Browse
related articles
A press conference to launch the second edition was held at Sharjah Millennium Hotel, which was attended by Nawaf Mohammed Obaid, the director general of Emirates Vision, directors of local departments in Sharjah, the chairmen and general managers of participating companies and representatives from the real estate sector.
Mr Obaid said the first edition of the show was a landmark in the exhibitions' industry as confirmed by the huge response from visitors and industry experts.
Mr Obaid attributed the reason for the show's success to the patronage and support from His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and His Highness' continuous support to the economic sector in Sharjah.
He said the show was launched last year on the back of the boom in real estate sector witnessed by the UAE in recent years.
Mr Obaid, said:
"This year exhibition has the sponsorship of a selected group of outstanding real estate companies. We appreciate Hydra Properties for its strategic partnership for the second consecutive year. This year Al Qudra Real Estate will be a platinum sponsor and Borouj Real Estate a golden sponsor."
He also thanked Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Sharjah Municipality and Qanat Al Qasba, the official sponsors of Acres Middle East, for their efforts in promoting Sharjah globally.
Sharjah TV will be the media partner of the exhibition, while further media support will be provided by Al Aqariah TV, Al Aqariah Media Group, Capital Magazine and Rash Magazine.
Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, the Director-General of the Expo Centre Sharjah, in his keynote speech, said:
"We will extend all possible support to make the show a huge success. The first edition witnessed the participation of more than 100 exhibitors from GCC countries, the Middle East region in addition to real estate majors in the UAE. The event was a centre of attraction for all investors and the representatives from the real estate sector. The number of visitors reached more than 20,000. This year the show will be a bigger success due to the two trillion dirhams worth of real estate and construction projects that are under way in the region."
He appreciated the outstanding efforts made by Emirates Vision Events Management, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Saqr bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, for the good organisation of the exhibition. "It is one of the important exhibitions organized by the business sector in cooperation with the governmental sector in real estate in the UAE and the region," he said.
Dr. Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO of Hydra Properties, said:
"It gives me great pleasure to be here with you today to announce another of Hydra Properties' partnerships with ACRES Middle East 2008 to further uplift the real estate business sector of the UAE as a whole. Before anything else, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the patron of this esteemed exhibition, HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, who has always supported us and has been a beacon of hope for all our endeavors."
He emphasized that, real estate industry in the Emirates as well as the region has been booming for years, enabling the formation of some of the most iconic, prestigious, and luxurious developments and skyscrapers the world has ever seen. It has continually done so until the present day and it is not going to stop anytime soon.
He said, "The success of the property sector has been a result of neither luck nor coincidence. It is the product of vision, intelligent and strategic planning, and an unspeakable amount of dedicated, hard work. Investments have been pouring in thanks to the present attractiveness of the business climate in the UAE and rest of the GCC, and real estate companies have been working very diligently to keep the climate in such an appealing state. We will underline the importance and obvious business sense of buying into the UAE real estate market, and help enable developers and all professionals in the industry to showcase their projects via an important platform held at the Sharjah Expo Centre."
Mr. Claus Peter Rees Deputy Director General of Al Qudra Real Estate, the platinum sponsor of the exhibition, said:
"I would like to congratulate the organizers, Emirates Vision, for its initiative to promote this second edition of ACRES 2008 after its successful inauguration last year. (The team of) Al Qudra Real Estate is proud to contribute as the platinum sponsor to the success of this event. At Al Qudra Real Estate, we have, and always will, place emphasis on adding value to the development of the real estate sector in the UAE. We are fully committed to the real estate industry and have every intention of constantly providing sustainability to this rapidly growing sector. Even while we are expanding our operations internationally (Algeria, Morocco, Belarus, Syria), our natural priorities are our key projects in our home market, the UAE."
He added, "Within this context, I would like to announce that after the very successful sales launch of limited units in Ain Al Fayda Phase 1 project, in October 2008, we will continue to promote and release further units for sale at this exhibition. We will also be releasing the last phase in Lilac tower, our very successful Shades project, in Al Reem Island, which was launched in phases over the past 6 months. At our stand, No 100, we are confident that these projects we are showcasing, as well as our first of its kind in the Middle East touchless screen technology will attract a strong interest at the exhibition. Please come and see us at our stand".
