Luxury SQft, a new real estate portal, has been launched in the UAE to fill a gap amongst consumers looking for a more targeted approach to finding a high-end property.

Designed with a premium look and feel, Luxury SQft differentiates itself from other listings sites with an exclusive number of only 100 real estate agents promoting their properties, said a top official.

It also focuses on a limited number of the UAE's more affluent areas, an approach that maximises efficiency for agents as well as consumers, by excluding unsuitable options and reducing conflict listings.

Other user-friendly touches include virtual 3D tours, enhanced searching capabilities and a function for customers to send a free SMS to their broker featuring a link to the specific property they are interested in.

Simon Rowland, the sales director at Luxury SQft, said the new portal was something the market had needed for some time.

"Consumer feedback has been integral in developing the concept behind Luxury SQft. Finding the right property in competitive international markets, such as the UAE, can be a difficult task and while these hotspots have the largest concentration of high-end customers, they are still being serviced with a mass market approach," stated Rowland.

"We believe Luxury SQft is one of the first listings sites to offer a truly luxury perspective and premium user experience. Customers benefit from a much clearer picture that reflects the value of the property they are searching for," he added.

The portal has been launched first in the UAE with plans for expansion into the UK and US in the first quarter of 2015, followed by other markets such as Hong Kong.

The goal is to offer the service in 25 countries over the next three years, said Rowland.

A monthly broadsheet style glossy magazine offering news and features from the real estate market, as well as premium listings and developer news will support the online portal, he added.-TradeArabia News Service