Five talking points from the week in UAE business

Andrew Parsons / The National

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Karim Jaafar / AFP

Pawan Singh / The National

We take a look at Cityscape Global in Dubai, lifestyles funded by loan, Apple’s latest launch, Qatari money in English football and the hotel boom.

Cityscape lower key but full of optimism

Plenty of announcements have come out of Cityscape Global in Dubai this year amid an air of optimism, despite the shed-load of industry reports which have repeatedly informed us that the market has taken a turn for the worse. But while the glitzy stands at the exhibition have given us a look at villas with a Bugatti car parked in the house and other fanciful tower-based projects, there hasn't been a monumental unveiling of the Mall of the World or Meydan One size. Instead, it has been more about affordable homes as the luxury sector takes a buffeting from economic headwinds. In fact, it has been rather quiet compared to previous years and aside from the footfall at the actual event, a reasonable barometer is the number of emails we receive from PRs peddling the project announcements - and that has been noticeably lower on this time last year. After all, we are going through what the experts call "a healthy correction" which is expected to continue into next year. Ian Oxborrow

Lifestyle on loan

The subject of expat debt reared its ugly head once again in the Money section last week. As the cost of living rises, it appears not everyone is adjusting their expenditure to balance the books. Instead, to ensure they can continue living the life they want, some UAE residents are taking out loans to fund essential outgoings such as rent and school fees. With rent expected upfront and school fees generally paid a term ahead - it means some expats are funding their lifestyles up to a year in advance. The worry here is that borrowers get caught in a cycle of debt they cannot escape from. Think about it: if you sign up for a loan to fund school fees and rent and don't pay it off in one year, you could end up taking out another loan to fund the next round of expenses. At some point, borrowers risk paying two lots - or worse, three or more - of loan instalments at the same time. There's only one solution - adjust your lifestyle to live within your means. Alice Haine

iOpening launch from Apple

Apple fans bursting with anticipation were finally given what they wanted on Wednesday night when the tech kingpin unveiled its new products. And what a line-up it was. The attention is usually focused on the latest iPhone - in this case the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus - but that was upstaged by two other new gadgets. The biggest eye-opener, literally, was the iPad Pro, which is essentially a giant iPad with a 13-inch screen, but it comes with some nifty features such as an attachable keyboard and a stylus. This is a bold move from Apple in light of tumbling iPad sales, though it may have produced a game-changer with the new device said to be more friendly for business users who like to tap into specialised business apps. Of course, it will also appeal to movie fans. The Apple TV upgrade is also an interesting move as it aims to change the way we watch the old square box in our lounges. It will run internet apps and games, plus stream music and video. From my own experience, it has to be a step up from Samsung's cumbersome smart TV offering. Ian Oxborrow

Qatar adds to English football history

UAE money has poured into European football in recent years with names such as Emirates and Etihad becoming synonymous with the big stage. Now it's the turn of Qatar to make its push on to English soil - but in a more unlikely destination. Qatari money, $153,000 in total, is coming the way of Sheffield FC, according to an AP report. The club, which is seeking a move to a stadium on the land it was founded on, is playing seven divisions below the Premier League and holds the claim of being the world's oldest football team having been formed in 1857. Is Qatar's assistance just a PR exercise following the World Cup controversy? Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of Qatar's World Cup supreme committee, has links to Sheffield after studying law at the city's main university in the 1990s, according to AP. "Over the past few years since the (Sheffield FC) chairman first contacted us we have been working together to look for suitable ways in which we could lend our support," Mr Al Thawadi said. "Our modest contribution is part of a first step on an important journey for the club of gaining wider support for the (stadium) project." Ian Oxborrow

Hotel boom deemed ‘dangerous’

A week rarely goes by without an Emirates route capacity increase, a property market report or a new hotel opening in the Emirates. And the hotel boom in particular has sparked debate this week after a warning from Khalaf Al Habtoor. He called for caution in approving new projects ahead of Expo 2020 as Dubai increases its supply. "The banks shouldn't give millions to build hotels. That is dangerous, because we want to protect the name of Dubai from somebody going into bankruptcy," he said. "We hold the banks responsible and the tourism [department] responsible. They should not approve formation for a hotel without a feasibility study by a big international company." Dubai expects 25 million visitors a year by 2020 and currently has a stock of 65,000 rooms with an estimated 30,000 to 65,000 more required, according to JLL. Just arriving in The National's inbox ... Nakheel and the UK's Premier Inn sign a deal on a new 250-room hotel at Dragon City. The National staff

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