This week the spotlight is on real estate developments in the GCC, where Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning and Municipality Department has announced a number of facilities including real estate developers will be exempt from fines imposed on delays in registering their real estate transactions for the first time. Developers are now exempt from 10,000 AED fines if they are late in registering their businesses. The exemption is valid for all transactions made on properties but which have not been registered.

Elsewhere, Oman’s Housing Ministry has announced it has set up a centre to help developers clear all project approvals in 27 days. The aim is to boost the sector in the Sultanate and reduce paperwork levels. Previously developers had to approach different Government agencies to get approvals which could take upto two years.