Dubai developer Azizi expects the emirate’s property market to bounce back early next year, as it looks to raise $300 million (Dh1.1 billion) from a sukuk issue to finance its expansion.
Chief executive Farhad Azizi said there was an increase in the number of inquiries from potential buyers in Dubai.
“We are not just being optimistic out of thin air. We ... are hopeful that [the interest] will increase when it comes to September and October, when schools open.”
The developer claims to be selling five to six apartments a day, compared to just one apartment a week in March and April when movement restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 were at their peak.
Most of the buyers are residents but Mr Azizi said inquiries were coming in from Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, India and Pakistan.
Azizi Developments has 54 residential projects with a total investment of Dh5bn across the emirate in districts such as MBR City, Palm Jumeirah, Jebel Ali, Dubai Sports City and Dubai Healthcare City, among others. It plans to deliver 3,000 property units this year.
Mr Azizi said there was a lot of interest in mid-range properties that cost less than Dh1m.
“By next year, hopefully there will be a treatment for Covid-19 and things will come back to normality,” he said.
Expo 2020 Dubai, which was postponed to October next year, is also expected to contribute to the recovery of the property market, he said.
The developer “went through a big panic moment” at the onset of the pandemic, Mr Azizi said, reducing staff salaries by 25 per cent to preserve cash.
“We also reduced our expenses which were non-essential. We have not done layoffs and did not terminate staff.”
The developer recently began to hire staff as demand increased after movement restrictions were eased. It recruited 60 people last month and will hire another 40 by the end of July, Mr Azizi said.
It intends to invest Dh1bn in four new Dubai projects this year if demand continues to grow, and expand into Abu Dhabi where a Dh1bn residential project is on the cards. There are also plans to open an office by the end of this year in the capital.
Mr Azizi said the developer is looking to move into the contracting business, “at a level of managing subcontractors but not deep-diving to the smaller details.”
TTo fund its expansion, the company plans to raise $300m through a bond issuance, Mr Azizi said.
“People feel more comfortable investing in property than investing elsewhere,” he said. “[They] have fear of inflation [and] a fear of investing in the stock market or luxurious products which they may not use, but when it comes to a home, it is an asset they can use it the long term and it gives them a lot of comfort.”
The recent stimulus package announced by the UAE government will also help Dubai’s property sector to recover quickly, he said.
The Emirates introduced Dh256bn in stimulus measures to help offset the impact of Covid-19 on the economy.
The measures consist of zero interest funding to encourage banks to lend more.
The government also launched several other initiatives, including discounted utility bills and waivers of fees.
Dubai’s property market slowed, partly due to the drop in oil prices that began in 2014 and an excess supply of residential units.
The pandemic placed additional pressure on the sector as the number of on-site property viewings dwindled.
However, in an interview with Bloomberg last month, Damac Properties chairman Hussain Sajwani projected a recovery next year on the back of Expo 2020.
Last week, Rizwan Sajan, the chairman of Dubai's Danube Group, also sounded upbeat. He expects the temporary slowdown to lift once oil prices climb above $50 per barrel.
"This drop in oil prices can be ascribed to the world being under partial lockdown," he said. "So, the prices per barrel would soon go higher than $50 once [the] economy of each country is reinstated."
Brent, the international benchmark for crude, closed at $41.02 on Friday, while WTI, the gauge for US oil, closed at $38.49.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
HERO%20CUP%20TEAMS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cins%3EContinental%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fins%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrancesco%20Molinari%20(c)%3Cbr%3EThomas%20Detry%3Cbr%3ERasmus%20Hojgaard%3Cbr%3EAdrian%20Meronk%3Cbr%3EGuido%20Migliozzi%3Cbr%3EAlex%20Noren%3Cbr%3EVictor%20Perez%3Cbr%3EThomas%20Pieters%3Cbr%3ESepp%20Straka%3Cbr%3EPlayer%20TBC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cins%3EGreat%20Britain%20%26amp%3B%20Ireland%3C%2Fins%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ETommy%20Fleetwood%20(c)%3Cbr%3EEwen%20Ferguson%3Cbr%3ETyrrell%20Hatton%3Cbr%3EShane%20Lowry%3Cbr%3ERobert%20MacIntyre%3Cbr%3ESeamus%20Power%3Cbr%3ECallum%20Shinkwin%3Cbr%3EJordan%20Smith%3Cbr%3EMatt%20Wallace%3Cbr%3EPlayer%20TBC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
Blonde
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAndrew%20Dominik%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAna%20de%20Armas%2C%20Adrien%20Brody%2C%20Bobby%20Cannavale%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
