Cityscape Abu Dhabi's visitors give their opinions

Cityscape Abu Dhabi is a barometer for the property market. The National¿s Gillian Duncan spoke to three visitors to get a sense of whether the market has started to recover almost two years after the global financial crisis hit the region.

Phillip Johnson at Cityscape Abu Dhabi yesterday.
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Cityscape Abu Dhabi is a barometer for the property market. The National's Gillian Duncan spoke to three visitorsto get a sense of whether the market has started to recover almost two years after the global financial crisis hit the region.

Hamada Abdel-Wahab, from Egypt, comes to Cityscape every year.

Why are you here?

"I am here to look at what's going on in the market. I come every year. I think it's quieter this year."

What do you make of the property market in Abu Dhabi?

"It's not good."

What needs to be done to improve the market?

"[To improve the market], I think the Government needs to do more. The Government here creates the motion for everything."

Phillip Johnson lives in Dubai and visits Cityscape every year.

Why are you here?

"To see the developments."

What do you make of the property market in Abu Dhabi?

"Prices have to come down in Abu Dhabi. A lot of the new developments are high end. There is very little market for high end."

What needs to be done to improve the market?

"Transportation has to improve. If they get their tram system going it will improve."

Salam al Zahrani lives in Abu Dhabi and visits Cityscape every year.

Why are you here?

"To see what's going on, what's new."

What do you make of the property market in Abu Dhabi?

"It is not good. We're suffering."

What needs to be done?

"I think the owners and developers need to reduce the price of property for sale by at least 30 per cent and of rent by 40 to 25 per cent."

* The National