Cityscape Global's Expanding Horizons

Ahead of this years Cityscape Global, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from October 2-4, we speak with exhibition director Tom Rhodes about the ever-popular event and the evolution of the regions real estate industry

This year has seen a number of exciting announcements for the industry including 10-year investment visas and the REST platform, do you expect these to be the main talking points at the show?

"The government’s ongoing efforts to increase transparency, which include the recently announced Real Estate Self Transaction (REST) will lead to a series of changes and will have a significant impact on the quality of life of homeowners living in Dubai and abroad.

"We have also seen a big drive to increase investment sentiment and attract foreign investors, characterised by the ability to operate companies outside the free zones and own 100 per cent, and a 10-year residency visa.

"Happiness has also been an increasingly popular trend in the emirate and we now see local developers incorporating this into projects, be it in design, after-market services or community amenities.

"Exhibitors such Bloom Holding, Binghatti, Damac, Dubai Holding, Mag Lifestyle Development, Meraas and Majid Al Futtaim have introduced such initiatives, embracing Dubai’s philosophy of happiness, and we expect more to follow suit."

What else do you think will be a major focus this year?

"The week will start with the Cityscape Global Conference, which takes place on Monday, October 1 – the day before the exhibition opens – running under the theme: ‘Stepping into the urban future: happiness, innovation and technology’. The conference comprises three sessions: Market overview, architecture and design, and the built environment programme.