relatively new in the region, but their exceptional impact or growth over the past 12 months make the executives driving them forward worthy of inclusion.

Although it has only been established 3 years, Qatari DiarQatari Diar
Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
News | Profile | Officers
and its CEO have once again exceeded expectations and proved to be one of best performers in the entire region. Only this April under his leadership the company was also recognized as the 8th most admired company in the Gulf by Arabian Business Magazine.

Mr. Nasser Al Ansari commented "As a company we are proud to represent the people of Qatar and invest our country's resources to grow the wealth of Qatar whilst developing communities around the world. This is of course with the unlimited support and the wise leadership of HH Emir Sh. Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Moreover, our vision is to be the best in what we do and it is an honor that CEO Middle East Magazine has made this recognition."

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: zawya.com

Small developers moving out of Dubai

After the introduction of the Escrow Trust law many smaller developers have moved to Ajman where you see a lot of activity happening, says an industry expert. "If you have noticed the trends there are not too many new projects that have been announced or launched in the last six months as compared to last year," Daniel Husain, vice-president, Schon Properties, told The Business Weekly.

With Escrow law in Dubai only developers with financial strength and companies with credibility can only grow in this market. "As a result of this there is a major supply shortage of both residential as well as commercial units in the market here," he said.

Another interesting trend in the Dubai real estate market, which Schon sees, is an increased demand from foreign institutional investors. Whether they are foreign funds or hedge funds, these institutional investors have come to and coming to Schon to purchase in huge amounts just the way they do in other developed countries like UK. This was not the case earlier. "Although, institutional investments is still lacking in Dubai, now we have been getting a lot of enquiries from them for both the residential as well as commercial properties," he said.

Schon's major buyers as of March 2007, include 27 per cent from the UK, 14 per cent from Iran, nine per cent India, nine per cent from Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)Loading... countries and the rest from other parts of the world.

The developer, which has already announced projects worth Dh4 billion in Dubai, is close to finalising a deal to build two residential towers on the Shaikh Zayed Road.

"We are going to launch two towers on the Shaikh Zayed Road, but I cannot give you any more details about that now. We will be launching them very soon. The land has been identified and own those plots, but I am not allowed to disclose any more about that now," Husain said.

Husain feels that getting land is becoming more difficult in Dubai, especially in prime locations. Areas like Jebel Ali Downtown have seen prices jump over the last couple of months. "Dubai Waterfront is the next major hot spot in Dubai and lot of developers including us are going into that direction, because the development trend now is towards the New Dubai side," Husain says.

If you look at the master developers most of there projects are now nearly already sold out. At these areas there is already a high premium, Husain said.

Although the developer is looking at some options in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the company is a firm believer in Dubai. "Our core focus is in Dubai and Dubai will always be Dubai," Husain said.
Right from the beginning we had a strategy to focus our developments in the new Dubai airport area. "We feel that with the development of the new airport, the entire area has a very huge potential," he said.

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: zawya.com

MEED's Healthcare Projects 2007 - Design and Demographics Making an Impact

Dubai, UAE, 16 December 2007: The critical drivers in the future of the region's healthcare came to the fore at Healthcare Projects 2007, hosted by MEEDMEEDLoading... - the business intelligence and industry event specialist.

A rise in diseases of affluence, rapidly changing regional demographics and increasing expectations of patients and carers are the three key factors that will shape the future of the sector according to speaker Faisal bin Juma Belhoul, Vice Chairman of Belhoul Lifecare and Founder & Managing Partner of Ithmar Capital.

"Governments, as a primary source of healthcare funding, will no longer be feasible or appropriate going forward; meaning that the role of the private sector becomes critical in driving forward the industry, and reducing the outbound flow of 'medical tourism'," said Belhoul.

"It is vital that Capability, Competence and Capacity are grasped across the healthcare sector if we are to meet the imminent increase in demand. The Capability of the regulatory and funding environment to enable and promote change, the clinical and managerial Competence to ensure consistent high quality healthcare and the organisational skill as a sector to consolidate and deliver the right type of Capacity, at the right time in the right place."

