Cityscape Approaches
Last year, Dubai’s Cityscape occurred upon the precipice of the global economic crisis, just three weeks after Lehman Brothers’ collapse. The booths were taller and brighter than ever before, though the question on everyone’s mind was surely, “What will Cityscape 2009 look like?” Well, the most iconic industry trade show of the year arrives now three weeks after Lehman’s anniversary.
Now in its eighth year, Cityscape Dubai is the largest property event in a series of large property events. With shows around the world throughout the year, the Dubai occasion is looked upon as something of a bellwether; if the most exciting real estate market is hurting, what hope is there for the rest of the world?
The organizers of this year’s events have done their part to manage expectations – everyone knows no kilometer-high towers will be announced. Many projects shown previously will likely have a booth, attracting more attention now that they’re further in development. The focus, however, is likely to be one of strategy and reflection. How do developers tackle finance constraints? What new legal developments are occurring in the emirate? How much will investors pay for luxury, in an atmosphere of restraint? These are the questions likely to come up at the booth discussions this year, which may be a bit more cozy as 30% of the space has been reduced from the previous show.
While the show will be smaller, interest has so far been relatively strong, with thousands of registrants already confirmed from over 100 countries. With the Metro finished and Burj Dubai looking almost ready for business, this year’s show may indeed emphasize not just what has been conceptualized, but what has been completed.
Visit the Cityscape website here
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