With the global markets steadily rebounding from the downturn of recent years, the Middle East is once again gaining international attention as a resilient real estate haven, said a leading industry expert.

“The year 2012 was another year of adjustment for industry. If players strategize properly, then we could soon see the property market returning to its bullish form. The key is to understand what industry forces are at work, what the market sentiments are, and what growth options are available out there," remarked Masood Al Awar, the CEO of Abu Dhabi-based Tasweek Real Estate Marketing & Development.

He was speaking at the 7th Arabian Business Economic Forum which opened on Tuesday at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai. The latest edition of the forum gathered some of the region’s most prominent CEOs and business leaders to discuss key industry issues and developments.

Al Awar discussed market trends and the prevailing positive industry outlook in a keynote address at the forum.

He gave an overview of the current market and the challenges it faces, giving the audience a basis to judge whether the worst is over for the property sector after the subprime crisis.

It is an ideal platform to unveil what Tasweek has learned from its extensive market research. We want to help set up the region’s real estate sector for a strong performance in 2013,” stated Al Awar.

Al Awar, a real estate veteran with almost a decade of experience, is credited for selling some of the first freehold units in the UAE and is highly sought for his valuable views on the state and future of real estate in the UAE and across the Arab region.

Al Awar also joined a distinguished panel comprising some of the biggest names in the property industry to discuss the condition of the UAE market, lessons learned over the past years, and how local business is supported by sustainable foundations.

Through Al Awar’s customer-focused strategies, Tasweek has emerged as a respected one-stop shop for property development.

Its services include purchase and sale of strategic assets; asset management; joint ventures and strategic alliances; and marketing consultancy. Among the company’s major achievements for 2012 is planning the completion of a $250 million property portfolio covering some of the world’s top real estate developments.

The forum's topics range from hospitality and manufacturing to real estate and interplanetary space exploration. The key highlights this year are the Q&A interviews and expert panel discussions with BBC Television presenter and ITP Group chairman Andrew Neil.

Around 300 people attended the event, which featured many prominent key speakers including Kingdom Hotel CEO Sarmad Zok, Zamil Group CEO Abdullah Zamil, and Nasa scientist Charles Elachi.-TradeArabia News Service