Cityscape Global has seen a 42 percent y-o-y increase in local and international visitor attendance as a number of major developers announced over 27 mega projects during the three-day show in October.

Indian nationals made up nearly a quarter of the exhibition’s visitor attendance (22.6 percent), followed by Pakistanis (9.4 percent), the UAE nationals (7.3 percent) and British citizens (7.1 percent).

According to recent figures released by the Dubai Land Department, the total sum of investment in the first half of 2014 from Indian nationals into the Dubai property market exceeded $3 billion, highlighting the strengthening investor confidence in the property industry.

Wouter Molman, director of Cityscape Group, said: “A 42 percent increase in visitor numbers and over 5,000 investors attending the show is a real testament to the current strength of the local property market. The sheer amount of projects that were announced over the three-day event also reaffirms Cityscape Global’s position as the undisputed barometer for the region’s real estate market. Notably, more than 53 percent of our visitors were there to look for r4eal estate investment opportunities or buy a home, and over 75 percent of investors in attendance had buying power of 5 million upward.”

Molman added: “Following the success of Cityscape Global 2014, we are planning to further grow the event by 25 percent next year to accommodate the unprecedented demand we have received in recent weeks.”

In terms of GCC investment, the UAE nationals made transactions worth $3.4 billion into Dubai’s property sector during the first half of 2014, representing twice the $ 1.7 billion invested by all other GCC nationals combined.

The strong international investor presence at Cityscape Global was bolstered by two new additional international pavilions from Palestine and Bahrain, while the Turkish pavilion held the largest number of overseas exhibitors with a total of 30, covering 2,100 sqm of exhibition space and a 22 percent increase on 2013.

Khaldoun Saleh, GM at Wahat Al Zaweya said: “We used the event as a platform to showcase our eco-friendly, self-sustainable, mixed-use community, which covers 22.7 million sqm in the Faqaa corridor of the Al Ain region. The project gives the opportunity for locals to gain a freehold title, and becomes an ideal weekend getaway destination for local Emiratis.”

Looking forward to the next Dubai event under the Cityscape portfolio, the 2nd edition of NextMove Live will take place from Feb. 19-21, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

“Following its successful launch in response to the high demand and new supply of real estate units, NextMove Live, the UAE’s major residential property show, will once again offer first-time buyers the ideal place to buy their apartment or villa, while allowing seasoned investors the opportunity to add to their existing property portfolio,” said Tsitsi Lynn Makuni, exhibition director of NextMove Live.

Wahat Al Zaweya is among the confirmed exhibitors for NextMove Live 2015. “We are almost in the last phase of our project, and we will use this crucial showcase as an opportunity to engage more with our end users” commented Khaldoun.

“NextMove Live also offers buyers the answers to any questions related to buying a property, particularly as the event offers them thousands of properties plus hundreds of brokers and mortgage products to choose from,” added Makuni.

Cityscape Global 2014 was supported by the foundation sponsors Emaar, Dubai Properties and Nakheel; International Strategic Partner Property Solutions; gold sponsor Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC); project marketing sponsor Aqua Properties; official architect Architecture & Planning Group (APG); official broker Trisl Real Estate; official mortgage provider Abu Dhabi Finance; silver sponsors Apex Real Estate Development LLC and Tecom Investments; and property registration trustee partner Tamleek Property Transfer.