Exciting Times in Property Investment and Finance in The

ISSUE 2, September 2007 Regulars Chairman's Message 02 Australian Embassy Message 04 Australian Consul General's Message 06 10 Features Property Investment 08 Property Market 09 Nakheel 10 Multiplex 12 Green Vision 15 Golf Courses 17 Rasis Developers LLC 19 Looking Ahead Modern Architecture 20 Landscape Architecture 21 Sustainable Solutions 22 Investment 24 Resort Environment 26 Construction & Development 27 Law 17 27 Property Law 28 Trade News Trade News - Victoria 31 Trade News - South Australia 33 Trade News - Western Australia 35 Sport Property & Construction Team 36 Events Social Events 38 Up Coming Events 47 Members New Members 48 Committee Members 49 Property Horoscopes 50 Member Profile 36 38 David Heffernan 52

Managing Director Graphic Designer Donna Benton Riaz Khan

Operation Manager/Senior Editor Senior Administration Chelsea Blampied Amira Veneracion

Advertising Manager Administration Tessy Silveira Myra Mendoza

Sales & Marketing Administration Pinky Moses Tefanie Domingo

Art Director Financial Controller M. Ali Rizvi Mumaij Moidu CHAIRMAN MESSAGE

A business group that has worked hard to earn itsts reputation as one of thee best in the region

Dear Members, for their efforts behind-the-scenes, especially in the planning stages of larger events such as the upcoming AGM, Melbourne Welcome to the 2nd edition of FOCUS – BUSINESS Cup and the Australia Day Ball. These events don’t just AUSTRALIA. happen, especially as we place such a high emphasis on offering For those of you that managed to escape the summer heat, something special each time. It can be diffi cult sometimes to welcome back. And for those that stuck around, I hope the maintain enthusiasm within a voluntary group, but I’ve been quieter roads were at least some consolation. blessed with a team that shares my sense of satisfaction when our plans succeed. Since June the ABC has been as active as ever with some unique events for members. Following the spectacular FOCUS launch, On a personal note, I will be stepping down as ABC Chairman we decided on a low-key affair for our July business lunch at the at the upcoming AGM. Though eligible to serve another year, new Al Manzil Hotel near the Burj Dubai. We decided against I’ve made a decision to return to Australia after ten years a guest speaker in order to give members a greater chance to off-shore. I leave behind some wonderful friends, fantastic network in a new and casual atmosphere, and we will look to experiences and a business group that has worked hard to repeat this successful formula in the coming months. earn its reputation as one of the best in the region. There are many fi ne people left to fl y the fl ag though I know they’d all August saw the ABC host the much-anticipated announcement appreciate new ideas, action and input. The group is only as by Mr. Gillon McLachlan, Australian Football League, of next good as you make it, so make the most of it. February’s AFL game in Dubai between Collingwood and Adelaide. This will be a very exciting time for Australians in Now, back to business! Dubai. Kicking off with our very own Australia Day Ball on Regards January 24th, the period leading up to the match will be marked by a series of promotional activities culminating in the big game itself on February 8th – a fi rst for the AFL in the Middle East. Let’s not forget some excellent attendances at the customary monthly Sundowners at the Barasti Bar sponsored by our good friends at Allied Pickfords. Make sure you diarize the fi rst Tuesday of each month and come down for a free beverage and Stuart Mansbridge meet your fellow members. Chairman - Australian Business Council. I’d like to thank our hardworking committee and administrators

Earlier this year, the Australian Business in the Gulf Group (ABIG) attend and actively participate in an increased range of programs and were proud to announce our move to enhanced status in Dubai with events run by the Chamber of Commerce. The closer relationship local authorities including the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and between the ABC and DCCI will also avail our members of better Industry, Dubai Municipality and with the UAE Ministry of Foreign access to the services and support that is available through the Affairs to become The Australian Business Council. (ABC). But what Chamber. does that mean to you as a member? From the fi rst days of ABIG we have grown in numbers, in diversity, As a Business Council we take a formal seat amongst other Business and in relevance. The Australian business presence in Dubai is well Councils with events and formal information fl ow to and from the established and is positively recognised throughout the UAE. For us Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This will include events as a business group to grow, our elevation to becoming a Business and activities relative to Australia, as well as to those relevant to Dubai Council is a natural progression and we are delighted to offer the and the broader UAE. Our level of interaction and communication benefi ts that come with our new status to all ABC members. with the Chamber will be elevated and we will be formally invited to

2 SEPTEMBER,07 AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY MESSAGE

BothBoB countries have strengthenedstr their links overver fighting international crimee

As most of you are aware, the Ambassador, Jeremy Bruer is in Mr. Johnston said “International crime cooperation between Australia until 19 August on leave and consultations, visiting Australia and the United Arab Emirates has been signifi cantly capitals, giving speeches on the dynamic and growing bilateral strengthened”. He went on “These treaties represent a relationship between the UAE and Australia, and consulting signifi cant step in strengthening our cooperative ties to tackle with government and business. In his place, I am honoured to transnational crime. The signing of the Extradition and Mutual have the opportunity to highlight one of the embassy’s activities Assistance treaties will enhance our ability to effectively combat for the second issue of Focus Magazine. transnational crime including terrorism, people traffi cking, money laundering and corruption. As the summer strengthens its grip on the UAE, and more and more people head off on holidays, we are pleased that a long- The Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters running and important bilateral issue which has occupied the treaties were Australia’s fi rst international crime cooperation embassy for more than three years has fi nally come to fruition. treaties with the United Arab Emirates. Senator Johnston said, This is an issue which some might consider low-key, but it is, “Extradition treaties enable countries to prevent criminals from nonetheless, very important: the completion of the negotiations evading prosecution by crossing international boundaries, while of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty, and the Mutual Assistance treaties enhance countries’ abilities to help Extradition Treaty. each other investigate and prosecute criminal offences.” On 26 July, in Hobart, the UAE Minister for Justice, His Negotiation of these two treaties began three years ago. Excellency Mohammed Al-Dhaheri, and the Australian Numerous discussions were held between the Attorney Minister for Justice and Customs, David Johnston signed Generals Department in Canberra, and the Ministry of Justice these two important treaties. This means both countries have in Abu Dhabi, facilitated by face-to-face discussions, emails strengthened their links over fi ghting international crime. and cables by the embassy. Then in September 2006 a team from the UAE visited Sydney to go through the draft text of the treaties, in English and Arabic, with the Australian side, and they achieved agreement in just one week. These two treaties are part of a growing focus on security cooperation, and along with the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed during the Defence Minister, Dr Nelson’s visit to Abu Dhabi in April 2007, further develops the framework for enhanced communication and cooperation between Australia and the UAE.

Sitting L-R: H.E. Mohammed Al Dhaheri, UAE Minister for Justice; Senator the Margaret Barbalet Hon. David Johnston, Australian Minister for Justice and Customs. Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy - Abu Dhabi Standing L-R: H.E. Abdul Rahim Yousef Al Awadhi, Assistant Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Justice; H.E. Dr Saeed Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Australia; The Hon. Philip Ruddock M.P. Australian Attorney General.

3 SEPTEMBER,07 AUSTRALIAN CONSUL GENERAL'S MESSAGE DUBAI & NORTHERN EMIRATES

ProfessionallyProP it has been rewarding, and personallyy it has been a lot of fun

This will be my offi cial sign off to the Australian Business received from our Ambassador to the UAE, Jeremy Bruer. Council as my posting with the Australian Consulate General He might barrack for the wrong footy team, but he is a great and Australian Trade Commission in Dubai is complete this Australian and he has been a true friend to me. I offer my month. I will be heading back to Melbourne for some leave and sincere appreciation to the many people who have given their to watch some football until the end of the year, and will then time to the Australian Business Council and grown it to the commence a new posting adventure in Bangkok. organisation it is now. And fi nally I would ask and hope that my successor, Kym Hewett, who will arrive in Dubai in It has been an exhilarating ride over the past fi ve years where all September, receives that same support, and level of friendship Australians who have been in Dubai have seen and experienced that I have. tremendous change and growth in all aspects of life. During this time the Australian Consulate General has relocated twice I hope that our paths cross again wherever that may be. and grown from representation of two Government agencies Yours sincerely and twenty fi ve staff to now eight agencies with sixty fi ve staff. Through the broader Middle East and North Africa region the Australian Trade Commission reach has grown from thirty staff with six points of presence in 2002 to now forty eight staff with fourteen points covering twenty six countries. New positions have been established in Libya, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and in Abu Dhabi as Austrade assists Australian Peter Linford exporters on the ground to position themselves to market Consul General Dubai & Northern Emirates opportunities. Senior Trade Commissioner Middle East & North Africa I have personally been privileged to have worked with a terrifi c group of people in an exciting region assisting Australian companies in places such as Algeria and Libya, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and all countries in the region in between. Professionally it has been rewarding, and personally it has been a lot of fun. I would like to offer my sincere appreciation to all Australians who have supported us and I hope that we have where possible provided some value of support from our side in return. In particular I would acknowledge the support I have

