Lebanon is still sound place for investments despite the gloomy economic outlook around the world as a result of the global economic recession. This is one of the views echoed by a leading Arab investor who attended a conference on real estates in Lebanon last month. There is a growing agreement among many western and Arab financial analysts that Lebanon is one of the countries that managed to take full advantages of the crisis in the US and Europe. Properties in Lebanon and especially in Beirut are still seen as lucrative investments even in dark days.

UAE Minister of Foreign Trade H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi headed a meeting on investment opportunities available in Russia and the UAE participated in by her accompanying trade and economic delegation and Russian economic interests during her recent visit to Moscow, Russia. Also present during the dialogue was H.E. Omar Saif Ghabash, the UAE Ambassador in Moscow. Investment incentives in both countries and the need to remove investment obstacles were also explored. H.E. Sheikha Lubna noted that the leaderships of the two countries are willing to enhance bilateral trade and economic partnership, pointing out that economic parties and businessmen also desire higher levels of cooperation and will continue to search for investment opportunities.

Homeowners in Dubai have seen service charges for communal areas almost double in 2008. Developers have blamed this on the inflationary pressures being felt in the markets as the cost of raw materials and necessary utilities increase.

Construction Products Holding Company (CPC) has invested Dhs100m through its UAE affiliate to buy, modernize and develop Techno Cast Precast Abu Dhabi Factory.

The move by Construction Products Co. - UAE is part of an ambitious plan by the parent company, CPC, to establish an integrated industrial complex supplying construction and building products in the UAE.

Construction Products Holding Company (CPC) is building another industrial complex to meet growing demand from an unprecedented construction boom in the region.

Its new investment is in the Dammam Industrial Zone where a 600,000 square meter area will be developed into an integrated complex consisting of an electric cables factory, a construction steel factory, float glass factory, ready-mix concrete plant, precast concrete plant, transportation company, warehouses and housing & offices facilities.