Mark Wallington's Blog: All Categories

Even though Dubai is quite a small city, the recent developments of infrastructure and freehold property have really stretched the city out along the coastline and further inland. The most convenient way to get around is by car, even though the traffic can be a nightmare at peak hours. With the metro system under construction, and hopefully operating in a couple of years, cars may become less popular in the future, but for now, owning a car if you live in Dubai is essential. Low petrol prices People moving to Dubai will immediately notice that petrol prices here are substantially low compared to everywhere else. As the United Arab Emirates is an oil- exporting country, this means that residents take advantage of the low costs of running a car, and… Read Full Post

If there’s one thing that Dubai has a lot of, its hotels. The city is chock full of the world’s finest hotels and resorts, that are both in the city and on the beachfront, meaning the choice is yours. Even if you cannot afford to stay in the most luxurious hotels that Dubai has to offer, for the are very expensive, then you can at least pay a visit to them as they are worth the trip. Here are some of Dubai’s most popular hotels to visit. Burj Al Arab Recognised all over the world as an icon of the Emirate, Burj Al Arab is currently the world’s only seven star hotel, and lives up to its reputation as ultra-luxurious and over the top. The hotel is decked out in the finest interiors, and plenty of gold, and offers luxury suites that each come with their… Read Full Post

As many Dubai residents expect or hope that the price of renting and buying property will drop going into 2008, there are new fears that this will not actually happen. The Dubai property boom has already continued for a lot longer than property experts speculated, showing that there is no real way to truly predict changes in such a new market. As the end of 2007 draws near and all residents hope that things will improve, the expected influx of high income investment bankers, coupled with the low costs of getting a mortgage, will more likely lead to further increases in the costs of living in Dubai. New business in Dubai The continued growth of Dubai’s business sector means that more and more high profile firms will be moving to the Emirate. With… Read Full Post

Over the past several months, the Dubai government has been in a phase of reform concerning the freehold property sector, in an effort to make property a more viable investment for local and foreign buyers.  The establishment of the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) and the laws that have also come into creation are all for the purpose of making the Emirate a viable source of investment, and the business hub of the Middle East.

Stable Dubai property market

A big issue with buying freehold property in Dubai has been the associated maintenance costs per year.  These have tended to be high, meaning that the costs of buying and maintaining freehold properties have not saved buyers any money over renting property.  As a solution, Strata law was…

Even though the amenities and facilities that come with freehold properties on the Dubai real estate market are excellent, some property investors want more.  Fortunately, there are select amount of executive apartments available on the market that offer a whole lot more than the usual.  These executive apartments are super luxurious, offer room services that you would expect in a hotel, and are available in the same great locations.  Of course, since the specifications are much higher for these freehold properties, they do come at a price.

Burj Dubai Downtown

Right in the middle of the city, with shops, restaurants, cafes and hotels all in the vicinity, the executive apartments here are the finest possible.  Designed exclusively by Armani, also…

Most people see apartments as restrictive and lacking character, simply because they have no garden, or not enough space. Fortunately, Dubai property is known for being different and there are more than the usual apartments to choose from, if you have the money. Whether it’s more space that you want, some outdoor space even, or just an apartment that stands out from the rest, you can surely find what you are looking for on the Dubai real estate market. Loft apartments For those that want a whole different concept in apartment living, a number of freehold properties offer loft-style apartments, which offer a great amount of space. Freehold projects such as The Views, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and sub-developments in Dubailand and Downtown will also… Read Full Post

Beachfront real estate is always high in demand on every property market, and the Dubai property market is no different, with a great selection of desirable freehold properties right on the coast. Just like international markets, beachfront property in Dubai is also amongst the most expensive because prime location comes at a price, and the property developments that have taken the beachfront are mostly luxury properties. Here’s a rundown of the leading beachfront properties in Dubai at the moment, and what we expect to appear in the future. Palm Jumeirah Definitely recognised as an ambitious project to extend the coastline of the Emirate, the Palm Jumeirah has now completed its freehold properties and many are already being lived in, but many are also… Read Full Post

The reasons why many Dubai residents want to live on a property development, besides the obvious rent issues, are the facilities that they offer. It is commonplace for rented buildings to come with a swimming pool, but actual housing developments with extra amenities are not readily available to rent on the market. With the many freehold developments that are now on the market, or will be soon, property investors get to enjoy a number of great amenities, whether they live in a villa or an apartment. Swimming Pools This is a must on all freehold properties, and the good news is that they all have one. While the more exclusive and pricey properties come with their own private swimming pools, there are some lovely communal pools that are well maintained… Read Full Post