Aldar has just launched its latest Master Community project on Reem Island, "The Bridges" - and it is the best value yet. For as little as an AED55,000 deposit you can reserve your very own two bedroom apartment for AED1.1m. See the listings here When delivered in 2020 it will consist of six mid-rise towers, each offering 212 homes. From smart studios to spacious three bedroom apartments, every...
Don’t like the look of the real estate market right now? Buy now and take advantage of the market in two to three years by buying off-plan. In 2016 Dubai sold as many off-plan units as built ones. Off-plan is back in vogue. So what are the pros and cons of buying off-plan in this newer more confident market and what do you need to look out for? Price Now because you are paying for something you can’t...
The Tawtheeq system has been delayed this week due to an overhaul. We have received conflicting reports but it seems that now an EID is required to issue a Tawtheeq and that EID readers are now being distributed to all owners/managers. Before you could get a Tawtheeq with only a visa, this will now drastically slow down the process. We have also received word from some of the developers that i) you can...
How to Pick an Abu Dhabi Investment Property 1 PICK THE RIGHT DEVELOPER 2007 in particular saw a lot of inexperienced developers take to the market in Abu Dhabi. The subsequent downturn in 2008/2009 saw those developers struggle to complete their units on time and in the specifications that were given to those who bought off-plan. Before you buy a unit look into the developer, what else have...
How Can Landlords Deal With The New Abu Dhabi Rent Cap Now before I get lynched by all the tenants out there I am completely impartial as regards the landlord and tenant relationship. Brokers are often accused of working for landlords to keep rents high but I firmly believe that your client is the person who pays you, which in Abu Dhabi is the tenant (I wish it was the landlord). However, as I offer...
Five Reasons Not to Get Excited About the New Rent Cap So, we're hearing from a lot of sources that Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport have put out a message saying the rent cap is back, and back at 5%. Let's look at what this means and why it is unlikely to stick: 1) The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (ADM) are the new real estate regulators pursuant to Law 2...
As promised here is the second article in this series for HR and Onboarding Managers but useful for everyone to understand housing allowances.The first article on breaking leases is here Hiring staff to the UAE is a costly and time-consuming enterprise so it is imperative that companies in the region retain the staff they bring in. Nothing affects staff retention more than unhappy families and the family...
Do UAE Housing Allowances Distort the Market? Housing allowances are an unusual feature of UAE living. Back in our home countries we just get a salary and can spend what we like on our housing, here in the UAE we get an allowance from our employers. The way housing allowances are given also varies from company to company and this article will explore how that affects the market. You can see a related...
We are very pleased to be opening our new location on Reem Island in Boutik Mall just beneath the iconic Sun and Sky towers. We hope that this central location will mean that our office becomes a hub for leasing and sales on Reem Island. The office is in fact a 90sqm open plan and modern kiosk on the first floor of the Mall next to the Khidmah office. It will be staffed seven days a week from 7.30am to 9...
What Do Greedy Landlords and Unicorns Have in Common? They both don't exist. I'm writing this article in response to a comment someone made on an article I shared on rents falling in Abu Dhabi. It was a comment on landlords being greedy by hiking rents 20% in 2014-15 and how they are now getting left high and dry. Greedy property owners who ask for above market rents never become greedy landlords because...
