Creating opportunities

Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, recently visited the pavilion of Bahrain at the Opportunity District, themed ‘Density Weaves Opportunities’, and was briefed on the urban design of the pavilion, which focuses on density and its role in creating opportunities.

Al Hussaini was also introduced to key cultural, historical and economic elements of Bahrain from a destiny perspective; as well as the cultural programmes and exhibitions at the pavilion, which help enrich Bahrain’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, said Expo 2020 Dubai is a global platform for communication and exploring other countries’ achievements, cultures and future visions.

It is also a cultural and tourism event that gathers the world’s countries and highlights their achievements and latest innovations in one place, he added. By hosting the event, the UAE aims to offer a rich and unique experience, inspire others and showcase its traditional values, culture and achievements, which was made possible by the wisdom of its leadership and its ability to host a major international event such as the Expo 2020 Dubai, he noted.

He made this statement while visiting the pavilions of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Bahrain.

Sheikh Hamdan began his tour by visiting the UAE pavilion, which tells the story of the UAE, “The Homeland of Dream and Achievements”. Here, he was briefed about showcased local products and watched documentaries about the formation of the country and the vision of the Founding Leaders to establish a modern and advanced country that preserves the traditional values of its people’s ancestors.

He then visited the pavilion of Saudi Arabia located in the Opportunity Area, which is the second-largest pavilion at the event and is being held under the theme, “Unlimited Ambition.”

Sheikh Hamdan also visited the pavilion of Bahrain, which covers an area of 2,000-square metres. He later stopped at the Moroccan Pavilion, covering a 2,000 square meter areas.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed and several senior officials accompanied him during his tour.

A large number of visitors attended the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) exhibition at the Kingdom of Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, where they were able to get a firsthand look at Bahrain’s rich pearling tradition.

The Bahrain Pavilion and the Danat exhibition attracted more than 100,000 visitors from across the world in October, many of whom were interested in learning about the scientific methods used by gemological laboratories to detect pearls and other precious stones.

Danat’s involvement in Expo 2020 Dubai comprised a variety of experiences, including the ability to distinguish between natural pearls and cultured pearls, among other things. The latest, state-of-the-art technology and procedures used for pearl testing are demonstrated by Danat’s gemmologists, including high-grade laboratory X-ray microradiography and X-ray fluorescence equipment.

Visitors brought in pearl jewellery and were ecstatic to see it evaluated and learn the results firsthand.

“The huge number of visitors in the first weeks of Danat’s presence at Expo 2020 Dubai demonstrates the public’s significant interest in pearls,” stated Danat Chief Executive Officer, Noora Jamsheer.

Danat, Bahrain’s pearl testing laboratory, has asked for more acknowledgement of the role that women play in promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness in order to conserve the world’s oceans.

Meanwhile the line-up for the first-ever Te Aratini ‘Festival of Indigenous and Tribal Ideas’, taking place at Expo 2020 Dubai from Nov.17-19, during Tolerance and Inclusivity Week, has been revealed. Curated by Māori leaders in partnership with the New Zealand Government, the three-day event will be a movement toward greater inclusion and acceptance of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems and practical know-how across various existing and emerging trade and economic policy areas.

Led by the National Iwi Chairs Forum, a coalition of independent iwi (tribal) chairs, Te Aratini marks a culturally significant moment as the first Indigenous festival in the history of World Expos. New Zealand has collaborated with other participating nations to deliver the event, including the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, the United States, Malaysia, Paraguay, and Panama.

A movement toward greater inclusion and widespread acceptance of Indigenous Peoples’ ways of knowing and being, the festival’s line-up includes a variety of talks and performances that bring forth the traditional customs of Indigenous storytelling and replicate aspects of traditional learning through daily reflections, song, prayer and meditation. Spearheaded by Indigenous leaders and thinkers centred around the themes of commerce, culture, community, and conservation, Te Aratini is an innovative platform aimed at elevating Indigenous voices globally.

