Cityscape

MarketViewKingdom of Saudi Arabia H1 2010 Aug 15 2010 At the end of the first half 2010, Samba Financial Group reported that GDP growth in the Kingdom is forecast to be around 4% in 2010, with annual inflation predicted to be reasonably stable at 5% by year end.
Source: CB Richard Ellis

Middle East Newsreel - June 2010 Jul 6 2010 Abu Dhabi is expected to be short of residential units until 2013 according to a new report by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. The report also stated that hotel rooms in the Emirate were already in a state of significant oversupply which was forecasted to continue over the next four years, while commercial and retail sectors are set to see moderate oversupply. Future demand levels in Abu Dhabi, however, will be inextricably linked to trends in the Dubai market specifically in the residential sector where continued declines in residential rental levels could shift the residential demand curve for the Abu Dhabi market in 2010 and 2011.
Source: Cluttons LLC

Saudi Arabia Property Market Update - July 2010 Jul 4 2010 The effects of the global economic downturn were felt in Saudi Arabia mainly as a result of the dramatic reduction in oil prices in mid 2008 and the concurrent reduced demand for oil from the West. As the West continues to be plagued with economic uncertainty, Saudi Arabia, like the GCC in general, looks to major infrastructure projects to kick start its domestic economy.
Source: Cluttons LLC

International Project Marketing 2010 Jun 11 2010 The recovery of global investment demand for UK new-build property has been one of the most remarkable features of the residential market over the past 18 months. Liam Bailey, head of Knight Frank residential research, investigates the dramatic international response to the weak pound, record low interest rates and the UK’s dramatic undersupply of housing.
Source: Knight Frank

On Point - Holy Cities City Profile - June 2010 Jun 8 2010 The Muslim Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah are unique real estate markets, benefitting from effectively unlimited visitor demand from the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. Increasing Hajj and Umrah visitation to the Holy Cities (from the current total of around 7.8 million per annum) is dependent upon relieving the existing infrastructure and other capacity constraints. Given the significant movement between sites associated with the Hajj, the prime constraint relates to the ground transport system within and between the Holy Cities and not broader airport capacities or the ability to provide sufficient accommodation.
Source: Jones Lang LaSalle MENA

Focus on Saudi Arabia 2010 Jun 7 2010 Welcome to the ninth in a series of special reports produced exclusively by Cityscape Intelligence, which provide an in-depth look at the current state of business to business real estate in the emerging markets. Focus On Saudi Arabia breaks down key trends and statistics on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the Financial Times and provides a comprehensive analysis of the value and status of projects currently being undertaken in Saudi Arabia, provided by Proleads.
Source: Cityscape Intelligence

Recovering Markets Jun 7 2010 When A.T. Kearney issued its last Real Estate Global Opportunity Index in 2008, the real estate crisis was in its early stages in emerging countries. Since then, prices have plummetted worldwide, creating a downward spiral that has devastated economies.
Source: A.T. Kearney

Saudi Arabia | Investment Guide 2009/2010 Jun 6 2010 We are delighted to present this revised edition of our guide to investing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al-Ghazzawi Professional Association and Herbert Smith LLP formed an exclusive association in April 2008. Since then our lawyers, based in Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh, have been working together to provide clients with a seamless service on transactions throughout the Middle East. This guide has been put together by a team of our lawyers in those offices and we are grateful for the time and effort that they have put into producing it. Please note this is an extract from the guide, for a full copy please contact Herbert Smith.
Source: Herbert Smith LLP

On Point - MENA City Profile: Jeddah - June 2010 Jun 2 2010 Last November's floods have resulted ina a tightening of planning controls, which will act as a brake on a new supply in some areas of the city. Jeddah is investing heavily to improve its infrastructure. Investment in water, drainage and major transportation projects form the core of the wholesale urban renewal issues that could significantly change the face of Jeddah over the next 10 years.
Source: Jones Lang LaSalle MENA

DTZ Research Global 2010 - Money into Property May 11 2010 Global invested stock declined by 3.7% in 2009, when --measured at fixed exchange rates, an acceleration on the 0.7% decline the previous year. In US dollar terms, global stock decreased by 6%. Asia Pacific (APAC) was the only region to record positive stock growth.
Source: DTZ