"A major structural revolution in the healthcare industry is inevitable, as a further 10,000 beds will be required by 2025 in the UAE alone. It is imperative that we take key measures to ensure that no GCC national or resident should need, or want, to leave to seek healthcare," added Belhoul.

Other speakers including the keynote speaker Zaid Al Siksek, Director of Health Policy and Regulation, General Authority of Health Services; Achmed Al-Shahrabani, Senior Vice President of Abraaj Capital, Salim Al Malik, SAGIA and Dr. Radwan ElAli, M.D, M.B.A of Injazat Capital echoed these sentiments, stressing that the sector was the fastest growing in the GCC, and set to increase fivefold from its current value of $11.9 billion to $57.3 billion by 2025.

Edmund O'Sullivan, Chairman, MEEDMEEDLoading... Events said

"Opportunities in the healthcare sector in the Gulf are legion. As we see increased investment from the public sector coupled with a keenness to engage the private sector in the delivery of structures and services, the industry is in a period of huge growth and, subsequently, significant flux. For global businesses with specialisations in the industry - whether that's in design, build, management or technology - there has never been a better time to build that business here in the region."

In the design and delivery of cutting-edge healthcare projects, key issues under discussion and developed at the conference included architecture and environments that aid recovery times - with developments like Dubai Healthcare City's Wellness Community in the spotlight and healthcare design specialist Ellerbe Becket leading the debate. Local Health Authorities also outlined their vision for world class healthcare services, with a view to establish sustainable long term programmes with high quality standards and innovative systems.

More than 115 individuals representing the leading businesses and organisations attended MEEDMEEDLoading...'s first ever specialist event for the healthcare projects industries. MEEDMEEDLoading... confirmed it will become an annual event on its conference calendar as a result of this success.

MEEDMEEDLoading... is the acknowledged market-leader in key regional industry-focused events and conferences; delivering expert, up-to-date business intelligence, industry data and research findings. More information about conferences - including latest news, pre-event online networking and full conference details, can be found at www.meed.com

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: zawya.com

Architectural design going in the light direction

With development projects across the region on a grand scale vying for attention, special awards recognising the outstanding and creative use of lighting in the Middle East are now taking on a special significance.

The Middle East Lighting Design Awards (known as MELDA) celebrate the creativity of the world's leading lighting designers who are enhancing the region's built environment through the power of light.

"Iconic projects are being developed throughout the dynamic environment of the Middle East. The night-time image of these buildings, enhanced by lighting, is of huge importance," said Claire Brookes, Event Manager for MELDA which is organised by IIR Entertainment and Installation Technology Group.

MELDA is an integral part of PALME Middle East which takes place from 27-29 April 2008 at the Dubai International Exhibition CentreDubai International Exhibition CentreLoading..., now firmly established as the world's biggest integrated technology forum and the Middle East's largest gathering of entertainment industry professionals.

Judged by an independent panel, including: Ziad Fattouh, Senior Principal, Delta Lighting Solutions, Dubai, UAE; George Katodrytis, Associate Professor of Architecture at the American University of Sharjah, UAE; Markus Stebich, Director of Development, Spas and Interiors, Jumeirah; Shaun Killa, Principal Architect and Head of Design, Atkins; and Riad Saraiji, Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering at UAE University, Al Ain, UAE.

The award winners will be presented at a gala dinner in Dubai on 27 April 2008, attended by the world's leading lighting designers and senior professionals involved in the delivery of the region's major projects.

The 2007 lighting design awards were the first of their kind and created a benchmark of excellence. "It is clear that this initiative has had a major impact in boosting lighting creativity in the region," Brookes said.

Earlier this year more than 80 entries contested just eight awards. For 2008, a further two categories have been included in the innovative product category. The closing date for entries is 31st January 2008. Projects must be within the Middle East, including the Gulf Co-operation Council countries as well as Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran and Egypt.

MELDA is supported by the International Association of Lighting Designers and Lighting Urban Community International and is sponsored by mondo*arc the international architectural lighting journal.

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: zawya.com