Leading property experts to address ARABIAN PROPERTIES FORUM in Abu Dhabi

The speakers at the Forum include Mounir Haidar - CEO, Sorouh Real Estate, Ahmad El Husseini - CEO, Al Rayan Investment, Tarek Zakaria - Regional Manager, (Middle East Africa Region), ABB, Alaa Hilal - CEO, Arabian Group, and Walid Khoury - Business & Projects Developer, General Electric, among other prominent experts.

The ARABIAN PROPERTIES FORUM is presented by Datamatix and ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company). Delegates from government, financial institutions, property development companies and the construction industry are expected to attend the Forum.

"The pace of development in the Arab property market is at present unrelenting. The Arabian Properties Forum provides the opportunity to take stock of the trends in the market and get a holistic view of the future of the real estate sector in the region. The top notch roster of speakers at the forum will help participants take advantage of the opportunities provided by this growing sector," said Ali Al Kamali, Managing Director, Datamatix Group.

"The current real estate environment presents both challenges and opportunities to investors. Regulatory changes have proved a key dynamic in reshaping the property landscape in the region. I am sure the insights gained at the ARABIAN PROPERTIES FORUM will be of great value to the participants," said a spokesperson for ADNEC.

A key session at the Forum will be focussed Abu Dhabi's strategic vision on the real estate front. Since the passing of the property law by HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, the property market in Abu Dhabi has expanded significantly.

Mixed use projects, which combine residential and commercial buildings, account for AED 37.32 billion ($10.17 billion) in Abu Dhabi, constituting the largest segment of ongoing property development activity and representing 56% of the total project value.

Airport development and Road infrastructure projects are valued at AED 12.69 billion ($3.46 billion), representing 19% of the total value, according to a study commissioned by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC).

The ARABIAN PROPERTIES FORUM will be held in conjunction with ARABIAN PROPERTIES 2006 and Construct Abu Dhabi. The two exhibitions are expected to feature more than 350 companies represented by over 130 exhibitors from 18 countries.