Investors throng the Worldwide Property Show

The show, launched in 1996, is the longest running property exhibition in the UAE, and hosted 65 exhibitors representing properties from over 35 countries from the UAE and abroad.

"Although the Dubai based exhibitors had excellent sales, there was definitely a renewed interest across the board for overseas real estate once again,"

said Mike Bridge from the organizers DSL Exhibitions. "France, England and Spain have always proved a popular choice, but we were pleasantly encouraged to see newer markets such as Thailand, Gibraltar, Bulgaria, the Caribbean, Malaysia and Australia also attracting great interest."

George Betz DSL's International Sales Director, commenting on the recently concluded exhibition, said: "Many overseas exhibitors had decided to stay away from participating during the past few years, while the buying public concentrated on the emerging Dubai real estate boom. This trend seems to have cooled down and so we welcomed back to show several past clients including several overseas developers and agents. They were very happy with the response and many took record numbers of deposits on their stands from investors keen to purchase for holiday, retirement or investment reasons."

Prices abroad are still higher than the majority of homes here in Dubai, but with sensible payment plans and competitive mortgage rates, purchasing a home abroad is still affordable." said Bridge. "We believe that over the next few years, local developers here in the region, will need to go overseas to attract buyers and investors, so with the support of the Dubai Tourism and Marketing Board we plans to take this new event to Emirates gateway cities across the UK and Europe", he added.

The Worldwide Property Show will travel to Karachi in august, return to Dubai in November and the company will be taking its other event, The Dubai & Gulf Property Show to Glasgow in September and to Birmingham in October.


Exhibitor comments:

"We sold four luxury apartments at GBP2.5million at the show. We have been coming to the Dubai show for the past few years and noticed many past clients were now keen to buy from us!"
- Edward Hill of Taylor Woodrow, Gibraltar.

"Two hours after being interviewed by Emirates Radio live from the exhibition, a visitor came onto our stand who heard me, and decided to spend US$500,000 on real estate in Phuket and South Africa. A Very busy three days. Great venue and great show."
- Alisdair MacDonald, CEO, Ocean Estates.

"We enjoyed this exhibition. The numbers through the door were good and the quality of enquiry excellent for us. As we are a very specific market, it was encouraging to be approached by genuine potential purchasers. We are hopeful of some 'conversions' today!
- Garry Duffield of Australian Property World PTY LTD

"A very well organised show spanning over the weekend ensured a tremendous response from the media and public. The turn out was excellent and lasted literally to the last hour of the show. We are pleased with the results."
- Dr Sharam Abdullah Zadeh, CEO Al Fajer Properties

"The lucky winner of the plot of land in the UK in the free raffle at the Worldwide Property Show, which we gave away, could now have an appreciating asset that will probably be worth over Dhs1,000,000 within four to six years. We had a great result at the show and a great response to the promotion."
- Andy Wing, Sinclair Deville Land Aquistitions UK, who ran the free raffle for a plot of land at Abbey View, UK, at the exhibition, won by a Pakistani national