Thinking of buying investment property in Dubai? Look at the foreclosures when they start happening. The amount of loan defaults across the UAE continues climbing and the banks are considering repossessions as a way of balancing their books. With property prices in Dubai down as much as 70%, and thousands more new properties still entering the market place one would have expected a few bargains to be had. But – lacklustre auctions and developers holding vast stocks are keeping prices from properly correcting.
More on Buying Investment Property in Dubai Foreclosures Might Be The Answer
Following on from Emaar’s recent announcement that they will merge with selected parts of Dubai Holdings, another merger has just been announced - Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it had decided to keep its ‘A’ long-term credit ratings on Dubai-based real estate developer and hotel operator Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group LLC after an announcement that the company will now merge with Emaar. This is the S&P press release:
It looks as though even the ruling family of Dubai is not immune to the stunning amount of lawsuits and court cases flying around the property investment world at the moment. An Iranian businessman is suing members of Dubai’s ruling family for close to two billion dollars over real estate investments, in a case which opened on Wednesday.
The Central Bank of the UAE has just bought $10 billion of the $20 billion long-term bonds Dubai issued on Sunday. The five-year bonds pay 4% per year.
“This is a clear step from the central government to back up Dubai,” said Khald Masri, a partner in Rasmala Investment, a very active investment bank in the region. “The central government’s step will help ease the tense situation in the local economy and markets.”
More on Dubai Bubble Update – Another $10 Billion goes into the hole
It never rains but it pours. Not a metaphor one would usually use regarding Dubai. but things do seem to be going from bad to worse. We have been calling the Dubai bubble for some time now, but it is still rather shocking just how fast things have fallen to pieces.
With property values tanking in Dubai, Nakheel have now gone to the trouble of suggesting that David and Victoria Beckham “have shown interest in increasing their property portfolio in the UAE.”
Citigroup Incorporated has arranged more than $8 billion (Dh29.3 billion) finance for various Dubai government entities in recent months, the global banking group said.
“This is in line with our commitment to the UAE market in general, and reflects our positive outlook on Dubai in particular,” said Citi’s chairman, Sir Win Bischoff in a statement.
More on Dubai recieves 8 billion dollars in finance from Citi
Not content with their own world record for the highest tower, Dubai developers Nakheel on Sunday announced plans to build a tower which could stand one kilometer high (3,280 feet)
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulaim, president of Dubai World, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dubai government, said the project would be “one of a kind.”
More on Kilometer High Tower Planned in Dubai – “It won’t fall over” says CEO
London based property developer, MInerva, lost more than half it’s already reduced value on Friday after the Dubai government withdrew its takeover offer. The offer was made through a wholly-owned government subsidiary, Limitless. Limitless made an offer of 160p a share for the company before the summer, but talks broke down on Thursday night after an agreement could not be reached
If any one was wondering how Dubai’s property market just kept getting more and more expensive, it would seem baksheesh was the reason. In yet another blow to confidence in Dubai’s markets, four employees of Dubai-based real estate developer Sama Dubai have been arrested and are being questioned by Dubai’s Public Prosecution on allegations of bribery and mistrust. One of the people being held is Abdulsalam Almarri, chief executive of Sama Dubai’s The Lagoons project.