Among the confirmed speakers are UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Chair Anne Nurogam; Award winning playwright Kevin Loring (Canada); SheEO 2021 winner and Māori entrepreneur Billie Jo Hohepa-Ropiha (New Zealand); Chair of the Global Indigenous Languages Caucus, Dr Richard A. Grounds (United States); Sarawakian sape’ artiste, Alena Murang (Malaysia) and, via Live Feed, Hon. Ken Wyatt, Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Te Aratini’s debut at Expo 2020 Dubai is the first global Indigenous-led initiative to be used as a trading platform for commerce. Like many Indigenous Peoples, Iwi Māori view trade as a tool for knowledge sharing and value creation, as well as promoting shared economic prosperity. Today, the Māori economy is growing faster than New Zealand’s overall economy, from $16.5 billion in 2006 to nearly $71 billion in 2021 – and is projected to reach $100 billion before 2030.

Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will be travelling to Dubai with a delegation of Māori tribal and business leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, academics, professionals and policy representatives to partake in the festival. She said: “Expo 2020 provides a significant platform to demonstrate our indigenous values and trade opportunities on the world stage. At Te Aratini we will look to deepen our indigenous-to-indigenous relationships and address issues facing our world now and for future generations.”

Aotearoa New Zealand’s vision is that the convergence of Indigenous pathways delivered by Te Aratini will, over time, produce an international platform of knowledge, access to ancestral wisdom and reigniting connections that will continue to grow and strengthen in the years to come.

“Te Aratini is not a new vision; it is the vision of our ancestors. We are carrying on that vision as custodians for our future generations” said Ngahiwi Tomoana, Iwi Chairs Forum spokesman and Ngati Kahungunu leader, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest iwi.

Dubai real estate has always been synonymous with a luxurious lifestyle. With the commencement of Expo 2020, the emirate has become a haven for real estate investments for local as well as foreign investors.

When it comes to investing in affordable luxury properties in Dubai, Prescott Real Estate Development’s track record of success and longevity in the UAE market speaks for itself. From attracting investments in their already built projects to the off-plan properties, Prime Real Estate Developers have built an unmatched goodwill with buyers by placing quality and attention-to-detail at the forefront of every project it develops, while simultaneously prioritising every buyer’s peace of mind through each phase of the negotiation, purchase and handover.

Additionally, several proactive government initiatives, such as the introduction of new visas including, notable investor, retirement visas, golden long-term visas, in addition to the UAE Central Bank’s initiative to reduce the loan-to-value (LTV) for first-time homebuyers to 20 per cent, have contributed to the increase in real estate investments in Dubai. The Dubai Expo has also massively stimulated the economy by providing a surge of tourism back in the country, resulting in Dhs13.06 billion worth of transactions in the month of October alone, as per the Dubai Land Department.

Muhammad Shafi, Chief Executive Officer at Prescott Real Estate Development, said, “Our focus has always been to create unparalleled living experiences for our customers. With the Expo 2020 in full swing and the increase in the number of visitors to the region, we are positive about the rise in interest in real estate investments. We are committed to making affordable luxury living possible for everyone. We look forward to welcoming local as well as international buyers as they find a place to call home.’’

The emirate of Dubai is an attractive destination for people wishing to spend their hard-earned money in the real estate market, with a rising economy, stable political infrastructure, and excellent returns on property investment. Off-plan property investing, in particular, is quite popular among purchasers in the region. There are many benefits to investing in an off-plan property in Dubai; Firstly, one of the advantages of buying off-plan property for sale is that these not-yet-built properties are available at much-reduced costs. Secondly, regardless of the “locked-in” purchase price before construction, the value of a property is sure to grow once it is done, resulting in significant capital gains on sale, even while the investment is paid off in phases as per the developer’s payment plan. Thirdly, alongside multiple off-plan property options available in Dubai to choose from, the emirate offers buyer’s protection laws to keep its foreign investors secure. Lastly, with the steady influx of expats in the country, Dubai’s rental business is never low yielding.

Prescott Real Estate Developers upcoming project in the vibrant community of Al Furjan Prime Residency-3 boasts of modern luxurious finishes spread across 292 apartments in a G+2P+7 layout. Prime Residency-3 will be Al Furjan’s first smart home property decked out with the best of amenities including, a pool, games room, gym, multi-purpose lounges, covered parking, landscaped area, interiors with the highest standards, and more. Interested buyers and investors can take advantage of a five year payment plan which is carefully designed to offer ease of payment and peace of mind. The payment breakdown includes 10 per cent down payment, 10 per cent after 3 months, moving to quarterly instalments of 5 per cent for a year, 10 per cent on handover, and 50 per cent post-handover over 3 years.