Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island off Dubai, is bracing for the arrival of its first residents, even as questions remain about the environmental impact of the mega-projects under way in the Gulf city state."These projects are a positive thing for the country" since they have propelled Dubai to world fame, said environmentalist Ibrahim al-Zu'bi. But "they are introducing more people, so it's more pressure...
Singapore has emerged second for nightlife and dining in the second annual Country Brand Index 2006.Singapore was unranked in the previous survey but it now beats countries such as the United States, UK and Thailand. Singapore also ranked second in the world for shopping, while the United States took the top spot for retail. The Country Brand Index shows Singapore continues to retain its attractiveness...
Rental performance in Asian cities over the next five years is set to outdo that of the European and United States markets, and Singapore is among those expected to have double-digit growth, says DTZ Research in a recently released report. Individually, cities such as Bangkok, Shanghai and Beijing, which have outperformed the market significantly in the last five years, are expecting slower growth,...
Sentosa Cove's decision to announce the minimum reserve price for the land parcels to potential buyers and the media is a smart way of separating the haves from the have-nots and will also help to push up the price, say experts. The six highly-sought-after sea-front-bungalow land parcels will be up for grabs from this weekend. The minimum reserve has been set at $890 psf, and interest bidders need to...
The Good Class Bungalow (GCB) market has fared well this year, with 84 units sold during the first three quarters. With this in mind, Colliers International has put up for sale by tender a freehold GCB in District 10. "As the supply of brand new GCBs remain tight, we expect to receive favourable response from discerning Singapore buyers and qualified permanent residents, particularly those who...
LIM GEK KHIM and CHONG LEE SIANG discuss the tax initiatives which make Singapore a regional headquarters hotspot. Singapore can stake its claim as the location of choice for multinational companies seeking to set up regional headquarters, owing in large part to its business-friendly tax policies. The Republic has all the ingredients to make it an excellent choice as a nerve centre for companies with...
Singapore aims to be a tropical centre of excellence in the gardening industry, and is building one of the first all-in-one parks in Asia that combines horticulture retail with recreation.More Singaporeans are growing green fingers, and gardening groups have increased from 150 in 2005, to the present 200. That number may just grow further with a new $13m "HortPark", being constructed at a 23-hectare site...
Orchard Turn looks set to be more than just a mega-mall and high-end residential complex along Singapore's prime shopping street. The developer is promising a striking landmark that will draw in the crowds. More details about the development were unveiled on Tuesday, including plans to launch 177 luxury residences in the first half of next year. It is the first major retail development on Orchard Road in...
Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research or A*STAR has set up a laboratory of sorts to test out technologies for an intelligent home of the future.Researchers will be able to use the fully furnished model home to test out if the technologies they create are feasible, reliable and usable. However, A*STAR admits the high cost of wiring up a home makes it out of reach for the average person...
Sentosa Cove is launching six seafront bungalow land parcels for sale this Saturday.They are part of its gated Southern Residential Precinct.The sites range from about 750 square metres to over 1,700 square metres. Sentosa Cove has set the minimum reserve price at $890 per square foot. Earlier this month, it had sold six seafront bungalow parcels for between $942 and $1,130 psf. Sentosa Cove has also...