4th Annual Real Estate Investment World Middle East Conference

Here is yet another "should not miss" event that all serious Gulf real estate investors need to attend. The 4th Annual Real Estate Investment World (REIW) Middle East Conference will be held at the Shangri-La, Dubai, November 9-12, 2008. And even though we are in the midst of a world financial melt-down, real estate development is still very strong in The Gulf:

'Although most of the world's real estate markets seem to be dragged down by the on-going US subprime crisis, one realty region particularly stands out with very promising growth potential and ROI - Middle East. As if it has an invisible shield against the worldwide financial adversity, huge amounts of investments have been pouring into this area.

'The 4th edition of REIW Middle East forum is set to address the hottest issues pertaining to investment opportunities within MENA and in mature markets, private equity real estate, property developments and partnership models. This conference will present an excellent platform for you to get first-hand information from key industry players, renowned international experts and major decision-makers in the global property investment industry,' according to Terrapinn, creators of REIW Middle East.

I have taken a close look at the seminars that will be given and they really look great! Here is some of what will be offered:

> Defining the Private Equity Real Estate Proposition in Middle East – Assessing the Investment Climate, Investors’ Appetite and Deal Flow :

- Raising capital – the advantages of MENA liquidity and putting it to work.
- Addressing the competition with US, Asian and European funds.
- What’s attractive for private equity and investors in the Middle East real estate market?
- What type of deals are you pursuing and what type of returns have you seen this past year?
- Origination, execution, transformation and exit: challenges faced by PERE managers in the Middle East and how can they be overcome.

> Investing into Middle East Property Development Companies – The Smart Gateway to Entering the Middle East Real Estate Market:

- Transparency and corporate governance: the benchmarks for success and why it matters to private equity in the Middle East.
- Value creation strategies: How can Middle East developers harness the capital management expertise and international know-hows of global private equity?

> Developing Profitable Properties in the Middle East Through World Class Architectural Design, Engineering Support and Project Management Expertise:

- Addressing the role of developers and its value-adds to the engineering sophistication and construction expertises in Middle East property market.
- Mitigating the growing execution risks driven by the frenetic pace of developments - how can cost escalation be contained with rising construction and building materials costs?
- Benefiting from the ongoing infrastructure developments within the Middle East.

> Property Market Performance Update and Outlook in the MENA Region: Identifying High Yielding Real Estate Sectors for Investment Opportunities:

- Evaluating the investment climate in key Middle East markets: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar.
- Affordable housing – a necessity in the region, but how attractive is this to investors? What are the yields and returns compared to luxury housing?
- Appreciation of the offices and commercial spaces in Qatar and Kuwait – will the trend continue in 2009?
- Construction of mega malls and mall extensions – examining how generating high level of rental returns can attract significant investment interest in retail spaces.
- The multi-faceted future of the hospitality sector in the Middle East – are Shariah compliant hotels an emerging trend?

All of the above is just part of what will be offered at REIW Middle East! This kind of information is invaluable for those serious about investing in Gulf real estate. If you can attend this conference I would highly recommend you do so.

This link takes you to the REIW Middle East 2008 website:

http://www.terrapinn.com/2008/reiwme/