Real Estate in UAE - The Real Deal

We all know that Real Estate deals with property, its ownership, sale, purchase, lease and renting. The ownership of a property covers the land, its resources, the airspace above the land (to an extent), and any type of structure build on the land. The term itself refers to ‘real’ or ‘physical’ property and all the works that come with it. 

The Real Estate Industry in The UAE: 

The UAE all along has acquired most of its revenue from trading in oil. However, since of late, this trend has taken a complete turn with a shift of focus to other sectors for income and revenue. Real Estate, among other major growing sectors, is one such area of interest. For decades together, Real Estate in the UAE was owned by locals and leased or rented out to businessmen, families, individuals and corporates. 

The whole industry revolves around the transfer of ownership or rights to use a property under the terms agreed upon. In lay terms it revolves around buying and selling property, and with agreed rentals and leases.

The Real Estate market in the UAE is far from predictable with the large-scale and breathtaking projects that are out of this world. With changes to local law, individuals of other countries can now own property in investment areas around the UAE. 

Early in 2016, The Khaleej Times addressed this change in policy in their post “Attention Expats! You can own land in the UAE”, in which they brought to light how these changes now allowed expats to buy freehold plots in the Dubai World Central. Though these changes opened new streams of foreign investment in land across the Emirates, only GCC nationals can obtain a freehold title to their property. Other expats who are not GCC nationals can buy land under two types of schemes, namely Usufruct and Musataha.

The Usufruct scheme grants expats the right to benefit from the purchase of a property belonging to a third party. However, the terms of the agreement state that the buyer does not gain the right to make any physical changes to the property. This type of ownership is the most common type of expat apartment purchase, which grants the buyer ownership of the property for 99 years. 

The Musataha type of agreement allows the buyer to acquire ownership rights to the property for a period of 50 years at the time of the purchase. However, unlike the usufruct agreement, the owner is granted the right to use the land any way he seems fit. This means that the buyer is allowed to use the land for construct any structure, take a mortgage, and sublet the property in his name. This type of agreement is more common with the purchase of villas and land in investment areas. Even though the buyer is granted ownership for 50 years, after the expiry of the initial period it can be extended for another 50 years with the mutual consent of both parties. 

Though most developers advertise freehold rights, conditions apply that these rights are only available to GCC nationals and not all expats. 

Apart from these few areas where freehold ownership of land is allowed, most of the land in Dubai is only allowed for sale to locals. With expats on the other hand, across the most of the UAE, Real Estate mainly scales across rentals and leases for both commercial and residential purposes.

Real Estate brokers, agents, and agencies have always been the bridge between sellers and owners, and an ocean of genuine and speculative buyers. Whether sales, rentals or leases, these agents know the ins and outs of the property market. Acquiring these services don’t just make finding a place easier, but also faster and smoother. Through these agencies, you could have access to a broader database of properties, as well as a better choice of options to choose from. Moreover, the best part about acquiring these services is the possibility of getting a deal that could fall more in your favor. A real estate agent is a good at negotiating and can help both parties come to agreeable terms.

Investment Areas in Dubai:

The main investment areas open to expats and non-GCC nationals are The Pearl Jumeirah, Dubai South, and Business Bay. Expats can also purchase freehold land in secondary locations, such as Dubai Sports City, Al Furjan, and Jumeirah Village South. 

Investment Areas in Abu Dhabi:

Some of the most demanded Real Estate in Abu Dhabi includes land in investment areas across the Emirate. These areas include Al Reef, Hydra Village, Reem Island, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Raha Beach and Hydra Village. 

Relocation Guide - Choosing the right Packers & Movers

Relocating can be a rollercoaster of emotions, happiness, sadness, curiosity, anticipation and a sense of adventure. Besides your emotions and mixed feelings, hauling all your stuff to a new place, either in the same city, across states, across the country or even to a different continent can be a pain. However, the task has become less tedious with the availability of innumerable packers and movers today.

Although it might not seem like much of a choice when it comes to choosing a moving company, because…. well all they do is pack and transport your belongings to your new place, the services of these company actually do differ. Professional Packers and Movers offer customers with the same service (packaging and moving) with variations in several aspects and features like type and quality of packaging, type of transportation, additional services like unpacking after delivery, and facility cleaning after you move out, and a whole lot more.