4 SEPTEMBER,07 PROPERTY INVESTMENT This trend has continued in 2007, with the enactment of a trust/escrow account law in Dubai, aimed at controlling and providing transparency in terms of the use of funds by property developers on particular projects. The Government of Dubai will also shortly enact a strata title law, which will govern the rights of property owners living in multi-storey buildings in Dubai. The strata title law will achieve two objectives which are currently lacking in the Dubai real estate market: fi rst, it will regulate the rights to the common areas of a property, and second, it will establish a system of rules and regulations with regard to the management and administration of the title to those common areas. The Government of Dubai has not yet introduced a trust law, but this is understood to be in the pipeline. Concurrently, one of Dubai’s free zones, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has introduced a series of property-related laws governing transactions occurring in, and entities incorporated within the DIFC, namely, a real property ownership law, a strata title law, a trust law and a law governing the establishment and operation of a real estate investment trust (REIT). The growing sophistication of the Dubai real estate market, due to the paradigm shift in the background of the players in the market, and the development of a mature legal framework to regulate property development and investment, has resulted in a corresponding growth in the sophistication of fi nancing methods utilised for property acquisitions and development. Property acquisitions or development have been fi nanced Exciting times in through the traditional method of a combination of equity and debt. The debt portion has been provided by way of a single- property investment or multi-lender facility, either by a local or regional fi nancial institution. Increasingly, however, more sophisticated fi nancing and finance in the UAE methods are being utilised, one of which is securitisation. Securitisation involves the issuing of rated bonds (a form of debt instrument) to investors. The proceeds from the issuing lthough the Dubai real estate market has been growing at of those bonds are converted into a debt facility, which is used Aa rapid pace for at least the last 15 years, the market really to partly fi nance the acquisition of a property. The security for began to move forward at breakneck speed in 2002, when the this facility is usually an assignment of the rental income from Government of Dubai liberalised property ownership for non- the property, as well as a mortgage over the real property. These GCC nationals. bonds are then credit enhanced. This liberalisation was part of the strategy of Dubai to promote The advantage of this type of fi nance is that, because the bonds direct foreign investment and therefore grow the non-oil are rated independently as to their creditworthiness, and given economy. As a result, construction is the fastest growing sector that the investors are mainly drawn from outside the GCC, of the Dubai economy, accounting for 12.2% of GDP in 2004, companies looking to fi nance the acquisition of property assets whilst the real estate sector provided a further 10.6% of GDP can access cheaper debt fi nance globally. in 2004. As an example, HSBC, in July 2007, arranged and completed Recognising that the Dubai real estate market was becoming the Middle East’s fi rst rated commercial property securitisation increasingly sophisticated and, as a result of foreign investment, for a commercial offi ce tower in Dubai. This trend in the increasingly infl uenced by international investment and fi nancing of property acquisitions, coupled with a maturing of fi nancing standards, the Government of Dubai began to the regulation of property acquisitions, will continue to propel introduce a series of laws to underpin this burgeoning Dubai towards a leadership position internationally in terms economic growth. This really began in 2006 with the of the banking/fi nance sector and the property/construction introduction of a formal property ownership law, allowing sector. freehold ownership for GCC nationals and ownership by non- GCC nationals (on a freehold or leasehold basis) in certain ADAM MALOUF designated areas in Dubai. Head of Legal & Compliance, Arabian Real Estate Investment Trust

5 SEPTEMBER,07 PROPERTY MARKET the form of new laws and increased licensed real estate agents will shortly Dubai’s rapid protection for property investors disappear as Dubai Lands Department and owners and also with increased licensed agents and staff will have growth was obligations on developers, real estate the sole rights to attend to property agents and advertisers. transfers. Also targeted are developers, probably greater who in the past, have sold ‘off the plan’ Some of us might quite rightly say that apartments to investors, taken money these changes are well overdue but we upfront and then failed to either start on than anyone must also be fair and remember that time or to complete the project on time. Dubai’s rapid growth was probably greater than anyone would have These changes can only help Dubai’s would have predicted or imagined. real estate, property development and construction industries, as local and predicted or Dubai was the fi rst Emirate to regularly international investors will now have announce new, iconic “out of this more certainty and confi dence. These imagined world” developments such as Palm developments will allow H.H. Sheikh Jumeirah & Jebel Ali, Burj Dubai, Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Dubai Land, the Bawadi Hotel strip, the The constant factor in Dubai today is vision and dream for Dubai to continue Waterfront, Business Bay, and others, for many years to come. change! Dubai was also fi rst to introduce the It comes to us in many forms but the Rental Cap and Associations (Body Before investing, please do your most obvious and visible to the many Corporate) for community areas, homework and only purchase from a of us who live and work here services and charges. licensed developer utilising an escrow are clearly refl ected through our account to protect your investment, The newly formed Real Estate equally as important, only use a own personal experiences as we Regulatory Authority, which will operate navigate each day through the professional, fully accredited real estate under the Dubai Land Department, will agent to assist you. maze of new construction oversee the operations of developers, developments and also property management companies, through the constant fi nancing institutions, brokers and and challenging owners associations. It will be given IAN SIMM changes to the road jurisdiction over real estate policy, CEO Easy Property Group system we drive on. strategy, regulation and registration. www.easypropertygroup.com Now change is also Questionable freelance sales agents coming quickly in who impede professional, fully

SEPTEMBER,07 6 NAKHEEL it to Chifl ey Tower, one of Sydney’s most iconic towers – but Australians are part of Trump Tower is a development four times the size!” Nakheel, literally meaning “the palms” in Arabic, was created as the Nakheel team that a company in 2003 following the launch of subsequent projects, most notably The Palm Trilogy and The World islands. In its is changing the map of efforts to diversify Dubai’s economy and further establish the emirate as a leading tourism destination, Dubai leadership was seeking innovative solutions. Dubai was already well known for Dubai its year-round sun and immaculate beaches, although room for Nakheel, one of the world’s largest privately held real estate waterfront development was limited to only 70km of Dubai developers, is a key player in realising the vision of Dubai for coastline. the 21st century, creating a world-class destination for business It was for this reason in the late 1990s that H.H. Sheikh and tourism. FOCUS takes an exclusive look at the developer's Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum developed the ingenious increasing project portfolio and discovers how Australians are solution of building a man-made island off the coast of Dubai part of the Nakheel team that is changing the map of Dubai. to create more beachfront, hence the launch of The Palm A decade ago if Ed Sutton had moved to Dubai from Australia, Jumeirah in 2001. Measuring one and a half times the size of his friends and colleagues wouldn’t have been able to tell him New York’s Central Park, The Palm Jumeirah appeared to many much about the city. But Dubai is now the place the world to be an overly ambitious and near impossible project. is talking about and most Australians would probably have Today, as The Palm Jumeirah nears completion, Nakheel has something to tell him about a 7 star sail-shaped hotel, palm- confi rmed its status as more than a simple property developer shaped islands built in the sea, or incredible growth rivaling and as a leading company that is reshaping the map of Dubai by Singapore and a cosmopolitan population similar to New York continually creating innovative, bold and iconic developments. or Hong Kong. “The best thing about Ed Sutton, Senior Development Manager at Nakheel, has lived working for such and worked in Dubai for the last two years. Originally from a forward thinking Sydney, Ed worked in Australian real estate at Charter Hall company in Dubai is and Mirvac. Ed is currently working on the exclusive Trump the ability to work with Tower project on The Palm Jumeirah. “Development in Dubai such a diverse group is completely different to that in Australia. The projects here of professionals from are far bigger and far more audacious than anything at home all around the world. so the opportunities for development managers in Dubai are This provides a melting unmatched. For example, I was recently explaining the Trump pot of the best ideas Tower development to my friend in Sydney and tried comparing and techniques in the

Ed Sutton

7 SEPTEMBER,07 industry.” Ed added, with the full support of the executive management of Nakheel “The ex-pat lifestyle has been fundamental in achieving where we are now. With in Dubai is fabulous the added access to international expertise, it makes for the too.” experience of a lifetime.” Ed Sutton is not Nakheel’s impressive portfolio of developments, across a the only Australian range of sectors, will continue to set a high benchmark for the who has bought incredible growth in this emerging global city. Spreading across in to the Dubai 2 billion sq ft of land, including The Palm Trilogy, The World, lifestyle. Several other Waterfront, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park and the truly Australians hold unique Ibn Battuta Mall, Nakheel’s projects are redefi ning the positions at Nakheel, concept of modern property development whether residential, including CEO Chris tourist, commercial or retail. Drawing on top international O’Donnell, former talent, Nakheel will surely continue to capture the attention of Troy Hart Managing Director world for years to come as it changes the map of Dubai with its of Investa Property landmark developments. Group in Australia and Johann Schumacher, Managing Director of The Palm Jumeirah. Australians also make up 1% of the residence owners on The Palm Jumeirah. The fi rst residents moved onto The Palm Jumeirah at the end of 2006 and development of the project is moving along at an impressive pace. In late 2008, the fi rst of more than thirty hotels to open on The Palm Jumeirah will be Atlantis The Palm, a luxury resort featuring the region’s largest water park. The centrepiece on The Palm Jumeirah’s trunk will be The Trump International Hotel and Tower, a 60-story mixed use luxury hotel and residential development. From 2009 The Palm Jumeirah will be home to one of the world’s famous cruise liners, the QE2, and the world renowned tourism attraction Cirque du Soleil is due to take up residence on the island towards the end of 2010. The permanent modern circus show will have an entirely original storyline specifi cally created for The Palm Jumeirah. Arguably the most ambitious and talked about Nakheel project to date, The World development is on schedule for completion in 2008. Located four kilometers off the coast of Dubai and comprising of over 300 separate reclaimed islands, the fi rst Shoreline Apartments resorts are due to welcome visitors by the end of 2010. “It is very diffi cult to explain exactly what we do. We are working through a continuously changing and developing model for operations. It’d be tough to fi nd a more exciting and dynamic environment anywhere else in the world” explains Troy Hart, another Australian helping Nakheel build the vision of Dubai. Troy grew up on the Gold Coast in Queensland and worked in development fi nance and development management with Citimark Properties and Chardan before moving to Dubai over a year and a half ago. As General Manager of Communities Management, Troy is responsible for the community management and operations of Nakheel developments such as the iconic mixed-use community of The Palm Jumeirah, The World and the inland Jumeirah Family brand developments- Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Village, and Jumeirah Heights. Troy has been fundamental in establishing the division of Nakheel Asset Management, which has grown from one to more than 250 staff within the last 12 months. “The opportunity to create and to be part of a new business unit Atlantis Construction

