Day two of Cityscape Qatar saw new approaches to property ownership and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered investment decisions and put emphasis on the practical realities of real estate investment. Cityscape Qatar then turned its focus to smart and liveable cities – examining how technology, urban planning and infrastructure can shape more connected, efficient and people-centred urban environments.
At the fourth Qatar Real Estate Forum, powered by Cityscape, discussions focused on the practical considerations behind investment decisions, including property valuation, financing and the role different asset classes can play in building a balanced portfolio. During the panel ‘Portfolio Diversification: Residential, Commercial and Mixed-Use Strategies’, Adam Stewart, General Manager of Quorum Real Estate Advisors, highlighted the importance of assessing investments as part of a wider portfolio rather than in isolation.
“The key is to look beyond the individual property and assess how each acquisition contributes to the overall portfolio, balancing secure income with opportunities for growth and managing risk over the long term.”
Adam Stewart, General Manager, Quorum Real Estate Advisors
Offering a developer’s perspective, Hussain Akbar Al Baker, Executive Director of Commercial and Properties at United Development Company (UDC), discussed how integrating residential, retail and commercial spaces can strengthen the appeal and long-term value of mixed-use destinations.
“Successful mixed-use development is about creating an integrated community where residential, retail and commercial assets complement one another. At UDC, we look closely at how people use our destinations, what services they need and what encourages them to return.”
Hussain Akbar Al Baker, Executive Director, Commercial and Properties, United Development Company (UDC)
The day’s programme also examined alternative approaches to real estate investment, including real estate investment trusts (REITs) and property tokenisation, alongside opportunities for institutional investors and the considerations facing first-time buyers. Beyond the main Forum discussions, the Innovation Stage explored how technology is reshaping property ownership and real estate operations.
The session ‘Register First: Building Real Estate Tokenisation Qatar Can Trust’, Ali Mohammed Al Maadeed, Co-founder of Tamalak Technologies, discussed how tokenisation could broaden access to property investment while ensuring ownership rights are recorded, verified and protected.
“Real estate tokenisation offers an opportunity to make property investment more accessible by allowing individuals to invest in real estate without having to purchase an entire property. It also provides a way to simplify the process for both investors and property owners, while safeguarding the rights of all parties involved.”
Mohammed Al Maadeed, Co-founder, Tamalak Technologies
The focus then shifted from property ownership to the practical applications of AI. During the presentation ‘The Tech Stack: AI and Data at Work in Real Estate: A Live Demo with Microsoft’, Sarah Dbeissy, Senior Cloud & AI Specialist at Microsoft, outlined how AI can improve processes across sales, customer service, property management and investment analysis.
“From developers assessing sales performance and brokers responding to customer enquiries, to property managers identifying risks and investors analysing market trends, AI can help improve efficiency, strengthen customer experiences and unlock greater value across the real estate value chain.
“The real opportunity lies in connecting data across an organisation and equipping people with the intelligence they need to make better-informed decisions.”
Sarah Dbeissy, Senior Cloud and AI Specialist, Microsoft
Across the exhibition floor, visitors explored residential and mixed-use developments, with opportunities to compare properties, discuss project details and engage directly with developers on their investment priorities.
“An asking price is not the same as an investment case. Buyers and investors need to understand what they are committing to, from financing and delivery timelines to potential returns and long-term value.
‘”Cityscape Qatar brings developers and investors together to have those conversations directly, while the Forum provides a wider perspective on the market. The aim is to help visitors move beyond initial interest and make decisions based on a clearer understanding of the opportunities available.”
Alexander Heuff, Group Director, Cityscape
