S
Sole Dubai
New Member
As an active broker in Dubai for the past 4 years I have witnessed the madness first hand and enjoyed the rewards of this madness. I also witnessed greed like no other and still continue to witness this greed as some property owners and landlords refuse to accept the situation Dubai is currently facing. Dubai like any other city in the world is affected by the global markets and this current correction being witnessed has forced some much needed changes within this Property Market. At Sole Real Estate our endeavour is to offer services second to none and this has served us well through repeat business! We deal with our clients in manner which allows us to deal with them for a life time.
Dubai has come to realise that service is essential to the success of any business in turn the industry and economy! Banks, developers, real estate companies and financial services firms are now focusing on customer service as it is the core of any successful business. The stance of "like it or lump it" adopted by many in Dubai once upon a time is currently be revised as firms go back to the drawing board and opt for a new approach. This is also been the case with the government as they aim to paint a rosey picture of Dubai, which has been dealt a severe blow recently by the international media! At Sole Real Estate, we say no news is bad news. The recent reports on inhuman conditions, speculation infested property market and lack of compassion amoungst most expatriates regarding the darker side of dubai. People went about their lives turning a blind eye to the sufferings of many labourers in Dubai. This suffering was not only reserved for the labourers it extends to the majority of unskilled workers and skilled workers in Dubai dependant on the passport they held. This unwanted light shown on this situation has been a learning curve for those at the top regarding the conduct acceptable to the world markets.
Indians, Pakistanis, Ethiopians, Kenyans, Philipinos etc.. work six to seven days a week for next to nothing in wages to send back to their families, in some instances they don't even get paid for months on end if not longer in some extreme cases. Some of this treatment comes from British, American, Egyptian, Indian, Pakistani, Iranian, German, French, Lebanese, Syrian, Australian, South African etc expats employing and sponsoring these poor workers, whether it is in the professional business environment or private home environment as maids, landscapers and drivers. To think that educated expats from countries which uphold human rights and instill equality into our blue print could come to Dubai and quickly and easily forget these teachings! The reasoning behind it being every is doing it and what can I do about it? For a start treat and pay those in your employment better. Treat them as equals and offer them the respect they deserve and refrain from instilling the fear of god in them with threats of imprisonment and deportation. Stand up for that you believe and know to be true and right ethically and morally! Socially Dubai is as vibrant and diverse as it is full of opportunity for the entrepreneur willing to work hard and offer a much needed service. Dubai is poised to offer such abundant opportunities as an emerging market ideally located global, and has much to offer with potential everywhere you look.
The government and local authorities are backing up their commitment to right the wrongs of the past with fast action. Evidence can be seen by the bold move of the Dubai Municipality banning temporary labourer accomodation..
"We have also dismantled all our camps, which were built due to the earlier needs. We have now made it compulsory that all workers must live in buildings to implement better living standards," said Hussain Nasser Lootah. "This will apply to both freehold and leasehold project sites in the city."
He told Emirates Business that the green building legislation study will be completed this month and the consultants will give DM its findings. "We have already starting implementing measures in phases in terms of insulation and green roof. A big part of that project will be dedicated to education and how to implement the requirements of green building design," said Lootah. "We have already enforced the essentials but it will take time. Green design does not mean just the building but also the surroundings."
Lootah was speaking on the sidelines of the media conference held by DM and ThyssenKrupp Elevator yesterday, which announced the winners of the ThyssenKrupp Elevator International Architecture Award 2009. The competition was held under the auspices of International Union of Architects.
The competition received tremendous response from more than 70 countries. Lootah thanked ThyssenKrupp for selecting Dubai from among the cities all over the world for the 11th ThyssenKrupp Award and said it reflects the development of Dubai as a major city in the world.
The first prize of $100,000 (Dh367,300) was won by Fernando Donis of the Netherlands for his proposal, Dubai Frame. Rather than compete with the city, Dubai Frame intends to do the opposite: simply to frame it, explains the winning team. "The developmental process of the city – current and future – is captured within the ever-changing portrait framed by the building. Rather than building a massive structure, the purpose of this project is to build a 'void'. Measuring 150 metres by 105 metres, the void is a window to the development of the current and future skyline of Dubai," said Donis.
At the base of the project, the podium, cultural and conference facilities accumulate. Open to the public, the podium can also be used for events and functions, such as exhibitions, concerts, outdoor theatre and forums. At the top of the structure, at a height of 150 metres, a café is positioned offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the entire city: the roof top offers an open-air site with viewing terraces.
Javier del Pozo, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Southern Europe, Africa and Middle East and President of the Jury of the Award, said that the participants were required to propose a new Tall Emblem Structure at Za'abeel Park – an emblem designed to add to the new face of Dubai, while promoting tourism and other recreational, scientific and cultural activities.
He said a total of 926 conceptual design proposals were presented and evaluated for the award by an international jury, which short-listed 10 proposals with merit, and awarded the best five proposals.
Established in 1988, the Architecture Award was envisaged by ThyssenKrupp Elevator as a way to engage professionals to create outstanding proposals for major cities internationally.
