Insights

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Branded Residences: Four Key Considerations

The significance of brands and branding for the consumer goods industry is beyond the slightest doubt. The combination of generational effects and online marketing has served to reinforce their importance during the last two decades. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the Gulf, where branded luxury goods, in particular, have formed a larger percentage of consumer spending than anywhere else.

Valuation of Real Estate Assets – Land Plus Depreciated Replacement Cost

On occasions when there is no comparable evidence available or an asset is one that would not normally trade in the open market, valuers have to assess the market value of the land and then add it to the Depreciated Replacement Cost (DRC) of the asset. This approach does not represent the true market value as per the RICS Valuation […]

Owners’ Associations in the Gulf – a key to value creation

The need for Owners’ Associations The issue of multiple ownership in a single asset has been around for a long time. One of the most successful solutions has been share ownership in a company, which works well for manufacturing, service, and many other types of enterprise. Real estate has also seen a similar kind of solution: joint ownership, where a […]

Dubai’s Office Market Performance – Autumn 2024

Quality of office real estate driving occupancy In the third quarter of 2024, strong demand and heightened leasing activity drove rents higher in Dubai’s office market. City-wide office rents increased by 21% compared to the previous year. Notably, average Grade A rents in DIFC experienced a 20% annual increase, reaching AED 317 per sqft per annum. In nearby Downtown Dubai, […]

What are the prospects for Saudi tourism?

The evidence to date The need to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil has never been in doubt. Saudi Vision 2030 envisaged tourism playing a central role in that process. The plan originally set what was regarded as an ambitious target of 100m domestic and international tourists by 2030, but immediate success resulted in this being revised upwards to […]

Is the system of hotel rating still fit for purpose?

The evolution of a system  Hotel ratings were originally introduced to enable potential guests to understand the overall quality of places where they might choose to stay and the range of facilities available. Later, they acquired significance as valuation tools for hotel brands, as well as for the properties themselves. Studies have analysed the individual willingness to pay across ratings[1] […]

Dubai’s Hospitality Sector – Market Performance in H1 2024

Dubai Tourism Overview Despite or perhaps even partly because of ongoing geopolitical tensions, Dubai remains a leading tourist destination. In the first half of 2024, the city welcomed a record 9.31 million overnight guests, marking a 9% increase from the 8.55 million visitors during the same period last year. This impressive performance reflects the strategic vision outlined by Sheikh Mohammed […]

Luxury hospitality in the GCC

8 ways high-end hotels are redefining guest experiences in 2024 The GCC has long been synonymous with luxury, opulence, and the hub of elevated tourism. As we advance through 2024, the luxury hospitality sector across the GCC is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Hotels and resorts in the region are adopting new trends that reflect the evolving expectations of global travellers, […]

An investor’s short guide to hospitality valuation in Dubai

The hospitality sector in the UAE and broader GCC is thriving, with luxurious hotels and world-renowned resorts drawing in visitors from across the globe. As the region continues to attract international tourists and business travellers, the value of hospitality real estate has never been more important.   But how do you accurately assess the worth of these assets to unlock their […]

Value through infrastructure development: The case of Gulf ports

The rise of Gulf ports The history of seafaring throughout the Gulf is well known. The construction of the famous Arab dhow and the existence of extensive fisheries across the region in what are now the countries of the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia are part of a proud tradition that urban planners wish to capture. More recently, Gulf governments […]

Property valuation in Dubai: What it is and why it matters

Dubai’s real estate market is wildly popular with international buyers and residents, and interest in purchasing residential and commercial property in Dubai continues to soar. Its ultra-modern skyline, luxurious developments, and strategic global position are drawing in investors, buyers, and sellers, but what many do not realise is that understanding property valuation in Dubai is a crucial part of the […]

A tale of two markets: Capitalising on arbitrages through retrofits

The Dubai real estate market has been on a spectacular bull run with prices reaching an all-time high of AED 1,397/sqft in July, 2024. This represents an appreciation of over 78% from the market trough reached in April 2009 and, more importantly, prices are approximately 13.2% above the previous peak of September 2014. However, when diving into the granular details, […]

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