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Reece Bates has recently been awarded and regognised as Dubai’s Top Leasing Agent for Property Finder June for 2018. Reece rented over 60 individual apartments in a single month in the new Eighty Eight building in Dubai Silicon Oasis, in only four weeks which represents over 75% of the building. Not only did he manage this prowess but also he has doubled the company record for the most leasing transactions within the company which was also held by him previously at 30 individual leases in a single month until May. Congratulations for this awesome achievement Reece!

HMS homes have scooped 2 awards at the International Property Awards for Best Real Estate Agency Single Office Dubai & Best Real Estate Agency Marketing Dubai.

Top Dubai, African and Arabian property developers, architects, interior designers and real estate professionals were honoured at the 2019-20 Dubai, Africa & Arabia Property Awards on 12th June.

Companies representing 28 countries were presented with their awards at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square by Mr Stuart Shield, President of the International Property Awards and Lord Best, Chairman of the awards judging panel.

The Dubai, African and Arabian Property Awards are part of the world-renowned International Property Awards programme, which has been running for over 25 years and is open to residential and commercial professionals from around the world. Covering 48 different categories, regional heats are staged for Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, Arabia, Canada, Central & South America, the Caribbean, USA and UK. Over 200 entries were scrutinised by the judging committee chaired by The Earl of Caithness, Lord Best and The Earl of Liverpool together with over 80 industry professionals.

HMS homes have been nominated for the regional awards on the 2nd December, the International Property Awards ceremony will take place at the Savoy Hotel in London. The highest scoring winners from the Dubai, African and Arabian region will compete against other winning companies from Europe, UK, Asia Pacific, USA, Americas and Caribbean. The winners will discover who has won the ultimate world’s best in each category.

2019-20 Dubai, Africa and Arabia Property Awards winners can be viewed at: https://propertyawards.net

5 residential areas we can’t wait to see completed!

As one of the fastest growing cities in the world, we often have just got over the excitement of a recent launch or project opening before another one is announced. Just this year, Bluewaters Island opened following much excitement and anticipation.

Here are some of the projects we can’t wait for!

District One – Mohammed Bin Rashid City

District One is an exclusive community set in glorious natural surroundings at the heart of vibrant Dubai.

The community is centered around 7 km of crystal blue lagoon with 14 kms of pristine shoreline amidst lush landscape for you to unwind and relax in.

District One is located minutes away from Downtown Dubai; a premier destination for those that aspire to live extraordinary lifestyles.

The new address promises all those who live there an unrivalled luxury lifestyle.

• Burj Khalifa skyline or lagoons
• Apartments will be jutting out onto the lagoons – 3 sides of the buildings will be surrounded by water
• 90 acres of crystal lagoons (set to become world’s largest man-made lagoon)
• 14 km of shoreline
• 8.4 km of cycling and jogging tracks
• Close to all major routes
• Greenery and open spaces (parks, lawns, green corridors, recreational parks)
• Low density villa community in the heart of Dubai
• 14 km of boardwalk
• Contemporary, Mediterranean, modern Arabic design

Handover: Expected. September 1st 2020

Developer: Meydan Sobha

Prices from: AED 1,450,000

Port de La Mer – Jumeirah

Live at La Mer! Following on from the success of ‘La Mer’ – Meraas newest outdoor entertainment, retail and dining destination – comes the first affordable freehold community in the heart of Jumeirah!

Port de La Mer is a seaside, Riviera-style community comprised of stylish low rise residences with panoramic views of the ocean and the breathtaking skyline of Dubai. The development is predominantly Mediterranean designs, where each building is unique from the next and residents will enjoy private beach access literally right on their doorstep.

Set around a stunning marina within the most iconic districts in Dubai, Port de La Mer offers residents and visitors a unique Marina Promenade and an easygoing seafront lifestyle. The island retreat hosts 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom luxury apartments and can be accessed by road as well as the sea and is located within 10 minutes from La Mer and City Walk.

Dubai International Airport can be reached in 15 minutes and Al Maktoum International Airport in 45 minutes.  Residents will enjoy proximity to the Marina and Yacht Club, seaside and Marina promenades overlooking Pearl Jumeirah, fashionable boutique restaurants and cafes and 4-star and 5-star resorts. They will be complemented with amenities such as access to private beach, magnificent swimming pools, outdoor parks and kids play areas, private landscaped terraces, among many more. A central podium, bustling piazzas and bridges make the open spaces truely inviting.