SEPTEMBER,07 8 MULTIPLEX Multiplex now has a solid footing in the Dubai market. Over Celebrating 10 years of the last decade, the company has completed several signifi cant landmark projects including the Emirates Offi ce Tower construction success in (topping out the structure six months ahead of schedule), the Taj Palace Hotel, Emaar’s Dubai Marina project (comprising 6 high rise towers), the Union Properties Tower, The Gate the Middle East at D.I.F.C, the Grosvenor House Hotel at Dubai Marina and Phase 1 of the Burj Dubai Residences. The company’s tall tower Multiplex experience is second to none and for the last two years running, Multiplex was founded in 1962 in Perth, Western Australia, Nasa Multiplex has won the prestigious Construction Week by the late John C Roberts AO. While constructing most of “Tower Project of the Year” award for the Grosvenor House the major buildings in Perth during the early 1960s and during Hotel in 2005 and the Burj Dubai Residences in 2006. expansion into New South Wales and Victoria in the 1970s and One of the company’s current projects is the Index Building 80s, Multiplex fi rmly established a reputation for delivering seen rising steadily up within the DIFC. The Lord Foster design projects within contract time and budget, a status that Nasa is an eye-catching sight amongst the neighbouring towers Multiplex is still proud to be achieving today. Operations in and at a fi nal height of 326m, the Index Building is set to be New Zealand and the Middle East commenced in 1997 and in yet another striking addition to the company’s construction 1999, the company opened an offi ce in the UK. portfolio of tall towers. Multiplex in the Middle East Back in September 1997, Nasa Multiplex commenced construction on one of the true icons of Dubai today - the Emirates Towers. The project was the fi rst of many success stories for the Australian company; after a redesign of the structure by Multiplex, the high rise offi ce tower was in fact completed two months ahead of the contract period. This year sees Multiplex celebrating 10 years of construction success in the Middle East, with operations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai (Nasa Multiplex) and Qatar (Multiplex Medgulf). Having demonstrated an enviable track record of delivering major, complex projects on time and within budget, Nasa IIndexndex TowerTower TThehe GateGate

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9 SEPTEMBER,07 MULTIPLEX - EXPAT STORY Despite the tax free Dirhams, cheap luxury cars, Friday brunches and the numerous living comforts, living in Dubai can take its toll As one of the two major sponsors behind the February 8th 2008 AFL (Australian Football League) Exhibition Match, hrough the construction, development and design Multiplex is extremely proud to be bring one of the world’s explosion in Dubai, thousands of eager expatriates have T greatest sports to the forefront of the Dubai events calendar. left their own country to join in the race to build the fastest Two of the more prestigious clubs of the AFL will put on a growing city in the world. Despite the tax free Dirhams, cheap fast, skillful and hard-hitting contest that will shake the Dubai luxury cars, Friday brunches and the numerous living comforts, Polo fi elds like never before. Collingwood and Adelaide plan living in Dubai can take its toll. Some of the most contributing to travel to Dubai as part of their pre-season warm-up and to factors to homesickness are the lack of family, friends, national help promote AFL in the Middle East. As part of the event, ‘isms’, sports and far, far too much sun. Sadly, there’s not the curtain raising Multiplex Cup match will be a somewhat less much that can been done about the lack of rain, but there are skillful, but nonetheless hard-fought game potentially between organisations taking the initiative to limit the feeling of isolation the UAE Heat and the Dubai Dingoes. Multiplex, together with that are doing their best to make their employees feel more at the help of local companies Byrne and Ducto Balfour Beatty home. One such organisation is the Australian construction will provide amenities and logistics for a day that all Australians company, Multiplex. and other sporting enthusiasts will remember. Multiplex has been a forerunner in bringing its national identity Not only do such events give expats the taste of home to Dubai and helping their employees feel at home through and national identity that can easily be lost, but it offers events such as Anzac Day celebrations, AFL matches and opportunities for all to learn something of their fellow workers’ traditional Indian entertainment; after all, ‘a happy worker nationality and culture. As Dubai expands, so too does the is a good worker’ and the benefi ts gained from satisfi ed melting pot of cultures and international education. In this employees to a company are priceless. Through sponsorship day and age of globalisation, international knowledge and and on-ground assistance in community events, Multiplex has understanding is invaluable for business relationships and endeavored not only to identify themselves as an Australian growth. The property and construction industry is no different company, but has also managed to bring a little bit of Australia with all corners of the globe coming together to build towers in to Dubai. the sand. Anzac Day is a proud tradition that is unique to Aussies and Aside from the above social and sporting engagements, Kiwis alike. This year, Multiplex sponsored an Anzac event Multiplex continues to be one of the top high-profi le that encompassed local guitar legends, hip hop sensations, construction companies delivering some of the most successful together with ample beverages. With a large proportion of landmark projects in Dubai. Multiplex - not only a company Indian nationals working in the company, cricket days, Onam that has fun, but one that also gets the job done. festivals and Kahla music festivals feature in a large part of the company’s calendar. C. PECK Site Manager - Multiplex

SEPTEMBER,07 10 GREEN VISION “I enjoy the ‘outside the box’ thinking and the enormous In the Middle East, it seems scale of projects in the United Arab Emirates, which we don’t get to experience so often in Australia. It is about creating a to be a case of being in the signature for landscape that is complementary and particular to a specifi c project. It is important that the landscape relates right place at the right time to the internal and the external environment, for example, we are also designing many high end villas for the new residential developments here and the home owner’s lifestyle is extremely hen fi rst arriving in the United Arab Emirates on vacation important, therefore the design must complement an inside out Win 2002, landscape consultant Paul Seils, was overwhelmed theme. With creative design incorporating shade people can use with the immense possibilities within the Landscape Industry. the outside garden as a living experience with sunken bar areas As events unfolded, Paul decided to stay in the United Arab and seating areas, outdoor cooking and dining, external movie Emirates and was fortunate enough to be invited to design and projection screens and sound systems. Unless it is usable and oversee the landscape construction at one of the Palaces for the enjoyable, it is a waste of space.” Offi ces of His Highness - The President. “I am very involved in all aspects of the landscape from Seils said “In the Middle East, it seems to be a case of being the initial meeting with the client, listening to their ideas, in the right place at the right time” and a bit more of “it is not brainstorming with them, working with the design team, what you know, but who you know”. Being an Australian his following the design process all the way through to the end ideals were high and he soon brought to Dubai other Australians product, then the supervision of the landscape construction and to assist in the implementation of this unique landscape project. of course, as a Horticulturist, the landscape maintenance is of “When you enter a new market like the Middle East, you have paramount importance. If the landscape is not maintained then

to put aside any rigid thoughts of how you think things must be done, you have to ‘unlearn’. unfortunately the design intent can go astray” Paul then went to the Maldives and was involved in a Seils, as a Horticulturist, has a passion and a love of plants, their dream project on one of the resort islands that were being form, texture and placement in landscapes. redeveloped. This comprised of setting up a nursery on one He continues, “There is an immense need for new plant of the neighboring islands inhabited by 100 Maldivians. “It varieties within the UAE, all landscape architects and was quite an experience,” he says “I was involved in the consultants are in favour of introducing new species into the removal of all the plants and palms from the resort island to landscape. There are plants particularly in Australia that would the local Island, then having to grow these plants plus import grow wonderfully here.” This is an area Seils is particularly other plant stock from other neighboring islands, now there proactive in and is currently compiling not only imported was a challenge” he laughs. Once the resort island had been plant species to introduce to UAE, but he also feels that the redeveloped, all the plant stock from this nursery had to be indigenous plant material in the UAE has been neglected. He shipped across the ocean to the resort island to be reinstated. is now combining some of these plants into the Green Vision “It is a challenge to create a quality landscape in the exposed team’s designs. environment of an ocean, with only one metre of depth above Dubai is the hub for the region in many ways, including the the salt water table” he insists. landscape industry with the Green Vision Team being involved Once he had completed his involvement in this project, he in projects in Oman, Qatar, Iran, Pakistan, Mauritius and North returned to Dubai where his business Green Concepts was Africa. established as the fi rst Australian based landscape consultancy in Life as a landscape consultant is exciting and rewarding, the UAE. this is evident when listening to a professional who has the With a 16-year background in horticulture and many of those imagination and a vision……………a Green Vision. years running his business in Australia (Green Concepts which has continued to operate), Seils is a certifi ed expert in the industry. PAUL SEILS Green Vision Landscape Architects SEPTEMBER,07 11 GOLF COURSES

