100 April 2016 www.bahrainthismonth.com BEHNAZ SANJANA The month of April will see players of the real estate sector throng to the Bahrain Exhibition Centre to enter into high-value property deals. The gulfBID and Gulf Property exhibitions are a boutique showcase organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions for the real estate and property development sectors in Bahrain and the northern Gulf. While gulfBID has been organised for nine years, Gulf Property is now in its fourth year. Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions says both exhibitions are growing with local participation. “gulfBID 2016 is becoming an exciting prospective showcase for companies from Saudi Arabia,” he adds. The gulfBID Exhibition effectively provides construction professionals access to the region’s most influential architectural, engineering and design communities of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. It allows related companies to promote brand awareness, and exhibitors to cost-effectively meet potential clientele, given the increasing scale of construction and infrastructural projects in the region. The Gulf Property show promotes Bahrain’s property assets as well as providing regional and international real estate opportunities for investors, who can be assured of the best property deals and expertise to help them realise their goal of owning or investing in real estate. The number of exhibitors participating in the show has steadily increased since its inception, from 19 in 2013 to 39 in 2015. “This year’s edition of gulfBID sees an increase in the scale of the exhibition by over 200sq/m; that too at a challenging time for the region’s construction sector. Bahrain’s construction sector is buoyant due to the large number of property development projects, the airport expansion and refurbishment and the Saudi causeway extension, with the addition of a railway line and passenger terminus. Many of the Saudi companies already have existing businesses in Bahrain, but see the exhibition as an opportunity to build on this business potential,” says Jubran. The Gulf Property Show has become one that developers and real estate professionals of the region want to be seen at. This year, the show sees 10 new projects in Bahrain being launched, as well as showcasing international property developments. Echoing the positive sentiment of the real estate scenario in the Kingdom, Jubran says: “Each segment — residential, retail or commercial — will appeal to a different investor appetite. Certainly in Bahrain there is huge demand for residential developments from both local and international investors. “All of Bahrain’s developers have evaluated the business model for their respective developments. They will have taken into account that real estate development is a programme that looks into the future. While people may have concerns at present, their prognosis for the future is very positive. Just look at the quality and level of imagination that developers like Marassi Al Bahrain, Diyar Al Muharraq, Bin Faqeeh and the likes are looking at delivering to the customer.” Given the great opportunities that these exhibitions deliver to organisations and investors of real estate alike, they have also attracted banking exhibitors, with both Arab Bank and BBK coming on board to showcase financial products for purchasers and investors both in the GCC and international real estate. With the whole world going the digital way, has digitalisation impacted this particular market in any way? Jubran says: “While many developers have very sophisticated digital brochures and websites, real estate is still very much a personal ‘look and see’ product. Virtualisation of looks and finishes may be available, but investors still need the assurance of the sales person from the developer to walk and talk them through the real estate process. After all for many people, buying a property is a life-changing decision.” Showcasing Property Potential The opening of last year’s show by HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister Diyar Al Muharraq The Marasi Waterfront propertyfeature
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