BSBG's Roxanne Djaiji attends Cityscape 2018

Words by BSBG Media Team, Monday 08 October 2018

This year, Cityscape created a huge ripple of excitement, impacting far beyond the real estate and construction industries. Historically, the exhibition is known to be the platform from which ambitious mega-projects are launched to the market. With over 300 exhibitors showcasing projects from the region and across the world, this year proved to be no different.

As BSBG Senior Design Architect Roxanne Djaiji reports, Cityscape provided many reasons to be positive. “The scale and the speed at which the projects have been promised created a lot of anticipation,” she says. “There is nothing more exciting than being in a city that is continuously growing and expanding towards the better, making remarkable progress within the region and across the world.”

New launches at Cityscape 2018

Among the new launches, a number of developers took the opportunity to consolidate on existing projects, as new phases were announced and updates were provided. “What we have seen this year at the exhibition is an example of a mature and robust real estate sector that signifies an accumulated high level of trust,” Roxanne tells us. “The exhibition was really busy with many exciting projects announced this year. The developers with projects that caught my attention the most were Meraas, Dubai Holding and Majid Al Futtaim."

Port de La Mer by Meraas

Meraas, a leading developer BSBG has worked alongside as Lead Consultant in delivering Bluewaters Residences and The Beach previously, enhanced its reputation as the creator of high quality urban destinations with perhaps the largest development it has undertaken to date - Port de La Mer. "Port de La Mer by Meraas is going to be the first freehold master community in Jumeirah, located at the already popular La Mer mixed-use development" Roxanne reports. "It’s a waterfront community including a 192-berth super-yacht marina and a range of apartments which offer expansive sea views. Other aspects of the project in La Mer’s North Peninsula includes shops, restaurants, piazzas, luxury hotels and a private beach. The overall community was very well-received.”

Marsa Meydan

New waterfront communities were a recurring theme of this year’s event, as Meydan also unveiled their own Marsa Meydan development, situated on the new beachfront in Jebel Ali; close to the Expo 2020 site. “This development promises to deliver an experience of boardwalk-style living with a modern twist and a marina at its heart. The waterfront villas, town houses and apartments are only a few steps away from the sea and are styled along the lines of Newport Beach in Orange County, Los Angeles.” It was announced at the event that there will be four hotels in Marsa Meydan, a boulevard and a host of retail shops and food and beverage outlets that will line the canals and boardwalk throughout the development.

Tilal Al Ghaf by Majid Al Futtaim

Away from the coastline, Dubai will continue its move further into the desert, with one of BSBG’s long term clients Majid Al Futtaim giving further updates on what looks set to be a stunning new residential community, Tilal Al Ghaf. “This community centres around a big lagoon in the desert and spans three million square metres,” Roxanne explains. “It seems to be perfectly positioned to grow with Dubai’s dynamic cityscape, interacting with current and future developments to give residents and owners the assurance of value and convenience, featuring more than 6,500 freehold homes. It is due for completion in 2027."

BSBG has worked with Majid Al Futtaim as the Design Architect, Client Representative, Construction Supervisor and Contract Administrator on the latest addition to its growing Dubai portfolio of hotels - Aloft City Centre Deira, as well as providing architecture, interior design and engineering services on the award-winning MOE Hilton Garden Inn hotel.

Madinat Jumeirah Living by Dubai Holding

Roxanne was also impressed by Dubai Holding's latest venture in Jumeirah. “A major freehold luxury landmark in Dubai's prime Madinat Jumeirah district has been announced - Madinat Jumeirah Living by Dubai Holding. Different to most of the projects launched, it will see development of a new masterplan around the existing Souk Madinat Jumeirah; enhancing one of Dubai’s most exclusive districts. Madinat Jumeirah Living will mirror the look and feel of the Madinat Jumeirah resort. The development will be directly connected to Souq Madinat Jumeirah via an air-conditioned pedestrian bridge. The launch was hugely successful, and on the second day of the exhibition they launched and sold two buildings facing Burj Al Arab.”

“Overall, Cityscape 2018 was a great success. The overall excitement was very visible amongst the attendees, and there was a real buzz around the World Trade Centre over the course of the event. This reflected positively on the sales as well. I look forward to seeing a continuation of this momentum at next year’s Cityscape.”

BSBG Media Team

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