The world’s most ambitious new residential golf community

he man who helped create many of Australia’s fi nest golf academy. The Clubhouse’s Sports Centre caters for other sports Tdevelopments – including The Grand Golf Club; Pelican too, featuring a fully-equipped gymnasium, tennis academy, lap Waters; The Glades, Brookwater; The Vintage; and The Golf pool and a leisure-focused lagoon. It will also offer a range of Club at Kennedy Bay – is now leading the creation of the options for both formal and casual dining, while the Wellness world’s most ambitious new residential golf community. Centre will offer a variety of massage and spa treatments. And for the fi rst time anywhere in the world, Jumeirah Golf Estate’s David Spencer began his career in the golf industry as a Little White Shark golf academy at The Norman Clubhouse director of Troon Golf, in the Australian offi ce. Following will allow golfers of all ages and abilities to hone their skills, his successful involvement in two fl agship Dubai courses, The with professional training programmes developed by Greg Montgomerie and Arabian Ranches, David has become chief Norman himself. executive of Leisurecorp, the Dubai World-owned company which is developing Jumeirah Golf Estates. Jumeirah Golf Estates has brought together the world’s leading golfi ng and course design superstars, to create Dubai’s premier residential golfi ng community. Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and “the father of modern golf course design”, Pete Dye, are working on creating one of the world’s most distinctive golf developments. Four courses - Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind – will pay tribute to the power of nature, each employing the distinctive characteristics of its own surroundings to deliver a unique challenge. They will be surrounded by the most desirable residential communities in Dubai, with luxury homes characterised by beautiful space both inside and out. Greg Norman and David Spencer Greg Norman, the designer behind the Fire and Earth courses, is also creating The Norman Clubhouse, which will be home to an ultra-modern practice facility and state-of-the-art golf

SEPTEMBER,07 12 RASIS DEVELOPERS LLC is fortunate to be able to use a number of his contacts in I have found that using Australia in an effort to expedite the developments that are happening in the UAE. ‘I have found that using your local and your local and Australian Australian network connections selectively can be very helpful, constructive and time effi cient. I have been fortunate enough network connections to recruit a number of talented Australians, Emiratis and other nationalities. Executive search connections in Australia have selectively can be very been very helpful, and will continue to provide talent for new, senior management positions as the company expands this helpful year. As in most places, there is a cultural communication issue here, and Australians tend to have the ability to get to the root As CEO of Rasis developers LLC, Adrian Vinck, gives us an of a problem very quickly’ insight into his time as a developer in Dubai. Rasis Developers, is a real estate development and investment Adrian is Melbournian raised and educated, he graduated from company. In January 2006, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan bin RMIT University with an Architecture degree in 1984. His Mubarak Al Nahayan had the vision to set up Rasis, Arabic for home is Wheelers Hill where he enjoys the surrounds of Jells ‘a solid foundation’, to provide just that – a solid foundation Park. He has 4 grown up children, all working and living their for sustainable development in the UAE, Middle East region, own lives. and real estate markets across the globe. Adrian was fi rst employed by Emaar Properties in Dubai Current projects in the Middle East include the ‘Zabeel October 1999 as General Manager for Development, with Corporate Park’ in Dubai with 2 million sq.ft. of commercial his fi rst completed project in Dubai being Emaar’s Gold & offi ce and retail space; On-site car parking for more than 5000 Diamond Park Phase 1. In 2000 he was appointed GM for the cars; a hotel and serviced apartments specifi cally catering to Dubai Marina project, responsible for all master developments. the business market. Another current project is the ‘Abu Dhabi Other responsibilities included the delivery of three seeding Corniche’ in Abu Dhabi, which will offer approximately 1.4 projects developed by Emaar, Al Sahab towers, Al Mujara million sq. ft. of high quality offi ce, residential and retail space residential towers & Marina Walk, built by Nasa Multiplex. in addition to a luxury hotel. In his new role as CEO of Rasis developers LLC, he comments, ‘we have some really exciting work on and I’m really pleased with the energy that we are building in this ADRIAN VINCK small dynamic property development company’. Adrian CEO - Rasis Developers LLC

Zabeel Corporate Park SEPTEMBER,07 13 MODERN ARCHITECTURE high position directly above the centre of the fl oor. Similarly, People can now virtually walls and cross-sections are drawn in a way that positions the eye exactly halfway up the building. In life, these are impossible experience what it situations to achieve and there is a fundamental problem of would be like to walk unreality in these perceptions of architecture. around and through an unconstructed building DIGITAL BUILDINGS It’s been a revolution for architecture – cities around the world are being transformed and shaped by the still-evolving sciences and technologies of the digital age, just as they have been affected by previous technological advances. What’s happening now is strongly comparable to the progress of architecture’s last great revolution – from the THE NEW post-Renaissance world to the industrial age during the early twentieth century. Over the ages there have been sequences of In the digital age, architecture is increasingly being represented long lags – techno-gaps, if you like – between discoveries in on screen and with mobile vision. People can now virtually science and the affordable availability of technologies that fl ow experience what it would be like to walk around and through on from those laboratory experiments. Architecture is always an unconstructed building or place – and the facilitating trying, and often failing, to jump ahead of these advances. software is becoming increasingly realistic in demonstrating the subtleties of materials, sunlight and shadows. Virtual Reality has the capacity to describe buildings to those who don’t EVOLVING DESIGN TRENDS: THE OLD understand conventional architects’ drawings. With various curvy or unusual exceptions, designers – using industrial age tools, rulers and manufactured pens on paper, IDEAS FOR THE 21st CENTURY: THE DEBATE naturally tended to create boxes. These could be constructed CONTINUES via two dimensional fl oor plans, wall elevations and cross sections. Around the world now, there’s a great deal of debate about what ideas are relevant for buildings of the early twenty-fi rst With the pen and ruler system of design, buildings were century. represented in drawings of the idea and in photographs of the fi nished works, via a static point of view. For example, a plan Designers who trained in modernism are naturally reluctant is drawn from the idea of a viewer’s eye looking down from a to leave their old ethics behind – and they will continue to produce buildings based on grids and those classic elements of orthogonal geometry: the cube, the sphere and the pyramid. There is also a group of anti-modernist architects who are using digital software to oppose all the old rules of the design game. They are about complexity rather than simplicity, seductive rather than austere materials, embellishment rather than abstraction, fl uid rather than cubic forms, highlighting the surfaces of buildings more than their structure, using synthetic or hybrid components as well as natural materials and most crucially, irregularity rather than grids and orthodox forms.

AND THE FUTURE? Looking into the future, beyond buildings yet constructed, architects envision fantastic digital environments whose actual construction potential is, at present, nil. These architects are the ‘imagineers’ of future cities, creating for an image-hungry culture, visions of tomorrow which refl ect emerging or possible science and technology. They are leaping forward to bridge the next techno-gap. Crone Partners was fi rst established in Sydney in the 1960’s, Crone Partners fi rst entered the Dubai market in 1998. Locally, regionally and internationally the practice provides high quality services in the fi elds of master planning, commercial offi ces, high rise residential, hotels-resorts and retail. Crone Partners Architecture Studio David Jacks on www.cronepartners.com

14 SEPTEMBER,07 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Australian Landscape in the UAE they get so hot that Architects are in the even the toughest plants burn if forefront of the they are nearby. Only limestone with a low specifi c heat can co profession in the UAE habit with plants. he UAE, especially Dubai and Abu There is much that can be TDhabi, is well known worldwide done to improve the quality of plants, for its rapid growth, its huge projects especially by using air root pruning and for its willingness to take on the containers to produce a good nursery latest technology to become leaders in plant. This Australian invention is now the business of property development. taking hold in the UAE and there are The man power resources to meet many other clever ideas that can become the demands on professional services part of the landscape scene. Aluminium come from many parts of the world, in park benches are cooler to sit on, even particular, Australia. in the shade because aluminium does not get as hot as timber and certainly Australia’s experience in property not as hot as other metals. Playground development and the professional equipment with plastic coating lasts resources needed to make developments a very short time whereas multi coat work can be found throughout the wet paint fi nishes last a long time and design and construction industry. can be repaired. Concrete kerbs with should take even more responsibility to Landscape is one of those resources. haunching at the back of the kerb pass on what we have learnt in our own It is hard to imagine the actual land prevent plants growing to the edge of environment. area subjected to the design skills of the pavement and ensure the foreground landscape architects but there is at least view of landscape is of burnt, weak or When working as professionals in 200 sq km being designed by landscape nonexistent plants, including grass. the UAE, let us have the security of architects at the time of writing. Landscape is appreciated as often at knowing that we are doing the best we can, promoting better methods, Australian Landscape Architects are in night as it is in the day time, but some encouraging, learning and guiding, but at the forefront of the profession in the paving materials such as sandstone and all times never accepting anything as just UAE. Almost every project either has granite, absorb a lot of heat and release “good enough”. their design skills, their supervision skills it at night making it uncomfortable to or their construction and maintenance walk on. Lighting can be crude in its skills applied. application although there are more and more instances where landscape is GEOFF SANDERSON There are many competent professionals cleverly lit adding to the enjoyment of Principal - Green Concepts in the landscape industry in the UAE parks and other public places at night. www.greenconcepts.ae however; one of the weaknesses in Australians are in the front line and the landscape industry is the lack of detailed, intimate knowledge of the demanding environment. What grows, what works and what does not work. The lack of experience shown by many in the landscape industry will, in time, prove to be a disappointment for developers and costly when failures need to be replaced. It is easy to fi nd landscapes that don’t work through poor design, poor plant selection, poor maintenance, and poor communication by the designer of maintenance management requirements. Landscape materials that are a familiar part of temperate climates like Sydney are mercilessly burnt by the intense heat and humidity of the coastal regions and inland, by the heat alone. In Australia we use rocks and gravel (as mulch) but SEPTEMBER,07 15 SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Unable to sustain the population growth and expansion, allowing for huge opportunities Founded in the United Arab Emirates, leading specialist Water & Wastewater Infrastructure and Engineering Company, Septech Emirates LLC, has focused on a core product portfolio. Septech has delivered expertise to the Water & Wastewater, Environmental Management, leisure, renewable energy, marine construction, golf course construction industries in the MENASA for the past 10 years. Septech’s industry expertise within the MENASA region has led to the winning of two major fl agship projects. The Palm Island, Atlantis project, utilising Septech’s water process and Today, Septech has divided its product offering into a number management capabilities, and a further award to Septech of of diversifi ed, innovative technologies and systems to cater the Middle East’s fi rst “Mega Yacht” facility, located in Dubai for the regions’ massive investment in water and wastewater. Operations throughout the MENASA region are highly integrated; Septech has invested signifi cant resources to support and to execute large project engineering solutions. A supportive client portfolio, which includes the ruling families and global construction corporations, enhances Septech’s ability to operate hundreds of installations of specialised engineering products. Having gained a reputation as a high profi le company in these industry sectors, Septech’s expertise and solutions will address the ever increasing opportunities in the regional market. A fully developed, sound and ethical business model, added to an in-house intellectual technology, a talent pool of over 200 people, and an executive management team with over 50 years of industry experience between them, creates the foundation upon which Septech has become a leader and proven track winner of large scale infrastructure projects in the region. Various partnerships have complimented and developed Septech’s core divisions to their optimum potential, giving a leading edge over other locally based companies and an enviable advantage over companies located outside the MENASA region attempting to penetrate the lucrative Middle East market. Septech’s strong brands and leadership position has removed signifi cant barriers to entry in its core product portfolio. The highly recognised brands have assisted Septech in entering diverse new product areas and geographic markets. During the past 10 years of operation, Septech’s management team has successfully diversifi ed the company’s revenue stream. Broadening the company’s portfolio of complimentary and innovative water and wastewater infrastructure products & services through internal product development and the licensing of new products and services allows Septech to confi dently address the future and new opportunities within Festival City. This major project was won on the basis of the regional market. Septech’s advanced marine technology experience. Since its inception in 1997, Septech has grown rapidly, from an initial base in Sharjah with a purpose-built factory for pre- Mr. Ashruf Kamel cast concrete, infrastructure and wastewater engineering to a Vice President - Corporate Development company with multiple offi ces throughout the Emirates. www.septechemirates.com

