RSP Group survey ranks UAE as the most strategic GCC hospitality investment destination (page 2 of 2)

What sets the UAE and Oman apart from their neighbours is the opportunity in the emerging Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Muscat and Salalah in Oman. "The potential to develop beach tourism to complement a strong corporate demand is gaining momentum, and both countries are working hard to position themselves as tourism destinations on a global scale. The governments in both the UAE and Oman are supportive; the regulatory environment is easing and prime land is accessible," Mr. Hagkull added.

Following closely behind, Bahrain and Qatar tied with a score of 3.3, also offer significant potential for hospitality investment. Both countries present an opportunity to diversify their product offering to include products that attract larger foreign leisure and incentives markets. Bahrain and Qatar will be sufficiently supplied in the medium term to meet corporate demand from their respective financial and gas sectors, but are slow to develop leisure offerings.

While KSA has the potential to develop a lucrative tourism market, the diversity in its product offering is still challenged. Although the government has increased Umrah visitation to 9 months in the year, and has eased visa restrictions, there is still strong seasonality in the market. Attracting international demand for corporate and leisure products will remain KSA's challenge in the coming years.

The indicators used in RSP Hospitality MarketWatch measure revenue growth;, depth of tourism product; tourism fundamentals including infrastructure, ease of travel, tourism marketing, and industry regulation; the future supply and demand scenarios; access to land; cost of construction; ease of hiring staff; operating performance; seasonality; and opportunities for niche market products.

RSP Group is the largest, regionally-based real estate investment advisory organization in the Middle East. Over the past year RSP Group has worked in 20 Middle East - North African countries on real estate and hospitality developments in excess of US $80 billion.

RSP Group's core advisory services include Development Advisory, Project Financing, Asset Management and Fund Development, and Asset Acquisitions and Disposals. RSP Group has provided strategic advisory services on many of the region's largest and most prestigious real estate and hospitality developments. Its 'blue chip' client base is comprised of many of the leading international and regional banks, real estate developers, and investors throughout the Middle East.