… At Cityscape Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council launched its Capital City District, proposed for 370,000 residents and including seven grand boulevards representing the seven emirates. Basra’s investment commission … (read more)

Last week’s Cityscape Abu Dhabi was the first significant real estate show in the UAE since crisis was considered a force to be reckoned with in the Gulf economic landscape. (read more)

Last Wednesday, Dubai hosted the first series of cricket matches the Pakistani team has played since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team’s bus in Lahore last March, leaving nine people dead. (read more)

Upon completion, the 4,900 hectare Capital City District will serve as a second downtown for Abu Dhabi proper and will be home to 370,000 residents who will dwell in a mixed-use, sustainable environment comprising high-density transit-oriented communities and lower density Emirati neighborhoods

17th-Century Portuguese fort on Iran’s coast.
… Iran and Portugal agreed to restore Portuguese castles and forts along Iran’s coast. Promoters of Hilla, Iraq, offered tourists Saddam Hussein’s palace bedroom for $220 per night….

…Master developer Nakheel readies to launch 8,000 new units at its mid-income development Jumeirah Village… (read more in this week’s notes) image courtesy Nakheel.