World Class Real Estate Projects to share Dubai spotlight 18.08.2015: Photo caption: The Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets will take place

Photo caption:    The Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets will take place during an extravagant gala dinner at Conrad Hotel Dubai on Tuesday 8 September.



Leading developers and architects contest ultimate accolade at Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets


A stellar shortlist of  37 pioneering real estate projects from 15 countries will be the centre of attention next month in Dubai, as they compete for the ultimate accolade at one of the of the world’s most highly regarded property awards.


With sustainability an underlining trend at this year’s Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets, winners from each of the 13 categories will be announced in an elaborate ceremony taking place at  Conrad Hotel, Dubai on Tuesday 8 September.


The distinguished Awards feature alongside Cityscape Global, the Middle East’s largest and most influential international real estate event, taking place from 8-10 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre.


Holley Chant, Executive Director, KEO International Consultants, and a member of the judging panel, said that sustainability is critical to the success of humanity’s future and real estate developers have an important part to play in its realisation.


“The quality of the nominations in the Sustainability category for Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets this year were fantastic,” said Chant. “Projects seemed to really understand that the importance of a sustainable building is not just about being green, but also about serving as a great project from a real estate fundamentals’ point of view.


“We have developments that have truly made a positive social, economic and cultural impact on their communities, as well as being environmentally sound.


“With sustainable design now a code requirement in the UAE, designers have had to accept this level as the new standard and as a result are challenging themselves even more to create better and more aspirational designs which differentiate their expertise and products in the market.”


The 13 award categories include completed projects and projects still under construction across the following sectors: Commercial Project; Mixed Use Project; Leisure & Hospitality Project; Community, Culture & Tourism Project; Residential Project; Retail Project; and Sustainability.


Woods Bagot, along with contractor Brookfield Multiplex, is one of the UAE finalists to be shortlisted for two separate categories, hoping to be successful in the Built Commercial Project category and the Sustainability category for its IRENA Headquarters project.


Richard Fenne, Principal, Woods Bagot, said: “Should the IRENA Headquarters building win the Cityscape Awards it would be a great regional recognition of the collaborative effort the teams from Masdar, Woods Bagot and Brookfield Multiplex have undergone to design and deliver an exemplar office building.


“Sustainable developments play a crucial role in the ongoing growth of the real estate market, locally, regionally and globally.  The UAE takes a leading role in sustainability in this region, and is very much at the forefront with benchmark developments such as Masdar City.”


Dominating on the international front, leading architect Aedas has been shortlisted for eight different projects in China and Hong Kong, including Future Mixed Use Project Award, Built Commercial Project Award, Future Commercial Project Award, Future Leisure & Hospitality Project Award and the Future Retail Project Award.


Keith Griffiths, Chairman of Aedas said: “The MENA region is one of our key markets and we feel very honoured to have been shortlisted for so many categories at an international awards programme. At Aedas we insist that great design can only be delivered by people with a deep social and cultural understanding of the communities they are designing for and to gain such recognition at this year’s awards suggests we are right on target.”




photo caption:  Shortlisted in the Sustainability category, IRENA Headquarters project in Abu Dhabi designed and developed by Masdar, Woods Bagot and Brookfield Multiplex


Now in its 14th edition, Cityscape Global 2015 has attracted more than 300 international and regional exhibitors covering 40,000sqm of exhibition space. The global real estate showcase has been on an upward growth curve since 2009, and will be the largest in six years.


Taking a new format this year, the Cityscape Global co-located Conference will be staged the day before the exhibition at Conrad Hotel Dubai. The new format is expected to facilitate more than 800 senior real estate professionals and government officials who will explore opportunities and find solutions to key challenges affecting the industry today.


The Facilities Management programme, organised in association with Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA), and the Real Estate Brokers programme will run alongside the ‘Dubai Market Overview’ on September 7 at Conrad Hotel, Dubai.


Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets is sponsored by Aubrilam and Elektrolux. To see the full list of shortlisted projects please visit www.cityscapeglobal.com/awards or call +971 4 407 2557.




Sarah Brook, Lindsay Johnston, Total Communications Dubai also photos