His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, on Thursday, opened the 7th edition of the Real Estate Investment Exhibition (ACRES 2020) at the Expo Centre Sharjah.

With the participation of more than 40 local and international real estate companies and developers, ACRES 2020 is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SCCI, collaboratively with the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department (SRERD) and the Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector Business Group working under the SCCI umbrella.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), HE Sultan Abdullah Bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department, and a number of SCCI’s board members.

Also present were HE Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Abdul Aziz Ahmed Shams Al Shamsi, Director General of Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, HE Mohamed Ahmed Amin, SCCI’s Director-General, HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, HE Abdulaziz Rashid Al Saleh, Director General of the Real Estate Registration Department, and Saeed Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector Business Group.

A number of directors and heads of government departments, businessmen and real estate investors also attended the event.

Following the inauguration, Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, accompanied by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais and the attendees, toured the exhibition pavilions, where they were briefed on the real estate projects offered by the exhibitors and their future projects as well.

Sheikh Abdullah Al Qasimi commended the good organization of the exhibition and the distinguished services provided to visitors and investors, something which reflects the keenness of the Emirate of Sharjah to reinforce its position and reputation as a leading economic hub for entrepreneurship and investment in various sectors.

Promoting Sharjah’s Real Estate Sector

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah for his wise directives which strengthen the SCCI’s achievements and activities aimed at achieving diversification and sustainable development of Sharjah’s economy.

Al Owais extended thanks to the Crown Prince of Sharjah for his vigorous follow-up and support to the SCCI’s plans and activities, appreciating the attendance of Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and opening the exhibition.

“At the SCCI, we are keen on organizing such events and exhibitions as they contribute to raising growth rates of different economic sectors, by providing platforms for exchanging experiences and visions between the stakeholders. ACRES is a clear-cut example of those exhibitions thanks to its vital role in promoting Sharjah’s real estate sector, by highlighting the facilities and laws encouraging investment in the emirate, shaping future investment trends in this vital sector, increasing  synergy the government and private sectors, as well as harmonizing visions about the most effective ways to attract investors and to reinforce the status of Sharjah’s economy,”

Achieving the SCCI’s Strategic Goals

The Chairman of the SCCI pointed out that ACRES plays a pivotal role in achieving the SCCI’s strategic goals by achieving economic sustainability and providing a platform for its members and affiliates to learn about new real estate investments in the region and the world.

“Over the past years, ACRES has managed to become a significant milestone for those wishing to learn about the leading real estate projects in Sharjah and the UAE and help them to make purchasing decisions. The exhibition is also providing support to those engaged in the real estate sector and it paves the way for investors in other sectors to sign partnerships, conclude deals and exchange experiences,” Al Owais concluded.

Boosting the Investment Environment

In turn, Abdelaziz Ahmed Shams Al Shamsi underlined that ACRES is an important milestone to spread the real estate culture, learn about the best projects and practices in the real estate field and raise the competitiveness between the real estate development companies in providing high-quality services and products.

“The primary goal of ACRES is to revitalize the real estate investment environment since it paves the way for investors and individuals to find real estate projects and units that suit them in Sharjah. Also, the event is a perfect opportunity for those interested in knowing their legal rights in accordance with real estate legislation and laws in the Emirate of Sharjah,” Al Shamsi explained.

For his part, Saeed Ghanem Al Suwaidi said: “The remarkable participation of real estate companies in ACRES 2020 underlines its position and status for those wishing to enhance their presence in the Emirate of Sharjah. ACRES is also a unique gathering for all relevant real estate sector parties to get acquainted with the offered projects and the exclusive deals. This year, everything is new from the display methods to the quality of the exhibited projects.”

Al Suwaidi hailed the efforts of the SCCI, SRERD, and the sponsors, extending his appreciation to the employees of the Expo Centre for their key role in the success and excellence of the exhibition, something which underlines the Centre’s status and leadership in the exhibitions industry in the region.

Growth in Size

ACRES 2020 is extended over an area of 4000 square meters, where a large number of real estate development and investment companies are participating in, besides agents and real estate brokers, banks and financial institutions, architectural design services and interior designs, insurance companies, legal consulting and information technology, and real estate management services, engineering services companies, project management and engineering consultants, construction and building materials contracting companies, in addition to a number of government agencies and institutions.

Egypt also is present in ACRES 2020 through a dedicated pavilion “Egypt Real Estate Pavilion”, which includes major Egyptian real estate companies to showcase their exclusive deals, such as the freehold ownership for non-Egyptians from other Arab nationalities in the new administrative capital of Egypt, as well as other distinctive offers and easy installments for those wishing to invest in Egypt’s real estate sector.

A Variety of Training Courses

This year’s edition is focusing on the diversity of its workshops training courses, seminars and panel discussions. Among the prominent topics are; determining the appropriate property value, the basics of systematic design between structural and architectural engineering, the attractive environment for real estate investment in the Emirate of Sharjah, and the correct ways to review housing project plans, in addition to providing tips about real estate marketing.

Also, the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre is taking part in the exhibition through a lecture on the arbitration in the settlement of real estate disputes.

On the first day, the Ministry of Youth Affairs held a youth circle which focused on enhancing the role of Emirati youth in real estate investment through the adopted mechanisms in this respect.

The exhibition is open to visitors from 10 am to 8 pm on Thursday and Saturday, and from 2 pm to 9 pm on Friday.

The three-day event is powered by the Sharjah Municipality, Directorate of Town Planning and Survey, Economic Development Sharjah, and Sharjah Broadcasting Authority.