What are the three most important things for GCC real estate developers? The proper answer has to be (1) strategy, (2) strategy, and (3) strategy. This is the case for both the master planners in governments of kingdoms, emirates, provinces, or special economic cities and the entire field of private, listed, or state-backed property firms. The magnanimity of governments and leading developers in the Arab World is reflected unequivocally in their plans to build new cities. This drive to growth is so intense that we have become used to take immediate notice of a project announcement if it carries an investment price tag in the double-digits — of billions of dollars, mind you. A cost expectation of mere millions or one or two dollar billions for a new residential district or financial center in a GCC country nowadays will hardly stir the attention of the media and other market observers.