Apart from these variations in their services, other aspects like costs of packaging, weight pricing, discounts and offers, distance and regional restrictions, and post-delivery services differ between service providers. Here is a guide to help you choose the best (or most ideal) Packer and Mover to help you get the best services that perfectly fit all our requirements so that you won’t have to stress too much and to get the best deal.

Choosing the right Packers and Movers:

There are many factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing the perfect packers and movers. A few of these factors include:

Choosing the right service:

The services of professional packers and movers are generally classified based on their areas of specialization, or type of packaging and transportation they specialize in (usually restricted by distance). This includes local moving and long-distance relocation within the same city, moving to another city, relocating to another state, moving to another country in the same continent and cross-continental relocation. Once you’ve determined which service providers offer the services you require, you can narrow down your list to a few moving companies.

Track Record and Reviews:

We live in the internet age where information is available at your fingertips. Perform a thorough search to find out which service providers are more popular, have the best reviews and are worthy in terms of reliability and professionalism. At the end of the day, you want someone to get all your belongings to your new home in one piece, without anything going missing or getting damaged. Besides, even though most companies are trustworthy, accidents do occur occasionally, the more renowned the company the harder they try to minimize risks and to maintain good feedback to retain their good standing in the market.

Licenses and Insurance:

For companies to operate they require proper licensing and authorization to carry out their operations. This is the best way to filter out shady and suspicious companies to make sure you get trustworthy packers and movers to deliver your belongings. Moreover, enquire about the various insurance schemes or plans provided by the company. Insurance is offered by the company, because of the ‘wear and tear’ associated with transporting all kinds of assets and belongings from clothes to furniture. Hiring packers and movers with good insurance plans can help if you need to claim for any damages that occur ‘in transit’ or in the course of their service.

Rates and Tariffs:

Each company offers varying rates (which are almost the same because of heavy competition), which are sometimes subject to additional tariffs and duties, depending on the relocation destination. Generally, the rates of services offered by packers and movers are dependent on the weight of the belongings, and the distance of carriage. In some cases, extra charges are taken for the packaging and transportation of fragile items. On the other hand, some service providers, like moving truck rental companies with packing and moving services, base their charges on a timely basis (commonly per hour). Finally, check the reliability and proximity of estimation to the actual amount based on previous customer reviews of the company.

By filtering your choices of a packing and moving service provider through these filters, you can choose the best type of service for you with ease. The perception of the ‘perfect service varies vastly among various people, but ultimately boils down to a professional service, with a guarantee, that is both affordable and worth its value. Ensuring that the company you choose has a good market reputation usually guarantees services that are worth their price.
Visit Yellowpages-uae to find some of the most renowned Packers and Movers in UAE.

10 Car Accessories You Did Not Know Existed

Why Landscape design and Landscape Architecture are Important

Landscape Architecture and Landscape Architects have been around for centuries, with amazing pieces of landscape architecture that still remain today, such as the Stourhead in Wiltshire, designed by Henry Hoare. Landscape architecture refers to the design of outdoor landmarks and public areas for aesthetic, social and environmental purposes. An Exemplary landscape architect can turn any existing piece of land into a beautiful work of art while contributing to a cleaner environment. The scope of landscape architecture in itself is wide, including visual resource management, private and public landscape design and management, and the planning and provision of a green infrastructure.

Landscape architecture requires a high-level of specialization and sophistication when it comes to visualizing the final outcome, and everything required to make that happen. Landscape architects all across the globe are well paid (as far as I know) and are extremely creative in designing, envisioning and completely transforming a plain piece of land. Here are a few amazing examples of extremely beautiful landscape architectural designs.

Importance of Landscape Architects - Architecture and Design

In many countries, there are professional institutes that comprise of professional community members, to protect professional interests and regulate practices. In an opinion of profession, I would say (and many would agree) that landscape architecture has, over time, become one of the most important professions in the modern world. Questioning this praise of profession can be answered by the value of Landscape architecture itself. Landscape Architects deal with, if not specialize in rejuvenating, protecting and enhancing nature and natural surroundings. Moreover, in doing so they add value by improving the safety, beauty, and utility of these natural spaces. The services of a Landscape architect, as well as landscaping architecture and design as a profession, has a positive influence on the environment and by extension the health of the community.

