The Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) has announced the successful completion of its first three executive education programmes for November.

Offered in partnership with Reading University in the UK and the National University of Singapore, the world class programmes included subjects and issues on Real Estate as Investment Assets for middle management; International Real Estate Investment for senior managers, and Successful Real Estate Development for all managerial levels.

DREI is the region’s first academic institute for real estate studies.

DREI managing director Dr Mohamed Al Shehi said: “The first set of courses, targeting senior executives and real estate professionals, has helped them enhance their technical and managerial skills and gain global perspective.

“The three programmes also provided them with a unique opportunity to acquire cutting edge knowledge industry updates on current trends and challenges.”

The participants included professionals with diverse industry and academic backgrounds from Sama Dubai, Nakheel, Dubai Islamic Bank and Dubai Properties.

Professionals from companies based in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia also participated in the executive education programmes.

“These executive courses, offered in partnership with prestigious universities have helped enrich the region’s academic tradition in the real estate field, while bringing in thought leaders and industry expertise from around the world,” added Dr. Al Shehi.

In addition to receiving certificates of attendance from the respective universities, participants were encouraged to develop an action plan to apply their learning and improve business practices.

Professor Collin Lizieri, Professor of Real Estate Finance, University of Reading Business School, UK, said: “As the region’s first sector-specific academic institute, we regard the DREI as a credible education partner.  Following the completion of the first set of programmes, we look forward to further successful partnerships in the future.”

Dr Harold Tan, Senior Lecturer, Real Estate Development, (strategic marketing and investments) and Director, Real Estate Career Development Centre, NUS, said:

“We are committed to integrating NUS’s long years of real estate academic expertise with DREI’s offerings.

“The successful completion of our first joint program encourages us to explore the option of incorporating additional specialised components into the executive education course content.”

Participants of the DREI programmes agreed they had received rich insights into the diverse challenges in the real estate business and practical tools to tackle them.

Fahd Al Shaibani, managing director, Sawaed Investment Co, Saudi Arabia, and one of the programme participants, said:

“As one of the first set of DREI graduates, I am confident the customised courses will help us deal with the dynamic challenges of the real estate sector.

“The courses provided us with unique networking opportunities to discuss industry challenges emerging across the region.”

Launched to address the rapid growth of the real estate sector in the UAE and the region, DREI seeks to deliver comprehensive and world class real estate executive programs, by forging strategic partnerships and building relationships with top-ranking international universities.

As the first specialised real estate academic institution in the region, the Dubai Real Estate Institute aims to enrich and broaden the knowledge and competency base of real estate industry professionals and managers.

The institute, which will commence courses in the academic year 2007-2008, operates in partnership with several international real estate universities to provide high value learning experiences to its students.

Addressing strategic growth opportunities, competitive challenges and operational imperativ