Key facts and features 

• A seaside residential community, adjacent to Downtown & in Jumeirah 1.
• The Beach and Marina is at your doorstep
• The first affordable freehold community in the heart of Jumeirah
• Low rise residences with views to marina, downtown skyline and the open ocean
• Mediterranean designs, where each building is unique from the next
• The first residential building to launch in La Mer
• 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments
• Views to the ocean, Marina and Downtown skyline
• Beach within the community
• Ample restaurants, retail, fun park, cinema and much more, within walking distance.

Handover: Expected. December 25^th 2020

Developer: Meraas

Prices from: AED 1,450,000

  Emaar Beachfront at Dubai Harbour

Emaar Beachfront is the exclusive residential community within the new maritime epicentre of the UAE’s Dubai Harbour.  The meticulously master-planned beachfront development represents a unique blend of cosmopolitan living in a prime location and a serene seaside lifestyle.

Cradled between two of Dubai’s most desirable destinations – Dubai Marina and the Palm Jumeirah.  Due to its prime location, you can enjoy easy access to the shimmery beaches, marinas, yacht clubs, malls and dining venues of the surrounding districts, as well as seamless access to Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Marina.

The residences released so far include Beach Vista, Sunrise Bay, Marina Vista and Elie Saab Residences with the total project accounting for 27 towers, each with its own private beachfront.

Residents at Emaar Beachfront will enjoy Miami style serene island living with each apartment having an element of beach, Palm or sunset views. There will also be an F1 circuit within the Dubai Harbour complex and the Harbour terminal itself will accept up to 6,000 passengers at a time making the middle east a completely cosmopolitan cruising destination. Dubai Harbour will also feature the Dubai Lighthouse standing at 195 metres and including a luxury hotel with an observation desk offering 360 degree views.

Access to Dubai Harbour will be from a flyover linking directly from Sheikh Zayed Road, a monorail that links to the metro and local access from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street.

Handover: Final completion expected. 2022

Developer: Emaar (Dubai Harbour is Meraas)

Prices from: AED 1,450,000

  Jumeirah Luxury Living

Experience the energy of Jumeirah Luxury, a striking new residential development infused with the beauty of nature. Located in the tranquil community of Jumeirah Golf Estates, the spectacular surroundings will become an integral part of your everyday lifestyle. Expertly designed homes, ranging from three to five bedrooms, are built directly on the Fire Course.

The villas are contemporary and chic with stunning golf course views and are designed for beauty, environmental friendliness and seamless transitions to the surrounding landscape. Jumeirah Luxury is completely dedicated to luxury and sustainability. The development offers great value to anyone looking for affordable homes with many amenities to complement your lifestyle.

Key features

• BBQ area
• Common garden
• Golf course
• Smart home technology
• Retail area and restaurants
• Gymnasium
• Stunning views

Handover: Final completion expected. December 2019

Developer: Jumeirah Golf Estates

Prices from: AED 2,228,888

  Dubai Hills Estate

Dubai Hills Estate is a unique blend of elegantly-planned neighbourhoods crafted around a magnificent 18-hole championship golf course. As the largest development of its kind in the region, it is an aspirational city within a city that will transform the way you live.

Sustainably designed, Dubai Hills Estate is a first of its kind destination. This masterfully-planned 2,700-acre multi-purpose development will form an integral part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid City. Ideally situated between Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina, flanked by Al Khail Road, the community offers easy access to the city’s most popular districts and attractions.

The residential projects are complemented with world class facilities such as an 18 hole championship golf course, nature trails, hotels, resorts and the Dubai Hills Malls which is set to be bigger than the Mall of the Emirates to give an idea of scale.

The Dubai Hills location is ideal for those wanting a leisurely paced way of life but with easy access to Dubai’s hotspots such as Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai.

Dubai Hills Estate, on completion, will be a totally self-sufficient community featuring apartments, townhouses and villas making it perfect for whatever your living situation is.

The community is something totally new for Dubai with its mixture

The master community of Dubai Hills is essentially divided into two halves. One half is centered on the beautiful Dubai Hills Golf Course, while the other is built around Central Park and Dubai Hills Mall. The vast majority of the golf course homes consist of mansions, villas and residential plots, while the park side features a wider mix of residences including apartments and townhouses as well. Additionally, there are commercial spaces, parks, recreation spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, international schools and world-class hospitals.

