Gulf Construction Online - Emaar halts some projects: report

Real Estate

Emaar halts some projects: report

01 May 2020

Dubai’s largest developer Emaar Properties has cut executive and staff salaries across its businesses as the coronavirus pandemic halts projects and weighs on revenue from malls and hotels, reported Bloomberg.

The changes took effect on April 1 for all of Emaar’s Dubai businesses and will continue until further notice, stated the report, citing a letter sent by Chairman Mohamed Alabbar to employees.

Under this arrangement, Alabbar has forgone his salary, while the senior management will take a 50 per cent cut followed by middle management with a 40 per cent cut and junior staff 30 per cent.

There will be no pay cut for support staff working full time; staff not currently operating/on leave will receive full accommodation and healthcare as well as 15 per cent of their cash salary, while other businesses will receive 60 per cent of full salary, it added.

Dubai’s property market has struggled in the past decade due to the fallout from the global financial crisis and weak oil prices that left the emirate oversupplied with homes and offices.

In the latest knock to the economy, the global virus outbreak prompted Dubai to propose a one-year delay to Expo, a major event it was due to host from October.

Emaar has suspended work on major projects in Dubai, as the coronavirus pandemic exacerbates a real estate slowdown in the business hub, reported Reuters citing sources familiar with the matter.

Already projects have been suspended at Dubai Creek Harbour, a new development touted as offering homes to 200,000 people, sources said. That included suspending work on the Dubai Creek Harbour Tower, billed as being higher than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which is now the world’s tallest building, the sources added.

Last month, Emaar sold 80 per cent of its Downtown Dubai district cooling business to Tabreed for $675 million. Tabreed’s biggest shareholder is French utility Engie.