Sotheby's International Realty to Expand Luxury Brand Presence Within the Middle East

By: Sotheby's International Realty | 0 Shares 130 Reads

September 15, 2015 // Franchising.com // Madison, NJ and Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced plans for the brand’s expansion into five additional Gulf countries, complementing its existing presence in the United Arab Emirates. Within the next year, the brand’s affiliate brokerage in the region, Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty, is expected to enter the important new markets of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, greatly increasing the brand’s presence in the Middle East.

“Increasing our brand presence in the Middle East is yet another example of our commitment to providing the Sotheby’s International Realty network’s exclusive real estate services in luxury property destinations around the world,” said Phillip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “The Middle East continues to be one of the most important sources of cross-regional capital into the global real estate market and we are proud to support Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty as the company expands its footprint and continues to provide robust regional market intelligence to its clients.”

Currently operating in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty is led by Chairman George Azar. The firm intends to open seven new offices around the region including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia and also in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

“We are excited to be growing our company and widening our range of services to span the Middle Eastern region,” said Azar. “Our goal is to achieve the highest sale price for our clients, but achieving this means equipping investors with sound intelligence about the property market and its potential. Our clients are sophisticated high net worth individuals and institutional investors who need to understand the underlying fundamentals of the markets in which they invest. This is why we have consistently surpassed our own sale price targets in 2015, despite the slowdown in the Dubai property market.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 17,000 sales associates located in approximately 800 offices in 61 countries and territories worldwide. Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty listings are marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm’s brokers and their clients will benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs. Each office is independently owned and operated.

About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC

Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. In February 2004, Realogy entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.

SOURCE Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC

Contacts:

David Russell
Director, International Marketing and Public Relations
Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC
Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square
London. United Kingdom
(+44) 208 123 1985
David.Russell@sothebysrealty.com

Jarmila Fryntova MCIM
Marketing Director
Gulf Sotheby's International Realty
Emaar Boulevard Plaza – Tower One, Dubai UAE
+971 4 818 4999
jarmila.fryntova@gulfsir.com

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