The global property investment and development community turns its focus to the capital of the United Arab Emirates in April at the 2010 Cityscape Abu Dhabi exhibition and conference featuring the city’s multi-billion dollar development plan for a sustainable future.

"Abu Dhabi is now one of the most talked about real estate markets in the world. Like the property development industry globally, Abu Dhabi faces challenges and Cityscape Abu Dhabi provides a timely opportunity to assess where long term returns for real estate investment lie,” said Chris Speller, Cityscape Group Director.

The fourth edition of Cityscape Abu Dhabi will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 18-21 April 2010.

“The growth in the Middle East’s real estate market has slowed somewhat but, generally speaking, it is expected to post strong growth throughout the region, especially in the second half. That clearly includes Abu Dhabi with its long-term $200 billion real estate plan,” Speller added. “Abu Dhabi officials expect the emirates’ economy as a whole to grow by as much as 4% this year and the main engine behind economic recovery for the UAE, the second largest Arab economy after Saudi Arabia.

“By focusing on sustainable projects, cost controls and delivery targets, developers in Abu Dhabi have entered 2010 with cautious optimism. They are also committed to Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 and several will be unveiling further details of projects onsite at Cityscape Abu Dhabi.”

Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 was developed by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) to optimise the city’s development. “The city’s population may grow to three million or it may exceed five million by 2030. Regardless, this plan presents a practical, flexible and sustainable view of the future,” the UPC says.

In development terms, Abu Dhabi is attracting the world’s attention with a cultural landmark in the making on Saadiyat Island. The AED100 billion development includes dramatically designed Abu Dhabi branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums by architects Jean Novel and Frank Gehry. There will also be a new campus for New York University Abu Dhabi and a performing arts centre designed by Zaha Hadid.

“The 2030 plan for Abu Dhabi includes a vast range of projects in energy, transport, industry, healthcare, education and agriculture among others, which emphasises that government drives to improve infrastructure are the major growth areas,” Speller said.

An assessment of the lead Abu Dhabi is taking and in regional recovery will take place ahead of Cityscape Abu Dhabi at the Cityscape Connect Breakfast Briefing which is being held on 16 February at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Yas Island. A high level panel moderated by Blair Hagkull, Managing Director of Jones Lang LaSalle, will provide their analysis on the Abu Dhabi real estate market, highlighting the potential they see in the market over the next 12 months.

Other panelists taking part in the business breakfast at the Radisson Blue Hotel, Yas Island, on 16 February 2010 will be Heather Wipperman Amiji, CEO, Investment Boutique; Tara Marlow, Head of Property and Hospitality, Abu Dhabi, Al Tamimi & Company; Gurjit Singh, COO, Sorouh Real Estate; and Masood Al Awar, CEO, Tasweek.

Given the dramatic changes that have impacted global markets over the past year, the Cityscape Abu Dhabi conference has been adapted. “We’ve listened to what people are saying and we have introduced significant changes to bring more speakers, more topics, more networking opportunities and more value than ever before,” said Sarah Meredith, Investor Relations and Conference Director, for Cityscape Abu Dhabi.

The conference will bring together over 120 speakers from more than 25 countries representing the biggest names in the investment and development communities. The programme themes will be transparency, investment strategy and project delivery.

The development of the Middle East and North Africa real estate sector will be on display at the Cityscape Awards for Real Estate, marked with a gala dinner attended by industry leaders on Sunday 18 April 2010. Awards will be divided in to the main categories of architecture and development and entries are judged on their contribution to world architecture culture, invention and imagination, respect for people, the planet, context, environmental awareness and appropriateness in the region.

Headline sponsor of Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2010 is Mubadala Real Estate and Hospitality. Platinum sponsors are Al Qudra Real Estate, Al Maabar and Aldar Properties. Associate sponsor is the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs.

For more details about Cityscape Abu Dhabi and links to other Cityscape events, please visit www.cityscapeabudhabi.com>

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