IIR Middle East, the organiser of Cityscape Abu Dhabi, has announced that His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces has agreed for the second successive year to offer his patronage to Cityscape Abu Dhabi.

The premier property development and investment showcase, is set to open at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre on 13-15 May 2008. Cityscape Abu Dhabi, launched last year with the support of prominent government ministers and key government agencies, surpassed all expectations. This year the event is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors from over 100 countries with more than 300 exhibitors showcasing projects from over 50 different countries.

Mark Goodchild, Project Manager, Cityscape Abu Dhabi, commented, “We are honoured that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has agreed to extend his patronage to Cityscape Abu Dhabi once again. This clearly emphasises the importance of the real estate market to the Abu Dhabi government, underscores their proactive and enthusiastic support for a transparent and sustainable industry and the integral role Cityscape Abu Dhabi plays bringing regional and international industry professionals together. ”

Even with US$327 billion worth of projects either proposed, planned or under construction, Abu Dhabi has an unblemished environment record, managing and maintaining an unspoiled coastline, home to over 200 uninhabited islands and the fragile eco-systems they support. That long-term eco-strategy combined with meticulous planning, is now beginning to pay dividends and the capital’s projects have become magnets for sympathetic real estate investment and development. This has been evident with Masdar City, a zero-carbon, zero-waste, renewable energy powered and car-free environment, part of the capital’s US$15 billion Masdar Initiative.

As a further sign of its leading role in sustainable development, Abu Dhabi has signed a two year agreement with the global conservation organisation WWF to help monitor the emirate’s ecological footprint and develop strategies to reduce it to a sustainable level. This issue was highlighted on Saturday 29th March with the WWF-organised ‘Earth Hour’ which encouraged individuals and businesses around the globe to turn off all non-essential lighting for an hour between 8-9pm local time.

The green theme continues at the Cityscape Abu Dhabi awards dinner, to be held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on 13th May, which will also recognise professionals and companies who have shown outstanding performance in sustainable development.

To complement the exhibition, two parallel conferences have been organised on sustainable development and real estate finance and investment. The development conference will focus on leading real estate developers, designers, architects and contractors who will discuss finding new ways to design and build sustainable buildings.

The finance and investment conference will bring together leading investors, property developers, bankers, fund groups and other professionals keen to embrace a more transparent real estate property market throughout the region.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response from key international and regional industry players, from both public and private sectors. Abu Dhabi’s sustainable promise has caught the imagination of designers, architects and developers and whet the appetite of investors,” added Goodchild.

To support that view regional industry backing has been unequivocal. Platinum sponsors of Cityscape Abu Dhabi include Mubadala, Aldar, Sorouh, Al Qudra, The Land Holding Company and Escan. Gold sponsors include Dubai World Central, Tameer and Saudi Oger, with Future Brand and East & West Properties taking Silver status. The Department of Municipal Affairs of Abu Dhabi (DMA) is Associate Sponsor, Urban Planning Council of Abu Dhabi (UPC) is Strategic Planning Partner while HSBC is Investment sponsor.