Can Beirut become the next hotspot for real estate investment?
Damac Properties have faith in former war-torn country
A revolution is taking place in once war-torn Beirut. The Lebanese capital has seen its fair share of battles over the years, even being involuntarily brought into the conflict between Israel and Palestine. However, the city could now become a hotspot of interest for buyers seeking out international property. Experts and global investors are citing Beirut as having the potential to grow and expand past its history of devastated buildings and shattered cars into a blooming new age city.
The capital is already seeing a rise in property prices, escalated by the scarcity of real estate to accommodate the new demand. For example, properties in the upmarket quarter are currently available for a selling price of $500,000 (£331,774). But while Beirut has a lot to offer, there is also an “attitude that there is no point rebuilding as it will only get knocked down again”, claims a former British army intelligence officer. Concerns regarding an overspill from the current conflict in neighbouring country, Syria and violence occurring within Lebanon, mean real estate investment is not yet causing a huge stir.
However, Dubai-based Damac Properties have taken the idea of building in Beirut to heart and recently constructed the Damac Tower in the city centre. And even though the Lebanese economy is currently stalling, this has prompted real estate developers to move away from retail and commercial projects and invest in residential buildings due to their easy marketability and higher turnover, according to general manager of SD Development, Sami Dagher.
So while opinions on Beirut as an appealing place for property development and investment may be broad at the moment, it’s clear to see that some people have looked past the country’s inescapable history and are intent on bringing it to its full post-conflict regeneration potential. How soon this happens remains to be seen.
via Can Beirut become the next hotspot for real estate investment?.
