With plans for a carbon neutral city, the attention of an increasingly environmentally conscious world has turned to Abu Dhabi as the capital of the United Arab Emirates bids to establish a global lead in sustainable development, said an industry expert.
'The immediate focus is Masdar City - a zero-carbon, zero-waste, renewable energy powered and car-free environment which is part of Abu Dhabi's USD15 billion Masdar Initiative,' said Riad Mannan, Director of the Cityscape Abu Dhabi Sustainable Development Conference in May. 'The threat of global warming is concentrating minds on the way we live and work,' he added.
The conference will focus on leading real estate developers, designers, architects and contractors who will discuss finding new ways to design and build sustainable buildings. The conference takes place at the second Cityscape Abu Dhabi - the International Property and Investment Show - at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 13-15 May 2008.
Cityscape Abu Dhabi, launched last year with the support of prominent government ministers and key government agencies, surpassed all expectations. This year the event is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors from over 100 countries with more than 300 exhibitors showcasing projects from over 50 different countries.
Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber, a key speaker at the conference, commented that the zero-carbon city will be 'a living example of sustainable development' which will position Abu Dhabi - the world's fourth largest oil exporter - at the forefront of new energy utilisation. "Today, as global demand for energy continues to expand and as climate change becomes a real and growing concern, the time has come to look to the future," Al Jaber added.
As a further sign of its leading role in sustainable development, Abu Dhabi has signed a two year agreement with the global conservation organisation WWF to help monitor the emirate's ecological footprint and develop strategies to reduce it to a sustainable level.
A Cityscape Abu Dhabi awards dinner, to be held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on May 13 will also recognise professionals and companies who have shown outstanding performance in sustainable development.
A parallel conference on Real Estate Finance and Investment will also bring together leading investors, property developers, bankers, fund groups and all those ultimately interested in the real estate property market in the region.
'The Middle East has been witnessing robust growth in its non-oil sectors, with the real estate sector making a significant contribution,' said Real Estate Finance and Investment Conference Director Irina Awote. 'In Abu Dhabi alone projects proposed, planned or under construction total $327 billion.' Awote added: 'There are positive forecasts for Abu Dhabi's real estate sector in particular. Investors and developers are taking full advantage of changes in the law, extensive tourism plans, the tax-free property investment environment and the fact that Abu Dhabi has a legal structure for the ownership of property.
Platinum sponsors of Cityscape Abu Dhabi include Mubadala, Aldar Properties, Sorouh, Escan, The Land Holding Company and Al Qudra Real Estate. Dubai World Central, Tameer and Saudi Oger have taken Gold sponsorship and the Silver sponsors are Future Brand and DAS Holding. The Associate sponsor this year is The Department of Municipal Affairs, Emirate of Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
'The immediate focus is Masdar City - a zero-carbon, zero-waste, renewable energy powered and car-free environment which is part of Abu Dhabi's USD15 billion Masdar Initiative,' said Riad Mannan, Director of the Cityscape Abu Dhabi Sustainable Development Conference in May. 'The threat of global warming is concentrating minds on the way we live and work,' he added.
The conference will focus on leading real estate developers, designers, architects and contractors who will discuss finding new ways to design and build sustainable buildings. The conference takes place at the second Cityscape Abu Dhabi - the International Property and Investment Show - at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 13-15 May 2008.
Cityscape Abu Dhabi, launched last year with the support of prominent government ministers and key government agencies, surpassed all expectations. This year the event is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors from over 100 countries with more than 300 exhibitors showcasing projects from over 50 different countries.
Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber, a key speaker at the conference, commented that the zero-carbon city will be 'a living example of sustainable development' which will position Abu Dhabi - the world's fourth largest oil exporter - at the forefront of new energy utilisation. "Today, as global demand for energy continues to expand and as climate change becomes a real and growing concern, the time has come to look to the future," Al Jaber added.
As a further sign of its leading role in sustainable development, Abu Dhabi has signed a two year agreement with the global conservation organisation WWF to help monitor the emirate's ecological footprint and develop strategies to reduce it to a sustainable level.
A Cityscape Abu Dhabi awards dinner, to be held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on May 13 will also recognise professionals and companies who have shown outstanding performance in sustainable development.
A parallel conference on Real Estate Finance and Investment will also bring together leading investors, property developers, bankers, fund groups and all those ultimately interested in the real estate property market in the region.
'The Middle East has been witnessing robust growth in its non-oil sectors, with the real estate sector making a significant contribution,' said Real Estate Finance and Investment Conference Director Irina Awote. 'In Abu Dhabi alone projects proposed, planned or under construction total $327 billion.' Awote added: 'There are positive forecasts for Abu Dhabi's real estate sector in particular. Investors and developers are taking full advantage of changes in the law, extensive tourism plans, the tax-free property investment environment and the fact that Abu Dhabi has a legal structure for the ownership of property.
Platinum sponsors of Cityscape Abu Dhabi include Mubadala, Aldar Properties, Sorouh, Escan, The Land Holding Company and Al Qudra Real Estate. Dubai World Central, Tameer and Saudi Oger have taken Gold sponsorship and the Silver sponsors are Future Brand and DAS Holding. The Associate sponsor this year is The Department of Municipal Affairs, Emirate of Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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