Landscape Architecture is a complex profession, which primarily deals with 6 important components, namely the environment, space, creativity, people, education, and socialization. Landscape architecture has a direct impact on all these components, making landscape architects vital cogs in this mechanism called Earth. Landscape architectural designs are well-planned layouts that cover extensive areas of land. These layouts and designs contain detailed specifications regarding changes that need to be made to the existing land to acquire the desired outcome. The process begins with assessing and evaluating the characteristics of the base site, which is a complex procedure that requires the expertise of ecologists, engineers and landscape architects.

After evaluation, the landscape architect lays down a plan to develop and preserve the area, which sometimes includes processes like regeneration and resurfacing of polluted areas. With the designs and services of a landscape architect, even some of the most polluted industrial lands that are polluted with toxic materials can be treated with phytoremediation.

On the whole, Landscape architects contribute greatly towards reversing or remedying the ill effects of pollution and thereby reducing our carbon footprint. Although the damage done can’t be undone, certain measures can be taken to reduce the effects of pollution, pollutants and toxic materials on the environment, making the world safer, cleaner and healthier by a significant amount. Landscape architects in Australia, the UK, and the USA are a part of various institutes or governing bodies that push the boundaries on enhancing the environment. However, Landscape architects in the UAE push boundaries unlike ever seen before, facilitating the growth, development, and enhancement of plants and greenery in desert conditions.

Damn Nokia! Back at it again with killer smartphones

Nokia is back at it again, with smartphones that could possibly destroy the competition completely.

Nokia and HMD Global unveiled a range of new-generation smartphones at the World Mobile Congress on the 26th. Based on what was said at the event, we expect four new phones, the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and the comeback of a completely redesigned version of the iconic Nokia 3310. The Nokia 6 was already launched in china, prior to the international release, which sports amazing features, 5.5-inch display, 4 GB ram, 64 GB storage, amazing front and rear cameras, and a Snapdragon 430 processor.

Being a technology enthusiast, I can’t help getting excited over the return of Nokia, with smartphones that could possibly change the smartphone market. At the Nokia HMD Global Event, Nokia introduced and showcased Ozo, a professional 360-degree VR camera, which is a combination of intelligent design and ultimate engineering capabilities, crafted by Nokia. As stated by Nokia, the OzO showcases the power of “one”, with one single video file that contains all video and audio data, one power and memory cartridge, and one output cable.

Shifting our focus back to Nokia Smartphones, HMD global announced that Nokia phones will be manufactured by Foxconn. When the Nokia 6 was released in China, the phone sold out in an astounding 23 seconds. According to HMD Global, most buyers of the smartphone were of the younger generation, being first-time Nokia buyers, and the customer satisfaction was estimated at a high of 97 percent.

The Nokia 6 and the Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition smartphones are both top contenders in the smartphone market. Both the Nokia 6 and the Limited edition version are almost the same feature-wise, with a 5.5-inch HD display, running on the latest version of android - 7.1.1 (Nougat), 16MP rear camera, 8MP front-facing camera, dual speakers equipped with Dolby Atmos tech, fingerprint sensors, NFC, expandable memory up to 128 GB and an aluminium chassis.

The Nokia 6 Arte Limited Edition sports a finish that is glossier and comes with more memory and storage than the Nokia 6. With sales that exceed expectations in China, being sold-out in under 23 seconds, the Global release of the Nokia 6 and the Limited Edition models are expected to shatter records. Brace yourselves for a monster release, and more devices that can soon be expected to be released in the near future.

Visit Yellowpages-UAE to find suppliers of the latest smartphone accessories in the UAE.

Fun Free Events in Dubai This Weekend

Dubai is one of the best places to be, with events being held all year round.

If you're in Dubai and you're looking for something to do this weekend, there's a whole lot going on. Whether you're a food enthusiast, a music lover, or someone who just wants to chill, there's always something going on that you can be a part of.

Here are a few Events in Dubai this weekend that you can attend without paying a thing. That's right, these events have free entry, making them all the more sweet!

There are a whole lot of events happening this weekend, and all through this month, from fitness camps and health advice to food trucks, street food and music galore!

Visit Yellowpages-UAE's blog to know more...