Investors and project professionals from Canada, Australia, the UK, France, China and Korea are expected to congregate in Abu Dhabi for Cityscape 2011, taking place from April 17-20.
“I expect we will see a more international focus at the event,” Cityscape group director Chris Speller told The Big Project yesterday.
“There are a lot of investors interested in Abu Dhabi as a sovereign wealth fund and the emirate has been very proactive in promoting this.”
The event had also received enquiries from Russian delegates, according to Speller.
“Investors aren’t only coming here looking for money; they’re looking to create relationships with developers from the GCC, specifically from Abu Dhabi and the UAE,” he asserted.
Furthermore, the Citybuild component, introduced last year, is expected to expand by 200% in 2011, following a partnership with the Malaysian Trade Authority, which plans to host its annual event upon the Citybuild platform.
But, despite a growing international audience, Speller did not expect to see “massive growth” in the number of visitors and exhibitors, compared to last year.
“We expect to sustain the number of visitors and participants we attracted in 2010,” he said.
Furthermore, Speller asserted that Cityscape Abu Dhabi would not be rebranded as a global conference in the way Cityscape Dubai was renamed Cityscape Global, last year, reflecting market conditions in the emirate: “Cityscape Abu Dhabi focuses predominantly on what’s happening in Abu Dhabi; international visitors targeting people operating in the capital, whereas the event in Dubai is a truly international one that doesn’t focus on one market.
“The key themes addressed at Cityscape Abu Dhabi will be transparency, completion and delivery, and sustainability. Abu Dhabi is a market which continues to carry great weight and strength behind it, as well as confidence,” he said.
A number of new projects will be announced at the event, according to Speller, and government entities Musanada and Abu Dhabi Cultural and Heritage Authority will be onboard for the first time.

Read the full and exclusive interview in February’s The Big Project