Essa Abdullah Al Tunaiji, the Deputy Director General of Burooj Properties, said:
"Burooj Properties has collaborated in sponsoring this event. Such an initiative stems from our commitment to provide all the required support for events that help raise the profile of the regional realty sector in general, and in Sharjah in particular. It is well known for all of you that Sharjah possesses all constituents to play an important role as a flagship realty city in the region, given that it is the cultural city of the UAE and has many cultural landmarks that portray the heritage of UAE. Besides, the government has paid a great deal of attention to this emirate; the multi billion infrastructure projects being implemented are a testimony of the Government's efforts to promote economic, urban, cultural and tourism drive here."
He emphasized that Burooj Properties have pinpointed Sharjah as one of the most key and promising realty market. Our flagship project, Sharjah Marina, is the company's largest project in the UAE. Spread over 10 million sq ft, with the total cost of Dhs15bn, Sharjah Marina has 3 hotels overlooking the sear, the emirate's largest shopping mall, Islamic-themed museums, and iconic commercial and residential towers.
"Some of the leading regional real estate companies have embarked on realty projects. Such unique projects are expected to lay new foundations in the realty industry. Furthermore, these projects, undertaken by either the private sector or public-private, have attracted investors from around the world to enjoy the uncompromising and upbeat weather of Sharjah coupled with strong economy and hospitable and generous people". He concluded
A representative of the Sharjah Municipality, said:
"Our participation in Sharjah International Exhibition for Real Estate Investment is a significant mvoe in the promotional plan for Sharjah Municipality service projects. The exhibition is taking place for the second time in the Emirate of Sharjah within the booming real estate atmosphere witnessed by the UAE in particular and the Gulf region in general. The exhibition also coincides with the real estate boom in the Emirate of Sharjah, which strongly demonstrates the keenness of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah and the officials in the Emirate of Sharjah to communicate with leaders of the real estate sectors in the emirate to review the latest projects and developments."
He added, "No one can deny the importance of the Emirate of Sharjah real estate sector, where Sharjah witnesses the construction of a range of major real estate projects that will contribute to advance the emirate economy, and therefore the economic growth in the country, due to the linkage of many sectors to real estate sector."
He confirmed that the participation of Sharjah Municipality comes in the framework of Municipality's concern to the continuous communication with investors and people interested in real estate sector, to give them the opportunity to closely identify the municipal real estate projects and study investment opportunities in this project. The exhibition will give all real estate companies a chance to participate, exchange experiences and extrapolate the events and facts of the UAE real estate market, thus contribute to develop and advance the projects for the best.
He said, "Sharjah Municipality is creating currently several major real estate projects, to meet the various needs. The most important projects is the re-planning and designing of Al Ruq'a Al Hamra used cars market, construction of multi-storey car parks in Al Majaz, Abu Shaghara and Al Qassmia areas, Sharjah project to develop parks, the establishment of many new residential parks with total cost exceeding 16 million Dirham and many of the internal roads and sewerage projects.
Mr. Hazem Sawaf, the representative of Qasba, said:
"I would first like to welcome all of you to this press conference announcing the (Sharjah International investment and Real Estate Exhibition) 'ACRES Middle East 2008'."
He stressed that Emirate of Sharjah has, in a short span of time evolved into one of the most culturally rich cities in the world combined with a wide variety of happenings making it a significant pivotal center well known for its economic endeavors.
"Hosting some of the most important investors in the real-estate sector in the UAE and the Middle East, 'ACRES Middle East 2008' will reinforce and position the Emirate of Sharjah among one of the most developed in the field of real estate investment and the development of some ambitious real estate projects established in and outside the UAE. We are proud at Al Qasba to join the list of sponsors of the exhibition for the first time extending our promise to continue providing valuable support and participation in community events and activities of different spectrums" he confirmed.
He concluded "The Al Qasba strategy focuses and emphasizes on positioning the Emirate of Sharjah as one of the famous tourism, entertainment, cultural and family destinations in the region, which is witnessing a rapid and continues growth in different sectors such as economical, cultural, trading, and much more."
Khalid Ismail Safar the Director General of Sharjah TV confirmed that since starting on 11 February 1989 the Sharjah TV was receiving great care and support from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah who believes that media changes and straights behavior, disseminates knowledge and enhances lofty values.
He added, "For more integration to this media role, Sharjah TV is keen to participate in the activities adopted by Sharjah emirate and to sponsor it in order to reflect media role in the various activities and performance that aim to display the civilized face of Sharjah emirate. This why we made an agreement with Emirate- vision to sponsor media wise the international Sharjah fair for real estate investment. It is a sponsorship that Sharjah TV. Shall provide information cover in addition to an indoor studio to transmit the activities and host guests who visit the fair. I believe that this co- operation shall establish a strong media bond that shall adopt an honest media competition for providing a complete information service."
Rana Mesbah
