Purchasing property - Investing in the Middle East

As I am based in Abu Dhabi for a while, I am able to suss out the property investment market over here.

Here are some tips, thoughts and news:

1) Global investors are continuing to invest heavily in the region as it is in a high capital and rental growth phase. It also has recently scored very high in a "transparency measure" which rates countries on ease of transacting in property for foreign investors

2) Typically investments are "off the plan" and terms are monthly payments which can extend over many years (I have seen 15 years for example)

3) Loan financing is coming on strong. GE finance have just singed a large agreement. I am assuming that this applies to UAE based investors, but you may want to explore whether or not they would give out loans to non UAE based investors

4) There are both residential and commercial opportunities

5) Prices are still reasonable, USD200k can get you into the market

6) It does not seem overly easy to identify strong long term opportunities and there could be some black sheep areas as there many developments being built in the middle of nowwhere. I would probably go for something nearish to centre of Dubai off Sheik Zayed road, as traffic and commuting is a major concern. Abu Dhabi is less clear for me.... As always, do your own research so you don't get caught out!

Purchasing Property - Off the Plan