Story 1
Dubai property market activity is continuing despite regional conflict, although some segments could see an impact, according to analysts.
The emirate recorded 3,570 sales transactions between March 2 and 9, with a total value of Dh11.93 billion ($3.24 billion), according to Dubai Land Department data. The value of transactions has risen over the last three days.
Activity is continuing in both the secondary and off-plan segments, Lewis Allsopp, chairman at Allsopp & Allsopp told The National.
“What we’re seeing in the secondary market right now is stability, not panic,” Mr Allsopp said.
“I’ve been studying the data closely for the last ten days, and what’s particularly encouraging is that the last three days have shown a 75 per cent increase in viewing activity compared to the first three days of the regional unrest – a clear sign that buyer and tenant confidence is returning.”
Buyers are also signing off-plan agreements and not moving away from commitments they made before the war, according to Allsopp & Allsopp.
“We’re not seeing people walk away from commitments they made. My expectation is that developers may look creatively at payment plans to maintain momentum, but I’d be very surprised to see any movement on price per square foot. The underlying values are holding.”
Story 2
A drone attack caused a fire to break out at a facility in the Ruwais Industrial Complex in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
No injuries were reported, the Abu Dhabi Media Office stated in a post on X.
Ruwais, about 240km west of Abu Dhabi city in Al Dhafra region, has developed from a small coastal settlement into one of the UAE’s most important energy and industrial centres.
The Ruwais complex has a refining capacity of about 922,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day.
That makes it the largest oil refinery in the Middle East and among the largest single-site refineries in the world.
Story 3
Alexandra Eala suffered a lopsided loss to Linda Noskova on Tuesday, bringing an end to her Indian Wells campaign.
The Filipina star was on the wrong end of a 6-2, 6-0 defeat to the Czech player as she bowed out at the last-16 stage.
World No 14 Noskova asserted her dominance from the start, racing into a 3-1 lead before Eala briefly stopped the rot with a convincing fifth game win, only for the Czech to win the next three to take the opening set.
Noskova, 21, then held Eala to a bagel in the last set to finish the match in just 56 minutes.
Next up for Noskova is Australian qualifier Talia Gibson in the quarter-finals. Gibson caused the day's biggest shock, beating No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
It was the first time the 21-year-old Gibson defeated a top-10-ranked opponent, with the result making her the first qualifier to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals since Lesia Tsurenko in 2015.
"I think just super proud of what I have been able to achieve over these last two weeks," Gibson said. "Yeah, honestly, still pretty speechless that I made it this far."
____________________
Output
1 Dubai Property Market Holds Steady Amid Regional Unrest
Dubai’s property market is maintaining momentum despite regional conflict, according to analysts and fresh data from the Dubai Land Department.
Between 2 and 9 March, the emirate recorded 3,570 sales transactions, totalling Dh11.93 billion, with values rising over the last three days.
Activity continues in both the secondary and off-plan segments, says Lewis Allsopp, chairman of Allsopp & Allsopp.
He describes the secondary market as stable, not panicked, noting a 75 per cent increase in viewing activity over the past three days compared with the first three days of the unrest.
Allsopp adds that buyers are sticking with off-plan commitments made before the war.
He expects developers may get creative with payment plans to maintain momentum, but does not anticipate changes to price per square foot, saying underlying values are holding.
Those trends set the backdrop as we turn to developments in the UAE’s energy heartland.
2 Drone Attack Sparks Fire at Ruwais Industrial Complex
A drone attack triggered a fire at a facility within the Ruwais Industrial Complex in Abu Dhabi, authorities said.
No injuries were reported, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
Ruwais, about 240 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi city in the Al Dhafra region, has grown into one of the country’s key energy and industrial hubs.
The complex has a refining capacity of about 922,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day.
That makes it the largest oil refinery in the Middle East and among the biggest single-site refineries globally.
Officials did not report wider operational impacts, but confirmed the incident and the absence of casualties.
In sport, attention shifts to Indian Wells, where a rising talent advances after a standout performance.
3 Noskova Advances as Eala Exits; Qualifier Gibson Makes History
Alexandra Eala’s Indian Wells run ended in the last 16 with a straight-sets defeat to Linda Noskova.
Noskova, ranked world No 14, won 6-2, 6-0, sealing victory in just 56 minutes.
The Czech player took control early, breaking for a 3-1 lead and closing out the first set before dominating the second.
Next, Noskova faces Australian qualifier Talia Gibson in the quarter-finals.
Gibson delivered the day’s biggest upset, defeating No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
It is the first time the 21-year-old has beaten a top-10 opponent and makes her the first qualifier to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals since 2015.
Gibson said she is proud of her progress over the past two weeks and is still “speechless” at making it this far.