16 SEPTEMBER,07 INVESTMENT

Its projected net benchmark return is 75% over a fi ve year period; and we A vision to create are looking to expand our business into Singapore and Hong Kong as investment opportunities well as offering additional property opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and potentially, Asia.. We have Former HSBC Investment Banking Our market research showed there was recently launched our Oceania Property Director in the Middle East, Gavin signifi cant appetite from local investors Syndicate which is focused on premium Rezos, is now a Director of epi for exposure to property in Australia commercial property throughout International. and other markets and accordingly, epi Australian and New Zealand. Already, International was founded in 2002. epi structures syndicated property we have taken an option on an investments in Australasia and The two key reasons we have been extremely attractive development in the Middle East, which enables successful in our four syndicates to date Mandurah, south of Perth, which looks ordinary investors to commit as little are: capable of performing as well or better as USD$55,000, but to still have than our very fi rst syndicate. The • Investing in deals through strong exposure to blue chip commercial projected net benchmark return is 15% property networks allowing us to acquire properties, residential sub-divisions and per annum over a fi ve year period. deals before they are publicly advertised development deals. or marketed. Finally, from an investment banking Focus asked Gavin Rezos what attracted perspective there is no greater proof • Our strong due diligence process. him to epi International. than the Managing Director and the Our fi rst commercial property in Perth, Directors themselves investing in “Part of my role with HSBC, was to Western Australia produced a 34% the same opportunities and this has structure international property funds return in less than 16 months. Our happened in each of our syndicates. I for investment in the UK property current residential sub-division project have been impressed by the dedication market for very high net worth Middle in Western Australia is expected to and work ethic of Brett Carnell and Eastern Investors. Living in Dubai, I signifi cantly exceed the projected 56% the epi International team and enjoy had known Brett Carnell for a number return over a 3 year investment period. working with the enthusiasm and of years and quickly realised his Our tourism property in Margaret River, capability of the pilots and airline crew driving force and vision to create epi Western Australia has just received industry”. International as a successful property additional development approvals whilst investment company. His vision was GAVIN REZOS our Dubai Offi ce Syndicate with a net to create investment opportunities for Director of syndicated property benchmark return of 60% over three fellow pilots and others, looking for investments years, has already attracted in excess exposure to higher returns without the of USD$18 million for the equity epi International individual having to source property, component for four fl oors of premium www.epi-world.com arrange settlement and bank funding, offi ce space in Dubai’s International construction, government approvals, Financial Centre (DIFC). development approvals, tax structures,

accounting and reporting.

17 SEPTEMBER,07 RESORT ENVIRONMENT

The developers behind La Hoya Bay are Khoie Properties, Live & work in a luxury one of the leading property developers in Dubai, established as part of Khoie Group in 2003, a group with resort environment... global interests fi rst established in 1973. Mr. Frank Khoie, Imagine your home in a convenient and beautiful location, Chairman and CEO of Khoie Properties, the developer with pristine white sand beaches all around you. Imagine behind La Hoya Bay saw the potential of a world-class convenient leisure facilities, restaurants, swimming pools, luxury development. Just like Monaco, Cannes and other a spa and being within minutes from your golf course and beautiful resorts and residence around the world, the aim your offi ce! is to create a lifestyle and standard of living that combines You’re imagining La Hoya Bay on Marjan Island in Ras Al natural beauty, a premier location and the highest level of Khaimah. sophistication, only 45 minutes from Dubai. La Hoya Bay, the new experience in waterfront luxury and Marjan Island is indeed a magnifi cent feat of engineering quality lifestyle was launched on the beautiful Marjan Island envisioned by the RAK Investment Authority under the in the northern most emirate of UAE, Ras Al Khaimah. La patronage of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah. Hoya Bay development is being built at the cost of AED 2.9 billion. The future launches on the island will include La Hoya Bay La Hoya Bay Residence is the fi rst phase of the La Hoya Resort, Marina & Yacht club, La Hoya Bay Pelican, La Hoya Bay development. Phase one comprises of luxurious studios, Bay Regency and La Hoya Bay Hotel. one, two and three bedroom apartments. La Hoya Bay Further details of the development at www.lahoyabay.com & Business Village is the second of series of projects planned on the magnifi cent Marjan Island. It consists of freehold www.khoie.com offi ces & retail spaces with a free zone status.

18 SEPTEMBER,07 CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT substantially increased turnover in the past year and aims Enormous demand for to expand the company even further to increase capacity to accommodate the enormous demand for top end technological formwork systems. top end technological Grocon CEO Daniel Grollo said “As a founding member of the Green Building Council of formwork systems Australia, Grocon is passionate about sustainable building, Grocon is Australia’s largest privately owned construction and always strives to achieve the highest standards in relation and development company, established more than 50 years to environmentally friendly design and implementation,” ago by Luigi Grollo, grandfather of the present day Chief Grocon has obtained Executive Offi cer, Daniel Grollo. accreditation from With humble beginnings in Melbourne’s northern suburbs the Australian Federal building community swimming pools, Grocon has grown Safety Commissioner, into a large multi-disciplinary group, which now specialises at the highest level for in all areas of the construction industry, ranging from the occupational health original fi nancing of a project to ongoing oversight and and safety standards. facilities management of developments. They have numerous awards in relation to Grocon was based in Melbourne for the fi rst 35 years of its safety, Grocon is also existence, building Melbourne landmarks such as the Rialto trying to import those Towers, 120 Collins Street and the ANZ Bank Headquarters. systems to the UAE Most recently in Melbourne, it completed the redevelopment so construction work of the MCG on a tight time schedule for the 2006 can be completed there Commonwealth Games, and the iconic 300 metre Eureka safely and quickly. Tower on Southbank, now the tallest structure in Australia. Mr. Grollo said safety was of paramount Grocon Lubeca LLC in Dubai started in the United Arab importance to Grocon Emirates in 2005 with the supply of the unique jump form at all its sites. system for the Rose Tower project on Sheikh Zayed Road. The 73 storey Rose Tower was completed in record time DANIEL GROLLO with three day fl oor cycles achieved consistently on 40 CEO Grocon Lubeca LLC. consecutive fl oors. PPastast ProjectProject - reconstructionreconstruction ofof thethe oldold GPOGPO www.grocon.com.ae NNo.1o.1 MartinMartin PlacePlace - SydneySydney Now established fi rmly in the UAE market, Grocon has

solutions to construction challenges. found to overcome these and other constraints that are now appearing in Company - Gulfwalling There are several challenges being the construction market of the region. experienced on unprecedented levels, GulfWall is one such method of to name a few: Reducing the time construction that addresses all these 1. Labour constraints – with reducing constraints. cost of money and availability, increasing cost and lack GulfWall precast panels are created of skill sets in the required numbers, from a unique patented system which there is simply not the available labour market risk for is designed to deliver signifi cant cost- to implement the number and scale of effi ciencies. Fabricated off-site, the projects across the region. the developer and load-bearing walls are 70% lighter 2. Materials constraints – once again than conventional precast panels and the scale of construction in the region can speed construction times by up investors is consuming vast quantities of input to 40%. Hollow wall sections, doors materials, particularly cement and and windows are pre-cut to a project As the scale and speed of construction reinforcement steel. using a computer controlled saw, in the Middle East grows to massive to eliminate site labour and speed 3. Capital constraints – previously in levels, constraints not encountered construction. The walls are effi ciently the region capital was freely available previously are now increasing the transported to site, and craned into and “the time cost of money” was not need for innovation and technological position. Filling the hollow GulfWall a high consideration. With the infl ow with concrete onsite creates full of capital from outside the region structural load bearing walls up to and the choice of opportunities for eight storeys high. The great speed of capital in the region, investors are now construction ensures projects utilising very much interested in the time scale this technology will be brought online for return on their capital. However, faster thereby reducing the time cost the traditional method to accelerate of money and market risk for the construction rate to apply more labour developer and investors. is no longer an economic solution to this problem. TOBY COOKE Gulfwalling FZCO New methods and materials must be SEPTEMBER,07 19 PROPERTY LAW RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN DUBAI dishonoured, criminal sanctions, including a jail sentence, may be PROPERTY LAW imposed against the signatory of the cheque.

