Home Buyer... erm, Home Owner Dubai 2006

2006 ushers in the 5th year of the Dubai property market since it was inaugurated by then Dubai Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in May 2002. Motivate Events has rung in the year with its 4th annual property show Home Owner Dubai, held at the attractive Madinat Jumeirah on 26-28 January. Predictably the event showcased new and existing off-plan properties located in a variety of development zones across the city. What was glaringly absent from this year's event, however, was anything else.

It was billed as a homeowner's event to feature seminars and exhibits on a variety of topics, with titles including The Digital Home, Investors Forum, Landscape and Interior Design, Home Security and Tools and Machinery. I cannot say, however, that I found anything of significance on these topics as I wandered around the arena floor or perused the Official Catalogue and Seminar Guide. On inquiring about the schedule for seminars I was informed that the seminars had been cancelled due to the recent passing away of Dubai's ruler, HH Sheikh Maktoom Bin Rashed Al Maktoom. But that leads me to wonder, is conducting a seminar any more inappropriate under such circumstances than holding a sales exhibition, which is what the remainder of the show amounted to.

To place credit where credit is due, the exhibitors were in excellent form, having attractive, informative displays and sales reps prepared to answer visitor questions. Admission was free even for those who had not pre-registered as called for on the official website. Better Homes and MAG PDD were two among several organizations with large and welcoming display areas. Like the stunning architecture and grounds of the Madinat Jumeirah, the program was very tatefully presented. In addition to developers and property sales agents there was significant representation of mortgage lenders as well. This, however, points again to what was wrong with the home owner event--it was clearly a home buyer's event.

I was, in fact, a bit confused upon entering the arena foyer where visitors were being asked to fill in a questionaire. Most of the questions were of the nature of what type of property are you intending or looking to buy? I had to tick nearly every box "no," and was left wondering why there was no place for me to express my interest as a new home owner.

Spending about two hours in the hall I eventually had to visit some of the booths pretending to be interested in buying property--otherwise what else was there for me to do there? I spent an additional hour enjoying the wonderful grounds and taking photos around the Madinat Jumeirah. I would hope that next year's event will more closely live up to the billing. Any visitors who left similarly disappointed or confused may wish to express this directly to the organizer at homeownerdubai@motivate.ae.

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