• Home
• /
• Business

Land Department unveils plan to professionalise realty sector

DUBAI — The Government of Dubai's Land Department, the emirate's land registry and trading platform, yesterday announced it had received an overwhelming response to its 'Now' training initiative, the latest move in its bid to professionalise the real estate sector.

'Now', launched from the department's stand during the Careers UAE 2007 exhibition, attracted 50 applications for just 20 initial places.

Following the end of the three-day fair at the World Trade Centre, the department began the process of shortlisting candidates for its internship programme. The six-month course takes candidates through the theory and practice and gives them first-hand experience of working professionally in the sector.

With real estate continuing to boom in Dubai, the department has acted quickly to create a professional framework to support local land and property transactions. Recently, it has focused on ensuring that commercial activity within the sector is carried out by properly qualified professionals.

Its first major initiative was to certify real estate brokers, the middlemen in most real estate and property transactions. Best pupils on the course, which will take in men and women candidates, will be in prime position to be offered employment by the department.

The number of applicants for the programme has exceeded 50 applications since the last three days and they are currently being screened to choose the specified 20 who are to undergo the training.

Sultan Al Akraf, head of Human Resources at the Department, said: "We were amazed by the reaction and the enthusiasm for this initiative. In the past three days there has been an incredible number of inquiries about the course and we have been forced to bring in a rigorous selection process to choose candidates."

"Our aim is to educate, train and certify the people who will manage Dubai's real estate market. We are planning for the future and for the growth and development of the sector," he added.

"Until today, proper professional training in real estate had been unavailable. This is a major step forward and will ensure that there will be a tier of properly qualified people who will be available to take up key positions in the department and elsewhere in the sector," said Akraf.