6 Quotes by Steve Brice

From a local perspective they're saving a lot of money at the moment and their fiscal surplus was 15 percent last year and is going to be 14 percent this year.

People have been getting angry. I'm sure this is an influence to some degree (on governments). Providing some stability in the short term is the best way.

The good news is that the demand fundamentals are likely to remain positive with good population growth, high rental yields and a new real estate law expected to be announced soon. Indeed, according to our new real estate index property prices rose 3.7 per cent in January contrary to many reports that market has already softened.

While there has been an increased retention of funds within the region, we expect the flow of capital out of the region to accelerate in 2006, partly due to the over-priced nature of regional markets and partly due to an increased desire to use the petrodollars to make strategic acquisitions.

It has certainly reinforced the perception here that Arab investments can be singled out. It will have an impact on flows of funds.

The key challenge for the government and the sector is to achieve a soft landing of the market.