International interest up amid rising sales, new project launches at Cityscape

Cityscape Qatar, which concluded on Tuesday, produced an increase in international interest amid a raft of new project launches, unit sales, and growing demand, according to Chris Speller, Cityscape’s group director.“We are extremely excited to see such interest across all asset classes both locally and internationally," the official said while referring to the three-day event. "Cityscape Qatar has once again proven to be a catalyst for announcements, investment opportunities, and face-to-face meetings. The new product launches, onsite sales, and new signings are testament to the growth phase the Qatari real estate market is currently witnessing.”On Cityscape’s second day, Turkish ambassador Mustafa Goksu toured the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre and visited the inaugural Turkish pavilion for updates on the latest opportunities being offered in both Qatar and Turkey. Sekib Avdagic, president of Istanbul’s chamber of commerce, said his country’s first participation at Cityscape was “an unmissable opportunity” for Turkey to highlight some of its new projects and attract international investment.Avdagic said, “Cityscape Qatar is a great opportunity for us. For the first time, we are hosting a national pavilion made up of 14 investment and real estate companies all looking for opportunities. This platform is a highly important avenue for the promotion of Turkish real estate projects with the aim of attracting high net worth investors.”Jamal Mourad, CEO of Bin Al Sheikh Real Estate Development, said: “Part of our focus for the company is to rebrand and we now have some large-scale projects to showcase, which is why we decided to exhibit this year. We are showcasing both our QR1.2bn Ramada project, as well as Ain Khalid Mall, which will open in two months. “We are here to finalise reservations of 55 shops and a hypermarket. So far, we have sealed four deals, including a residential area of 70 villas, and we have met with experts from the real estate commercial sector who will support us with insight for our Ain Khalid project.”Mart Real Estate general manager Zakaria Abdullah said, “We managed to sell a full floor in our upcoming project Seville Residences, which is located in the Fox Hills district of Lusail City. We sold nine units to one buyer for a total of QR11.5mn, reinforcing the current appetite for demand and confidence in the short to long-term rental market.” Sana Kheir, managing director of Mayfair Property Group, said: “The lockdown slowed both business activity and investment in the real estate market. We felt that this edition of Cityscape Qatar was a perfect opportunity to get back out there and meet people since we are witnessing an increased appetite for investment in the market. “Also, with the FIFA World Cup approaching, this will create momentum in diversified investment markets. Our greatest strength is that we are coming to the market with high-quality collaborations in different parts of the world and have seen heightened investment opportunities in locations, such as the US, the UK, and the UAE.”Ends