Thailand Property Online

• Lucky winners to get a private Island and a Jet plane
• Luxury car: Bentley or BMW with every apartment

The promotion comprises a mega raffle prize with a private Island worth AED 1 million and a grand raffle prize with a brand new ECLIPSE 500 Private Jet worth AED 5.5 million. Every property bought during DSF entitles the customer a chance to win either the private Island or a Jet plane. The property developer also announces a Bentley or BMW with every apartment brought during DSF 2008. Speaking at the Press Conference to announce DAMAC’s DSF promotion, Hussain Sajwani, Chairman of DAMAC Properties, said: “With mega entertainment events and exciting offers, DSF 2008 is celebrating its 13thedition and we are privileged to be a prominent ‘’support sponsor” for an event which has grown bigger and exciting each year. Last year it was just a Jet plane, this year we have added a private Island at the beautiful and serene Caribbean Sea. The Pelican Caye Island is the one of the few private islands on the Turneffe Atoll and is perfect for a personal estate.”

“Over and above that, every customer gets a Luxury car. A Bentley Continental comes free with every Signature Duplex and Penthouse, a BMW 1 series with a studio, or one bedroom apartment or office /retail unit and a BMW 3 series with a 2 bedroom apartment or above, added Hussain Sajwani.

Speaking on the occasion, Peter Riddoch, CEO, DAMAC Properties, said, “According to reports the event expects to attract around 3.5 m visitors this year. This festive season which runs from Jan 24 to Feb 24 gives us the opportunity to reinforce our commitment to our esteemed customers and creates a perfect forum for us to build awareness and increase sales.

Press Release

Ibrahim Saleh, COO of the DSF Organising Committee, said, “DSF promotions are designed to make each consumer feel special and provide them with a truly rewarding experience where each one of them gets a chance to participate and emerge as a winner. With the current property boom in the region and with these unique promotions designed by luxury developers like DAMAC Properties, we are positive about the festival attracting and getting recognition at a global level”.

The Pelican Caye Island is within a 5 minute boat ride of the privately owned airstrip on Blackbird Caye and lies one mile south of Turneffe Flats resort. The combination of world class resort, fishing and excellent scuba diving opportunities, literally within walking distance of this island, makes Pelican Caye one of the most unique opportunities in the Caribbean.

Over 110 nationalities have brought properties in DAMAC Properties and effective support services are provided by the property developer. The company’s comprehensive customer care program provides solutions through its vast regional network with offices in the UK (London, Manchester), Ireland, UAE, Iran, Russia, Italy, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt and Qatar.

DAMAC Properties won two prestigious awards at the recent CNBC Arabian Property Awards 2007 - for the top property developer received the ‘Best High Rise Development’ award for ‘La Residence at the Lotus’ and the ‘Best Website’ award for the company’s revamped website – www.damacproperties.com. DAMAC’s La Residence at the Lotus in Business Bay Dubai has won the Best International High Rise Development Award that was held at Las Vegas recently.

Theravada Buddhism is central to modern Thai identity and belief. However, in areas in the southernmost parts of Thailand, Islam is prevalent. Several different ethnic groups, many of which are marginalized, populate Thailand. Some of these groups overlap into Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia and have maintained a distinctly traditional way-of-life despite strong Thai cultural influence. Ethnic Chinese also form a significant part of Thai society, particularly in and around Bangkok. Their successful integration into Thai society has allowed for this group to hold positions of economic and political power, the most noteworthy of these being the Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who held power from 2001 until September 19, 2006 when he was ousted by a military coup d'état.

Respect of ancestors is a large part of Thai spiritual practice, as well as charity towards Buddhist monks. Thais have a very strong sense of graciousness and hospitality, but also a strong sense of social hierarchy. Honorifics are important in day-to-day Thai speech, especially titles of seniority.

Seniority is a important concept in Thai culture. Thais respect the elderly so much that some natives wai or krab (bow) to the feet of their parents and grandparents. They honor the eldest first, and the elderly take precedence in all family decisions and any sort of ceremony.

After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased pressure on Thailand's currency, the baht, in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the currency. Long pegged at 25 to the US dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. The collapse prompted a wider Asian financial crisis.

Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1998, expanding 4.2% and grew 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. Growth was dampened by a softening of the global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years due to strong growth in China and the various domestic stimulation programs of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, popularly known as Thaksinomics. Growth in 2003 and 2004 was over 6% annually.

Thailand exports over $105 billion worth of products annuall. Major exports include rice, textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances. Thailand is the world’s no.1 exporter of rice, exporting 6.5 million tons of milled rice annually. Rice is the most important crop in the country. Thailand has the highest percent of arable land, 27.25%, of any nation in the Greater Mekong Subregion. About 55% of the arable land area is used for rice production.

Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer parts and automobiles, while tourism contributes about 5% of the Thai economy's GDP. Long stay foreign residents also contribute heavily to GDP.

The main natural resources of Thailand are tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, and arable land.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

At 513,000 km² (198,000 sq mi), Thailand is the world's 49th-largest country. It is comparable in size to Spain, and somewhat larger than the US state of California.

Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups. The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being Doi Inthanon at 2,576 metres (8,451 ft). The northeast consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong river. The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf of Thailand. The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula.

The local climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. Major cities beside the capital Bangkok include Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Phuket and Hat Yai (Songkhla Province).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

Until the coup on 19 September, 2006 (see below), Thailand was a constitutional monarchy. The King is extremely well respected and revered and it is illegal to insult the Royal Family. The Thai King recently celebrated 60 years on the throne and millions of Thai citizens commemorated the event and showed their reverence by donning yellow t-shirts and/or by wearing yellow wrist bands - the official royal colour. The government is now a military junta headed by Sonthi Boonyaratglin (RTGS: Sonthi Bunyaratkalin). On 1 October 2006, the junta named Surayud Chulanont (RTGS: Surayut Chulanon) as the prime minister of the interim government.

On September 19, 2006, the Royal Thai Army led by Army Commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin seized control of key government buildings and television stations in Bangkok. At the time, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (RTGS: Thaksin Chinawat) was in New York for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. At least 50 soldiers entered the Government House building. Television stations were ordered to broadcast music written by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (RTGS: Phumiphon Adunyadet) and displayed images of the royal family. Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in an effort to counter-act the coup, declared from New York that Bangkok was in a "severe state of emergency", and vowed to return to the country as soon as possible. He also removed the Army Commander from his position, and ordered military forces not to "move illegally." His broadcast was abruptly shut off.