Dubai property 15th most expensive in the world - study
With an average price tag of $7,151 per square metre, property in Dubai is the fifteenth most expensive in the world, according to a recent study.
But it is still cheap compared to Monte Carlo where a top-end apartment costs on average $47,578 per square metre – almost seven times as much as Dubai.
Property in Moscow, which came in second place, costs $20,853 per square metre, followed by London at an average of $20,756.
At the other end of the scale, Cairo was found to be one of the cheapest cities in the world, with a high-end apartment there costing an average of only $574 per square metre.
Property research group Global Property Guide collected the data based on the average price of a 120 square metre high-end used apartment in the city centres of more than 110 cities around the world during 2008. The US dollar exchange rate used is that of January 27, 2009.
It is unclear whether the research takes into account the recent slowdown in Dubai’s once thriving real estate market as the global financial crisis has tightened its grip on the emirate.
As availability of credit has dried up, prices have fallen and developers have scaled back projects.
Dubai property prices slumped by 23 percent during the last quarter of 2008, with villas showing a more marked decline than apartments, according to a report published by HSBC last month.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that real estate prices have fallen by as much as 35 to 50 percent in developments such as the Dubai Marina, Downtown Burj Dubai, and the Palm Jumeirah.
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Comments 1-10 of 10
Posted by Mohammed, Dubai, Dubai on 3 March 2009 at 09:12 UAE time
Dear Saeed W
if you were in London you would find everybody critisizing the government and it's policies. Whinging about the government and it's policies in the UK is a national past time!
I dont think anyone would mind or even notice if you joined the throng!
constructive critiscism of any nature is good and leads to improvements destructive critiscism is to be avoided!
Posted by Badria Abdul Aziz, Dubai, UAE on 17 February 2009 at 18:20 UAE time
Some people are too keen to confuse national status with expat or guest status. The laws of our land are clear and not ambiguous. It has been said repeatedly that owning a house in the UAE does not entitle you the rights of a local and does not entitle you with an ETERNAL OPEN ENDED VISA.
Posted by Nuts on 17 February 2009 at 10:43 UAE time
Someone is not listening to what is being said in these forums... They have failed to find investors in the current scenario to continue (against the global trend) the real estate boom. Hence, now a proposal is being made to invite expatriates (guests) on residency visa (for longer terms then visit) if they invest in the real estate in UAE.
Those who are against the guests should demonstrate their committment to their ideology by "investing" own hard earned money in real estate in home country to prevent such guests coming in. This will ensure that there are less people for whom packing support and directions to the airport are to be given.
:)
Posted by Jamal Mohamadi, Dubai, UAE on 15 February 2009 at 14:14 UAE time
Moza and Salim reflect the whole UAE locals. They have only expressed what UAE locals are expressing among themselves and to their leadership. With due respect, buying a house, or investing millions in this country does NOT make you a local and does NOT entitle you to be a local. Houses are for sale, NOT NATIONS.
Posted by FRIEND OF DUBAI, UAE on 14 February 2009 at 15:28 UAE time
I am sure Moza and Salim and Nadine do reflect less than 10% of UAE true opinion about expats.
I hope they may answer in a very specific way my questions : are you happy with Dubai being very expensive? are you able to afford living as you used to live in 5 years back? Are you having loans to pay for your villas and cars and so?
Employement : how many finacial analyst, economy analysts, risk assessors, project managers, program managers are of UAE national? If the number was enough , the expats wouldn;t have been called to come and stay and Work in the UAE. You don't wish to wait for the time when expats will be forced to leave your country and " pack their bags"! Who will clean your streets? who will clean your clothes ? who will serve at hospitals? who will build your house?
Posted by rouzbeh, dubai, UAE on 14 February 2009 at 00:14 UAE time
Hey moza,
I bought a 3.9million Dhs house in palm, its not as luxurious as the hut i came from back in UK. My question is, am I still a guest in your country. We need to remove this ideology that expacts are guest in UAE. Please stop using the word guest we are
INVESTOR . we have invested out youth and energy in developing this nation.
Posted by Raj, Dubai on 13 February 2009 at 13:53 UAE time
Moza., what huts,villages, jungles, ghettos and destitute background are you talking about? oh please, get ur facts right. I cant talk for all communities, but simply check out the Indian Newspapers even today, and see number of large local houses asking for Engineers, Architects and Project Managers from there ... i must tell u that these people dont live in Huts!
And figures can assure you, the economy of this country works on Expats and Foreign Investments MAINLY. UAE was always freehold for locals, there was NO noise then abou property trading; but since it became freehold for all you may have personally witnessed the craze in investments.
So please dont discount that. I have said this before and i say this again; just pray that the expats dont pack their bags.
And thank God i know enough Emiratis to confirm that you sir dont represent the general thinking of most the locals.
Posted by worried on 13 February 2009 at 13:50 UAE time
Your comments are vitriolic to say the least. When you say the expats did mediocre jobs what kind of jobs are you referring to? Construction? I know that the local governmental bodies do a final inspection before issuing clearance certificates. Are you implying that the local govenmental bodies are inefficient?
Posted by Moza Alshehi, Dubai, UAE on 13 February 2009 at 10:36 UAE time
To Mike and all those who keep on harping on the topic of expats building this country; that may be true but it was not for favors or charity. Many expats came from huts, villages, jungles, ghettos and destitute background and Dubai offered them a very decent standard of living. However, this does not mean that you consider this country your own home and conduct yourselves as though it is your own playground. NO, the answer is an emphatic NO. You came and did a mediocre job and got paid generously; now it is time for you to pack and leave with your dignities intact. Nothing personal whatsoever, it just ain't your country. Please continue to entertain us with your endless whining and harping......
Posted by mike on 13 February 2009 at 00:47 UAE time
Not sure which expats you hang around with. But I think you've gone a little (well a lot) over board with saying that Emiraties and expats have a feeling that is 'fiercely antagonistic towards one another'.
i think for most expats the locals are just there, not good or bad, just there.
I do understand the alienation that some Emiraties might feel, as they see their country being taken over by expats in many sectors. But at the same time, it is the expats building this country and not the Emiraties. You should also be humble enough to admit to this fact.