The last 5 years have seen unprecedented growth in the Dubai THE NEW DEVELOPERS TRUST property market following the Dubai Governments decision ACCOUNT LAW to allow all nationalities to purchase properties in certain areas. Since 2002 thousands of new units have been released onto the Other recent developments in Dubai's property laws include market and thousands more are presently under construction. Dubai Law No 8 of 2007 concerning Real Estate Development Property prices have increased threefold in that time, yet rental Trust Accounts (the "Trust Accounts Law"). The Trust Accounts yields remain high by Australian standards at around 7% or more. Law will make trust accounts compulsory for all new Dubai off-plan developments, with money released to developers only OWNING PROPERTY IN DUBAI on the order of the Dubai Land Department. Purchasers in new developments will be able to write their deposit/payment The law has taken time to catch up with the pace of cheques in the name of a specifi c project and pay these to the development. Dubai Law No 7 of 2006 concerning the appropriate bank, rather than to the developer or its agent. Registration of Land in Dubai (the "Dubai Property Law"), The Trust Accounts Law means developers can no longer recognises the property rights of foreign nationals (including launch a project and use the monies collected to fi nance initial freehold ownership, 99 year leasehold and Musataha, which is the construction costs or satisfy other business objectives. Funds will right to build on the land owned by another person) in areas of only be released to a developer as a project proceeds based on Dubai specifi cally designated by the Dubai Ruler’s offi ce. Those offi cial certifi cation of the construction stages reached. designated areas now include the various Palms, Jumeirah Islands, Developers will also have to obtain the approval of the Land Business Bay as well as many of the Emaar developments. It Department before advertising new projects in the media. is likely that more areas will be added to the approved list, as The Trust Accounts Law will be welcomed by investors developments progress. concerned about developers disappearing with their money For Australians buying property in the Ruler's designated areas, or delaying projects whilst monies are channeled into other it is now possible to register title to such properties at the Dubai investments. It may also have a positive effect on the project Land Department. Once registered, such title is conclusive proof fi nance market as developers seek alternative fi nance options. of ownership and cannot be challenged, other than in cases of fraud. Banks involved in fi nancing such properties can also The new laws take an important step forward in providing a register their interest as mortgagees with the Land Department. legal framework for foreign ownership and the protection of In addition to the Dubai Property Law, a new strata title law which recognises, amongst other things, owners rights and investments in Dubai real estate. Those looking to invest in or liabilities over the common property in their developments, develop property in Dubai should seek local expertise especially is presently being considered by the Dubai Government. It since laws and administrative procedures relating to property are is widely expected that the new strata title law will be enacted evolving almost as quickly as the skyline. before the end of 2007. Despite the progress, administrative diffi culties still arise. Due to Holman Fenwick & Willan is an international law fi rm operating time lags between purchasing a Dubai property and registering offi ces in Dubai and Melbourne, Australia. Our other offi ces are the title and any mortgage thereon, banks operating in the located in London, Paris, Rouen, Piraeus, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai market have invented some unconventional methods and Singapore. to help secure their interests. At least one international bank is Amber Lobb Seaton, is a dual qualifi ed Australian and English requiring its clients to provide personal cheques guaranteeing solicitor. the full amount of their home loans. In the event of default, and rather than having to sell the mortgaged property to recoup AMBER LOBB SEATON any monies owing, the bank is at liberty to present the personal Holman Genwick & Willan cheque for encashment. Under UAE law, should such cheque be www.hfw.com

20 SEPTEMBER,07 TRADE NEWS VICTORIA Victoria Police, VicRoads and the Transport Accident VicRoads International, Commission adopted a concerted, integrated approach to accident prevention. This has included public education against International to change driver attitudes, road research, harsher penalties, enforcement, and a well developed trauma system. VicRoads competition, has won two International, against international competition, has won two projects in Dubai this year – a review of driver training projects in Dubai this year and testing and enhanced guidelines for roadside design. Construction, one of the two main topics of conversation, In the fi rst issue of ‘Focus’ we had a photo of The Hon. takes centre stage in October with Cityscape Dubai, the John Brumby visiting the UAE in May as Victorian property services and development exhibition being held Treasurer. Following the retirement of Steve Bracks in July, from 16 – 18 October. Australia will have a large presence Mr. Brumby was elected by his party as Premier of Victoria. there with around 35 companies including many from This led to a Ministerial reshuffl e and Minister Bronwyn Victoria. Pike, who had visited the region three times as Health Minister has taken over the Education portfolio, a sector In preparation, we are updating the annual ‘Directory that Victoria has been active in regionally. Most recently, of Major GCC Projects’ to help inform Australian companies of opportunities in the GCC and the regularly our Education Department in conjunction with Holmesglen updated ‘capability’ Directory of Australian Products & TAFE won a contract with the Bahrain Development Board Services Suppliers to the GCC Construction Sector. It is to help reform vocational education in the school system. produced by the Victorian Government Business Offi ce A team from Victoria is now in place there and Bahraini in cooperation with, and co funded by, Austrade, NSW, teachers are in Melbourne for training on our vocational Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, and will system. Abu Dhabi has also recognised the value of be available to Australian companies through our individual Victorian education sending some 50 students for English offi ces in hardcopy or CD. Ultimately, it will be available language training over the summer, as has Sharjah. The through our websites and accessible by registered Australian Victoria International School of Sharjah. opened on Sunday companies. 2nd September. The ‘capability’ Directory has two sections - Part A has a Eighteen year highs of the Australian dollar against the US listing of the almost 80 Australian companies in the building dollar and the impact of the drought has been a cause of and construction sector who have offi ces in one or more concern for all exporters. Yet despite this, export growth of the GCC countries. Part B is a similar listing for the over from Victoria in 2006-07 was the highest since 2000-01. 50 companies who work here directly or supply products Victoria’s exports of goods increased by 7 % to $20.3 billion through agents. This capability directory is available by email as the strong world economy lifted exports of aluminium, and is continually updated as new companies come to our wool and manufactures but the drought did signifi cantly attention. The directory has broad distribution and the reduce exports of food. September edition will be sent to several hundred of the Since 1989, the road toll in Victoria has more than halved, key regional contacts in development companies, leading with a corresponding drop in serious injuries of 32%. To contractors, relevant government offi cials. If you wish to address the problem of lives being lost and serious injuries, receive a copy, please email [email protected]

SEPTEMBER,07 21 TRADE NEWS SOUTH AUSTRALIA (STA), has been successful in designing, developing and Riding a wave of delivering specialist training and education programs for customers in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, economic opportunity Bahrain and Oman. STA is a project manager of integrated training solutions and manpower services focusing on the South Australia’s business confi dence remains at high levels: military, police, security and civil defence sectors. STA’s Managing Director, Mike Brownhill tells how STA was born • Employment up by 15% (100,000 more) and holding at in Adelaide. near record levels “Our company was formed to export Australian capability specifi cally to the Gulf region; the principals of the business • Business investment is 123% higher had prior knowledge of the area and thought that there were • Retail sales are 25% higher good opportunities for military, police and security training. This conclusion was backed up by Nick Alister-Jones, • Annual exports are 40% higher Director of the SA Commercial Representative Offi ce in • The unemployment rate is near its lowest in 30 years. Dubai, who, having a military background, was well placed to assist us in our market analysis.” South Australia’s future growth is focused on continuing to improve and promote our competitiveness, innovation Are you a qualifi ed English Language teacher or technical and productivity to benefi t from these strong economic instructor? STA currently has positions available in Saudi conditions. More than $37 billion is being invested in South Arabia, please contact David Kerr, email [email protected] Australia’s major building, construction, industrial and Fax +971 4 363 6750 infrastructure projects. PO Box 58074, Dubai, United Arab Emirates South Australia is on the crest of an export wave, with our traditional export strengths in wine, cereals, meat and automotive manufacturing now being complemented by exports in the minerals and information technology sectors. The South Australian Government is committed to trebling the value of our exports to $25 billion by 2013. With an ambitious Food Plan recently launched to increased the total value of fi nished food products by 8% annually, developing an integrated export market development program will be part of achieving that goal. An exciting new “Icons South Australia” store to show case the best of South Australian brands and gourmet foods is to open in Adelaide Airport. Defi nitely the ‘food diamond’ in Australia’s food crown, South Australia has a number of key “Foodie” events before the end of the year and listed here to help you plan your trip:

Royal Adelaide Show 7 -15 September Taste South Australia 7 -15 September Ceduna Oysterfest 28 – 30 September Fleurieu Fiesta 2007 29 Sep – 28 October Riverland Renaissance 12 – 21 October Tasting Australia 13 – 21 October Chefs on the Murray 18 October CheeseFest 20- 21 October Premier’s Food Awards 16 November

South Australia in the classroom A South Australian company, Specialist Training Australia