With rolling greenery on all sides and tree-lined drives leading to and from the area,

Key features

• BBQ area
• Common garden
• Golf course
• Smart home technology
• Retail area and restaurants
• Gymnasium
• Stunning views
• Apartments
• Villas
• Shopping Mall

Handover: Start in June 2019

Developer: Emaar

Prices from: AED 700,000

Though we benefit in Dubai from having some of the lowest price per square foot of any developed city in the world, we often still desire more room in Dubai – and in particular, more storage!

Space is a luxury many of us living in a city do not have enough of, so we have put together some storage hacks to help you get the most out of the space you live in!

Condense

One of the most space consuming furniture items is your bed – especially if you live in a studio apartment.  Consider investing in a bed with under bed storage to store bulky items or items you simply do not use as much! Beds where the mattress and frame lifts so you can access the storage area are even more optimal and there are even some you can pack in to the wall.

Space saving furniture

Sofas doubling as beds, chairs  or tables with internal storage and collapsible tables will all give you greater flexibility with the space you are working with.

Vacuum pack unused items

Though we mostly don’t have any seasons other than summer and hotter summer, the UAE can get cold so it is likely you will have some ‘cold weather’ clothing.  It is best to vacuum pack these items to prevent precious space in drawers and your wardrobe being taken up!

Built in cupboards

If you own your property or plan on staying there long term, consider installing built in storage units.  Ceilings tend to be high in apartments and villas in Dubai so you have the option to extend your storage ‘upwards’ – adding in additional cupboards and shelving higher up to store items such as suitcases, handbags & surplus linen.

Maximise wardrobe space

Shoes and other bulky items often take up the most room – try integrating additional storage in to your wardrobe such as shoe racks, double rails for clothing to prevent wasted space, hooks for accessories and built in drawers.

Repurpose your cupboard space

A lot of cupboard space is wasted in kitchens due to inaccessible units! Consider installing a pull out pantry which tucks away neatly when not in use but can be pulled right out to display all items – it’s easy to forget you’ve got that extra tin of something when it isn’t visible to you.

Increase bathroom storage

Bathrooms come with a lot of unused space so utilise these spaces to your advantage.  Installing wall mounted towel racks, corner units, shelving and under sink storage are all great ways to maximize dead space and save space in your cupboards!

Sending money abroad is a subject that crops up regularly on many expat forums here in Dubai. Did you know that using a currency broker can save you substantial amounts compared to a bank or foreign exchange and, in some cases, even make you money!

We asked our colleague Ana, account manager at IFX, our preferred international exchange partner, to give us the lowdown on transferring money abroad.

Firstly, please tell us a little about IFX

IFX Payments is foreign exchange and payments remittance provider offering competitive foreign exchange rates and a higher quality, more responsive service. This is a great solution for people moving funds internationally for either personal or business purposes. Our Head Office is based in London and we have a representative office in Dubai in DIFC.

Why should I use a foreign exchange company rather than my own bank?

Foreign exchange is our core business and our service is very personalised, which means that we take the time to understand client’s needs and timescales. We do not have as many overheads as the bank, which enables us to offer more competitive rates over the bank. Apart from providing clients with better exchange rates, we help time transfers by watching the markets and giving market updates and forecasts. Banks rarely go to such lengths when it comes to international money transfers.

What are the associated fees with transferring money and is there a minimum amount required?

We do not have minimum and maximum amount, however, savings are best demonstrated on amounts of AED 40,000 +. The IFX fixed transfer fee is AED 50 and this is a flat fee regardless of the amount.

How long does it take for my money to reach the account I’m transferring to?

It usually takes 1-3 working days depending on the currency pair. For example, transfers within Europe would typically take 1 working day and transfers between UAE and Europe would take 2 working days.

What are the implications of Brexit for the dirham versus the pound?

There’s two angles we need to look at here, sterling and the US Dollar as the Dirham is pegged and moves in the same direction. Brexit uncertainty has caused volatility in the pound and depending on the outcome or a clearer path to Brexit we anticipate that this will continue. The USD dollar has a number of factors that are pointing in the direction that it may weaken. Their interest rate hikes projections are not as aggressive as previous years, the US/China trade disputes will have an impact along with other geo political issues.

The outcome of Brexit is weighing heavily on the pound. As we stand there are three outcomes that will affect the pounds performance:-

1. No Deal Scenario the pound is most likely to weaken

2. A revised deal we may see the pound weaken then strengthen

3. A second referendum could strengthen the pound then leave an uncertain outcome to the pound’s performance

In all cases here the markets are moving politically. In a time of uncertainty having a broker to guide and time the trade will help achieve a more competitive price.