2006 has been busy year for Abu Dhabi-based property developer Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH), who took the Middle East by storm in its first full year of operation, with four exciting new projects announced throughout the region worth almost US$4billion.
Last week’s (Sunday 26 Nov, 2006) announcement of US $3billion Entertainment City in Qatar, has already generated a huge amount of investor interest, with over one hundred investor enquiries flooding into the ADIH offices.
This groundbreaking announcement followed October’s high-profile launch of US $600million Beirut Gate, in the heart of the Lebanese capital, and $125 million The Lagoon Bahrain, which was launched in July of this year.
Far from resting on their laurels, Sunset Hills, a $70 million residential complex in Al Areen, Bahrain, will be mooted by company executives at Monday’s Cityscape event.
Presenting for the first time at Cityscape, ADIH’s director of real estate, Michael Lawrence, will use this year’s progressive real estate projects to illustrate the company‘s experience of Middle East investor priorities and make some predictions for the future.
He said: "We are often asked how we can so quickly raise such large funds for these ambitious real estate investments.
"There are a number of common factors included in each of our projects that we have found to be particularly appealing to Middle Eastern investors.
“A good projected return on investment is the most important factor for all investors. However, in many cases, the importance of this is weighed against the perceived safety of the investment.
“It might surprise many, but investors in the Middle East tend to be very interested in the strength of management team and this has been a strong selling point over this busy year at ADIH.
“Perhaps the biggest advantage of ADIH’s projects, and a huge attraction to Middle East investors, is their distinct and innovative nature. It is much easier to sell a concept when we can show how it differentiates itself from competing products.
“The added bonus to Middle East investors is that all of ADIH’s projects are Shari’ah compliant.”
Abu Dhabi Investment House’s CEO, Rashad Janahi, claimed the company’s monumental growth in its first year is only the tip of the iceberg.
“Abu Dhabi Investment House will continue to launch diverse and high quality projects, which will keep on exciting investors from throughout the region.
“Looking to the long term, there may be a gradual shift from real estate developments to income-producing investments, as the Middle East marketplace become more mature and investor returns face some downward pressure.
“These are still exciting times in the region, with a young, dynamic and growing population, and ADIH is committed to remaining at the cutting edge of progress.”