SEPTEMBER,07 22 TRADE NEWS WESTERN AUSTRALIA Australia with tourism contributing $4.3billion. To refl ect the Extended upward very positive investment climate being experienced in Perth and WA, the Western Australian State Government has embarked on a challenging Landbank program which aims economic cycle with a to make a number of tourism development sites available to investors. very positive five year Western Australia also provides an ideal location for tourists from the Middle East seeking milder climates during their economic outlook very hot summers. It provides a closer attractive alternative to Vancouver for those based in Asia. WESTERN AUSTRALIA – “GATEWAY TO AUSTRALIA” There has never been a better time to consider Western Australia as an investment, relocation or migration potential. Western Australia, with its diverse internationally competitive economy, leads the nation in economic growth, productivity, The Western Australian Trade Offi ce in Dubai is very investments and exports. effectively bridging the gap between Western Australia and the Middle East. We encourage the local business Western Australia is on an extended upward economic cycle community to contact us for any assistance at the below with a very positive fi ve year economic outlook, largely email address: driven by the booming Chinese, Indian & GCC economies and its strong demand for resource commodities. The trade MR. PANKAJ SAVARA surplus for Western Australia in 2006 was AUD 33.2 billion. Regional Director - [email protected] Property prices in the Perth CBD have benefi ted hugely from the commodities boom and are now on a par with Sydney. Western Australia benefi ts from its close proximity An Evening with WA Minister to Asia and Middle East; increasing air connections; strong The Western Government commitment to build on tourism market Australian demand and their support of industrial development; a Trade Office in Dubai hosted skilled and productive workforce; a wealth of mineral and a reception on petroleum opportunities; abundant and competitively priced the occasion energy; extensive industrial land and infrastructure; low of the visit of Francis Michael sovereign risk and pro-development government polices and Logan, MLA, at strong economic growth. Currently more than AUD1billion the Conference accommodation projects are planned. Centre, Jumeirah Beach In the UAE, market leaders in the construction industry Hotel. such as Multiplex and Woods Bagot, with their head offi ces in Perth are a refl ection of strong Western Australian construction and Building materials related capabilities. In order to further enhance its construction and building material related export capabilities, the Western Australian Government had recently hosted a Middle East Focus Construction Industry Seminar in Perth and invited GHD Global PTY Ltd. as a representation from Dubai to brief the industry. From its highly developed services sector, primary production, mining and specialised manufacturing, to innovation, advanced technology, skilled workforce and stable government, this State offers a solid foundation for business development and investment. Small businesses represent around 96 per cent of all businesses in the State and accounts for over half of all employment. WA also has a solid track record for developing world scale, technically advanced mineral and petroleum projects. These opportunities are not only encouraging strong investment but also attractive migration and job opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry. Western Australia and in particular Perth and the South West is a preferred choice for internationals seeking a quality lifestyle in a Mediterranean climate. Western Australia is the fastest growing economy in

SEPTEMBER,07 23 SPORT (PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION TEAM) ebruary 2006, it all started over suffi ce. leather ball and kicking it between a a couple of quiet drinks at Left couple of upright sticks. F Following a few more drinks and Bank in the Madinat Jumeirah when increasingly exaggerated stories about It wasn’t long before we discovered that fi ve young Melbourne lads working in football related exploits back in the there was an existing side in Dubai, the property and construction in Dubai Victorian Amateurs league, it was Dubai Dingoes who were organizing a were discussing what was missing in coherently agreed that ‘’Tuppa’’, ‘’Batts’’, modifi ed rules tournament in March, the Middle East. Eventually one of ‘’Tors’’, ‘’Stranger’’ and ‘’Duggy’’ were ‘’the Dubai 9’s’’. We decided to assemble the boys popped out with, ‘’Geez I going to start a footy side to bring to the those that we knew who played the Middle East game into a side to have a ‘’kick’’ what we missed down at Safa Park twice a week. Five young Melbourne lads most: wearing Believe it or not, but training unusual looking in 30-40 degree heat after working in property and sporting outfi ts slaving away to the property - being a development industry was construction in Dubai were combination of not the most questionable striped socks, action undertaken in the discussing what was missing miniscule lead up to the Dubai shorts and 9’s tournament. This in the Middle East oddly coloured moment arguably lycra tops - and occurred when the appointed team manager, ‘’Pistol’’, turned down a friendly by passer who saw us training and who wanted to join us but was denied because we had suffi cient numbers for the side. It was actually suggested that this newcomer contact the Dingoes who might need some

miss playing footy’’ and it was like an epiphany to us all, that was it! We were missing one of the three key pillars that support the wellbeing of a young Australian male. One of these was Australian Rules football, being the running additional players. toughest, fastest and therefore greatest around It was only upon sport ever invented in the history of the on an looking at this planet (note to reader: this is a fact albeit expansive gentleman’s business card subject to substantiation). Aussie Rules oval to a week later did our team manager football was one of the key divisions of come close to dehydration recognize that this eager newcomer entertainment that was missing in our and get pulverized by sweat dripping was in fact Andrew Schauble who had lives and we had decided that the two maniacs mostly twice our size, all for played 200 games at a professional level games and highlights package provided love of grabbing that oddly shaped red back in Australia and who had won a on cable television would just not

24 SEPTEMBER,07 best and fairest at the well regarded Sydney Swans. Some quick recovery work was done by the team manager whose credibility depended on it and ‘’Schaubs’’ was soon in the side. The tournament in March was a success with teams coming to Dubai from all over the region including Oman, Abu Dhabi and Qatar and of course the side that we had formed over a couple of beers in February at Left Bank, the Dubai Heat. The Dubai Heat managed to get away with some pretty convincing wins to take home the Asia competing in it’s 8th successive achieved wins over Malaysia, Japan winning year. Teams from China (including and previous tournament champions trophy in Hong Kong), Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore with the only loss occurring the inaugural Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam were against the eventual and worthy event and to battle it out in the humidity that had tournament champions, the Hong Kong start a enveloped Bangkok in early July. It was Dragons by a small margin of nine football a trip of highs and lows for the Dubai points. Heat with a very fi t and hungry outfi t rivalry And that was the year that was for eager to take on the rest of Asia but with the the Dubai Heat, a lot of fun, a lot of having our star forward, Tuppa, tearing Dingoes that bonding and a lot of on fi eld success his hamstring in the week before the has proven to and hopefully there’ll be many more tournament. To add to our woes our star match the rivalry between like it to come. Training in the heat with AFL defender, Schaubs, had unexpected the greatest of foes in the Heat (which is almost equivalent UAE visa issues and was unable to make Carlton and Collingwood to spending an hour or so in a sauna) it through the turnstiles of Abu Dhabi back in the 80’s. The only will soon recommence at Safa Park so, airport to get on his seat to Bangkok. controversial moment in if you are interested, in being involved When Schaubs fi nally managed to arrive the tournament coming with the aim of having some fun and in Bangkok just prior to the tournament when our experimental winning next year’s tournaments, the team were ecstatic but soon defl ated recruit, ‘’Sammy’’, who feel free to send an email to when he tore his hamstring in the fi rst had only ever played rugby, [email protected] fi ve minutes of the fi rst game!!! decided to launch his 115kg or check out the website frame horizontally at an Nevertheless, the boys of the Dubai http://dubaiheat.blogspot.com. unsuspecting opponent once Heat, proudly being the fi rst ever side Daniel 'Diggy' Dugina the play had been deemed from the Middle East to compete in Development Manager stopped by the umpire, this tournament put in as much of their Omniyat Properties which is undoubtedly mind, body and spirit completely and utterly vout of four games illegal. We made sure that played by the Heat Sammy was fully versed in in the tournament, the remainder of the rules to fi nish third out of before we let him back on the ten competing sides. fi eld. Luckily, the recipient of the Each game played was tackle came out mostly intact! fi ercely competitive After wallowing in the success where each team of this tournament victory, the realized that only a Dubai Heat set it’s sights on single loss would see the Asian Championships that their side unlikely to were being held in Thailand in play in the Grand July with teams from all over Final. The Dubai Heat

SEPTEMBER,07 25 SOCIAL EVENTS

FOCUS LAUNCH The Apartment, Jumeirah Beach Hotel - June

26 SEPTEMBER,07 SEPTEMBER,07 27 SOCIAL EVENTS

Guest Speaker Michael Clarke CRICKET LUNCH The Fairmont Hotel - June

28 SEPTEMBER,07 SOCIAL EVENTS

AFL COCKTAIL PARTY Consul General's Residence - July

SEPTEMBER,07 29 SOCIAL EVENTS ALLIED PICKFORDS SUNDOWNERS Barasti Bar Le Meridien - Mina Seyahi Sponsored by Allied Pickfords - July

30 SEPTEMBER,07 SOCIAL EVENTS

JULY BUSINESS LUNCH Nasazossi Sports Bar

Peter and Debra Linford's FAREWELL PARTY August

SEPTEMBER,07 31 SOCIAL EVENTS

Guest Speaker Gillon Mclachlan AUGUST BUSINESS LUNCH Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Sponsored by epi

32 SEPTEMBER,07 SOCIAL EVENTS ALLIED PICKFORDS SUNDOWNERS Barasti Bar Le Meridien - Mina Seyahi Sponsored by Allied Pickfords - September

SEPTEMBER,07 33 SOCIAL EVENTS

SEPTEMBER BUSINESS LUNCH + AGM Four Seasons Golf Club - September Sponsored by epi

The ABC AGM was held on Tuesday the 11th of September at the Four Seasons Golf Club, Festival City.

Ballots were handed out to 55 members as they arrived for the September Business Lunch at the Four Seasons Golf Course. AGM formalities took place prior to the lunch.

Voting took place for the 2007-08 committee, all standing members were returned and in line with recent Constitutional changes several new members were voted on.

The fi rst offi cial meeting of the new ABC committee will be held on the 24th of September at the UOWD, where committee positions will be allocated.

The September Business Lunch

The September Business lunch, held at the Four Season Seasons Golf Club, on September 24th was a great success. Over 100 people attended to listen to the event speaker, Mr. Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the RTA. His presentation addressed the plans for Dubai’s future and current public transportation & reviewed road, rail and waterway systems and strategies.