"There are many good ideas among the winning entries. So we will form a committee that will evaluate the designs and come up with a decision by end-2009," said Lootah. "There has been no budget allocated to build the design. It is an honour that they have chosen Dubai as the location for the project, funded the prizes and have given it as gift to the city."
Dubai has come to realise that service is essential to the success of any business in turn the industry and economy! Banks, developers, real estate companies and financial services firms are now focusing on customer service as it is the core of any successful business. The stance of "like it or lump it" adopted by many in Dubai once upon a time is currently be revised as firms go back to the drawing board and opt for a new approach. This is also been the case with the government as they aim to paint a rosey picture of Dubai, which has been dealt a severe blow recently by the international media! At Sole Real Estate, we say no news is bad news. The recent reports on inhuman conditions, speculation infested property market and lack of compassion amoungst most expatriates regarding the darker side of dubai. People went about their lives turning a blind eye to the sufferings of many labourers in Dubai. This suffering was not only reserved for the labourers it extends to the majority of unskilled workers and skilled workers in Dubai dependant on the passport they held. This unwanted light shown on this situation has been a learning curve for those at the top regarding the conduct acceptable to the world markets.
Indians, Pakistanis, Ethiopians, Kenyans, Philipinos etc.. work six to seven days a week for next to nothing in wages to send back to their families, in some instances they don't even get paid for months on end if not longer in some extreme cases. Some of this treatment comes from British, American, Egyptian, Indian, Pakistani, Iranian, German, French, Lebanese, Syrian, Australian, South African etc expats employing and sponsoring these poor workers, whether it is in the professional business environment or private home environment as maids, landscapers and drivers. To think that educated expats from countries which uphold human rights and instill equality into our blue print could come to Dubai and quickly and easily forget these teachings! The reasoning behind it being every is doing it and what can I do about it? For a start treat and pay those in your employment better. Treat them as equals and offer them the respect they deserve and refrain from instilling the fear of god in them with threats of imprisonment and deportation. Stand up for that you believe and know to be true and right ethically and morally! Socially Dubai is as vibrant and diverse as it is full of opportunity for the entrepreneur willing to work hard and offer a much needed service. Dubai is poised to offer such abundant opportunities as an emerging market ideally located global, and has much to offer with potential everywhere you look.
The government and local authorities are backing up their commitment to right the wrongs of the past with fast action. Evidence can be seen by the bold move of the Dubai Municipality banning temporary labourer accomodation..
"We have also dismantled all our camps, which were built due to the earlier needs. We have now made it compulsory that all workers must live in buildings to implement better living standards," said Hussain Nasser Lootah. "This will apply to both freehold and leasehold project sites in the city."
He told Emirates Business that the green building legislation study will be completed this month and the consultants will give DM its findings. "We have already starting implementing measures in phases in terms of insulation and green roof. A big part of that project will be dedicated to education and how to implement the requirements of green building design," said Lootah. "We have already enforced the essentials but it will take time. Green design does not mean just the building but also the surroundings."
Lootah was speaking on the sidelines of the media conference held by DM and ThyssenKrupp Elevator yesterday, which announced the winners of the ThyssenKrupp Elevator International Architecture Award 2009. The competition was held under the auspices of International Union of Architects.
The competition received tremendous response from more than 70 countries. Lootah thanked ThyssenKrupp for selecting Dubai from among the cities all over the world for the 11th ThyssenKrupp Award and said it reflects the development of Dubai as a major city in the world.
The first prize of $100,000 (Dh367,300) was won by Fernando Donis of the Netherlands for his proposal, Dubai Frame. Rather than compete with the city, Dubai Frame intends to do the opposite: simply to frame it, explains the winning team. "The developmental process of the city – current and future – is captured within the ever-changing portrait framed by the building. Rather than building a massive structure, the purpose of this project is to build a 'void'. Measuring 150 metres by 105 metres, the void is a window to the development of the current and future skyline of Dubai," said Donis.
At the base of the project, the podium, cultural and conference facilities accumulate. Open to the public, the podium can also be used for events and functions, such as exhibitions, concerts, outdoor theatre and forums. At the top of the structure, at a height of 150 metres, a café is positioned offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the entire city: the roof top offers an open-air site with viewing terraces.
Javier del Pozo, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Southern Europe, Africa and Middle East and President of the Jury of the Award, said that the participants were required to propose a new Tall Emblem Structure at Za'abeel Park – an emblem designed to add to the new face of Dubai, while promoting tourism and other recreational, scientific and cultural activities.
He said a total of 926 conceptual design proposals were presented and evaluated for the award by an international jury, which short-listed 10 proposals with merit, and awarded the best five proposals.
Established in 1988, the Architecture Award was envisaged by ThyssenKrupp Elevator as a way to engage professionals to create outstanding proposals for major cities internationally.
"There are many good ideas among the winning entries. So we will form a committee that will evaluate the designs and come up with a decision by end-2009," said Lootah. "There has been no budget allocated to build the design. It is an honour that they have chosen Dubai as the location for the project, funded the prizes and have given it as gift to the city."
