What you need to know to survive this year's event
What is it?
Cityscape is a conference and exhibition where developers and the people that work (or would like to work) with them network and show off what they can do. It’s on from Sunday 19 to Wednesday 22 April.
Who will I meet?
Developers, both from the UAE and further afield, including Aldar, Sorouh Real Estate, Mubadala, Al Qudra Real Estate, Qatari Diar
Plus…
Property investors
Architects
Designers
Urban planners
Engineering consultants
Major contractors
Project management companies
Consultants
Retailers
Corporate end users
How big will it be?
The organisers of Cityscape Abu Dhabi said recently they were expecting 30,000 visitors, down from 50,000 last year. Despite the projected lower number of visitors for the event, exhibitor space is 31% up on 2008.
Any survival tips?
Wear shoes you can walk in and leave at least 15 minutes between appointments, it’s a big exhibition …
How does it compare to Cityscape Dubai?
Cityscape Dubai, held down the road from this one, has billed itself in the past as the word’s largest real estate and development event. Last year it attracted record interest – over 70,000 visitors and at least 1,000 exhibitors. However, it was last held in October, in the last days of Dubai’s property boom. Since then Dubai has been hit by the global slowdown and about half of its projects have been put on hold, according to research firm Proleads, so this year’s event could be very different.
Who’s supporting the event?
The headline sponsor is Mubadala; the developer behind Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s planned super-sustainable city. Platinum sponsors are Aldar, Sorouh Real Estate, Al Qudra Real Estate, the Land Real Estate Investment and Development Company, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, and Burooj Properties; other sponsors are Abu Dhabi Investment House, the department of municipal affairs of Abu Dhabi, Tameer, Al Maabar, Al Aqaba Development Corporation and HSBC.