Dubai’s roads, a subject close to the hearts of all in the room, created a great debate during the question and answer session at the end. Mr. Al Tayer’s presentation received a great vote of thanks from all in the room and later, formally, from Stuart Mansbridge, outgoing Chairman for the ABC.

Mr. Al Tayer replied to Stuart as follows:

“It was indeed a great privelege for me to present the Road and Transport Authority's vision and strategy. We thank you for your enthusiatic participation and your warm hospitality. It was without doubt that our meeting was mutually frutiful. As an entity that strives at developing the transport system of Dubai, we look at strengthening ties and building relations both nationally and internationally.

Hence, we will be more than glad to update you with relevant progress and we defi nitely look forward to meeting you again”.

34 SEPTEMBER,07 UPCOMING EVENTS

September 26th Corporate Quiz night – The Montgomerie Academy

October 2nd Sundowners at the Barasti Bar at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi

October 18th The Australian-Danish dinner – Raffl es Hotel Ballroom

October 24th Cheese and Wine night – Four Seasons Golf Club

Dates for diary: November 6th Melbourne Cup January 24th 2008 Australia Day Ball.

Australian and Danish Business Councils have agreed to work together

Australia and Denmark share excellent ties which have been further bolstered by the marriage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik, of Denmark to Mary Elizabeth from Tasmania, Australia in 2004. Ahead of the possible Royal visit to the Middle East in 2008 the Australian and Danish Business Councils have agreed to work together to host a Gala black tie dinner to mark the beginning of increased collaboration between the two groups, providing members with the valuable opportunity to extend their business and social networks while solidifying the friendship and connections of the two business groups in Dubai. The dinner on 18 October 2007 looks to combine the best of both nations and with a mix of great beers, wines, cheeses, meat and dairy plus live Danish music it promises to be a fun night.

SEPTEMBER,07 35 NEW MEMBERS

CORPORATE MEMBERS Name Company Name Name Company Name Tim Koster Convergence Capital Juzer Adamjee Bovis Lend Lease Chris Eddy Convergence Capital John Tansey UPS Soheil Abedian Sunland Group Limited Dubai Branch Brent Melvin UPS David Brown Sunland Group Limited Dubai Branch Peter Mayne Looptech me Sanjay Murthy AcesMe Entertainment Jarod Opie Arabian global LLC Bruce Fallshaw City Living Terry Opie Arabian global LLC Simon Shellien BSB BWM Danny Blomeley ITW Buildex Sharon Anderson Salon Ink Audrey Ranganathan Sterling Cargo Services LLC Peter de Bruin BG&E Engineers Phil Adams MFS International Investments Limited Jed Nancarrow Holborn Assets Phil Davis Allied Pickfords Rod Lancaster Center Point Logistics David Dove Sparc Group Mohamad Darwish North West Marine Ian Traill Sparc Group Shayne Nelson Standard Chartered Bank Canon Yau Sparc Group Mahendra Gursahani Standard Chartered Bank Belinda Lee Sparc Group Andre Leon CBI Eastern Anstalt Stuart Price MFS International Investments Limited Edward Sunna Al Tamimi Amily Lavigne Crone & Partners Louise Vun Al Tamimi Ken Fernie HSBC Kirsty Marshall Al Tamimi Tim Breadmore Breadmore Dereck Garlick Allied Pickfords Frank Wilkie First Rock Financial Kylie Pollard Servcorp Abdu Nasser Physical Advantage Malak Awwadova Servcorp Steve Mayne Sentinel Business Centers

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Name Company Name Name Company Name Nick Jarman Oryx Real Estate Jillian Alexics Limitless LLC Richard Vance Action International Services Kate Buchanan RP International FZ LLC Jonathon Morse RP International FZ LLC Chris Foden Meyado Matt Grifiths Le Meridien Mina Seyahi David Edwards United Nations Offi ce for Project Services Robert McMillen MAC Capital Alison Ward Emirates Airline Brad Bristowe DHL Annelies Hodge Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sima Hall Speech Pathology Dubai Michelle Bailey EMEA - Business Development WLL Tania Donohue TMH Noel Duigan Control Risks Group Matthew Lorrimer Event Knowledge Services Nichole Banks Leo Burnett Paul Kelly Mortgage Force Kelly Smith MCS Action Larissa McLaughlin Dubai Autism Center

36 SEPTEMBER,07 COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2006-2007

Peter Linford Stuart Mansbridge James Wyndham David Heffernan

Phillip Biggs Leon Ashford Adam Malouf Lejla Vrazalic

Daniella Williams Dean Matthews Pauls Seils Helen Barrett

Wendy Haydon-Wallace Debra Linford Lesley Millilgan Sarah Wyndham

SEPTEMBER,07 37 PROPERTY HOROSCOPES

LIBRA SCORPIO 24 SEP - 23 OCT 24 OCT - 22 NOV

You are tempted to overspend your budget because you have The autumn months of 2007 are harmonious for you – become aware of a good deal that looks tailor-made for your particularly in your domestic arrangements. At home, now is situation. Remember all that glitters is not necessarily gold! the time to start planning redecoration or refurbishment of Take care that any investment you may be contemplating – your master bedroom. Be safe in what you tackle yourself, particularly if this is property based - is based on prudence and take elementary precautions to avoid an accident; Safety fi rst sound business principles. applies at home as well as at work.

SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN 23 NOV - 21 DEC 22 DEC - 20 JAN

You are in control of most signifi cant events in your life. You feel you deserve a little more recognition for a project on Relationships are working well and you fi nd it easy to express which you have given much effort and time. Your need to feel your feelings to your loved ones and to enjoy sharing activities secure at work is psychological, as you have worked hard and with them. Consider hosting a party, and invite those work well and you know that you deserve appropriate reward. Be colleagues whose help has been invaluable recently to show patient for a while and let the universe work its magic. your appreciation.

AQUARIUS PISCES 21 JAN - 19 FEB 20 FEB – 20 MAR

A tighter than usual budget means you are sorely tempted to cut Fully discuss budgets with a partner before you agree to invest some corners. Remember that cowboy work in construction is in an ambitious domestic improvement project. Of course, never a good option. Get others involved in your project, as singles have only to discuss budgets with their bank manager! many hands make light work, though take care not to abuse Maybe you need space to refl ect on what you want to do, friendships, you might need their help again another day. you have time, October is a good time to make important decisions.

38 SEPTEMBER,07 ARIES TAURUS 21 MAR – 20 APR 21 APR – 21 MAY

A work relationship will become stronger if only you can agree Mercury helps you communicate well and now the time is right with a colleague as to which direction a long term venture to bring others over to your way of thinking through persuasive should take. Find a constructive way to release any frustration discussion and argument. You will be able to manipulate that you may feel in October. Remember that it takes two to words to your advantage both orally and in writing to get the argue and that an acceptable compromise is often the best best possible deal, particularly if this involves buying or selling solution. property.

GEMINI CANCER 22 MAY – 21 JUN 22 JUN – 23 JUL

Being told what you should be doing will always ruffl e your Peace and harmony surround you during this period and feathers, as you instinctively know how the job should be intuitively you know that activities with colleagues are destined done without any criticism, even if this is intended to be to work out well. However do not put pressure on anyone to constructive! The long term will prove you to have been do anything simply to make you feel happy about the situation. absolutely correct in your judgment. Concentrate on the job The position of Pluto indicates that you can expect some in hand to keep things moving ahead smoothly. drastic changes to your plans, so be warned!

LEO VIRGO 24 JUL – 23 AUG 24 AUG – 23 SEP

You are about to become very involved with a major project Steer away from making any long-term decisions until later in which is making you feel a little nervous. Try to build the best the year because others may be using your best ideas with no possible team around you, the purchase of good advice is intention of giving you the credit! If friends notice that you are always justifi ed in the long run. Planning is the most important undergoing a personality change, then this could be because stage of any project, so don’t try to save time by making you are seriously contemplating a new life and a brand new unjustifi ed ‘guestimates’. lifestyle!

SEPTEMBER,07 39 MEMBER PROFILE

Name: David Heffernan.

Position: Managing Director, Septech. Fondest Memory: A family trip hosted by my wife and myself, Born: Melbourne, Australia, the youngest of 8 kids. for our entire family, to an Island in the Barrier Reef for my dad’s 80th birthday. Grew up: On a stud farm in Melbourne, where my family bred, trained and raced thoroughbred horses. Proudest moments: Listening to customers, friends, staff, business people discussing how successful our business is in the First Job: Feeding horses on my parents farm in the early hours region and knowing that our team has created this over the last of the morning before school. 10 years, through hard work and determination.

How my career started: Early 20’s with a construction & Biggest Challenge: To maintain the passion within our team, wastewater engineering company, whereby I established my own and to successfully grow the business globally, becoming a world water /wastewater and precast concrete infrastructure business class specialist engineering company. in Queensland. I built it up to a sizable business before being bought out by one of Australia’s largest public companys, 4 years Favorite retreat: Rethi Rah Spa Resort in the Maldives with a later. I then established my business in the UAE in 1997 ,where close runner up being Phuket in Thailand. I still reside, as the Managing Director, with operations over the Perfect day: Relaxing with friends around a pool, eating great Gulf and Asia. food and drinking great wine, also watching Australian horse Hero: My father who mentored me from an early age, and racing with no Crackberries or phones. encouraged me to grow professionally and personally and to take Inspired by: Philanthropists, great leaders and amazing business calculated risks. success stories, which I can relate to; and inspire me to challenge Passion: Horse racing, just recently invested in a commercial my personal and professional growth plans. stud farm, breeding and racing horses throughout Australia.

40 SEPTEMBER,07