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One of Australasia’s largest groups is now represented in eight countries after opening its first office in the UAE.
The new Dubai office, which started trading on 1 October, is co-owned by Trevor and Margaret Lyall, who previously worked in Harcourts’ New Zealand business.
Harcourts’ international growth manager, Dean Wilkinson, said Dubai has experienced significant population and economic growth over the past decade.
“This, coupled with the thriving economy, has made the UAE a logical destination for Harcourts,” he said.
“Dubai is also home to some of the largest property developments in the world. With Harcourts on the ground in Dubai, we are now able to plug our existing global network into opportunities in the UAE.”
Harcourts already had 790 other offices: 354 in Australia, 185 in New Zealand, 150 in South Africa, 36 in Indonesia, 35 in China and Hong Kong, 28 in the US and two in Fiji.
Managing director Mike Green said this latest expansion play is significant given the strategic importance of Dubai and the group’s aim to become a global brand.
“We are extremely excited with this next step in our global expansion and the opportunities this will create for our entire organisation,” he said.
“Our partners Trevor and Margaret Lyall are long-term Harcourts New Zealand business owners, who understand and appreciate the Harcourts way of doing business.
"This, coupled with the dynamic Dubai market, will ensure this business goes from strength to strength.”
The new Dubai office has two other co-owners: the Lyalls’ son-in-law, Mohammad Abeidat, and local Emirati businessman Mohammed Salem Al Shamsi.
[Related: Agents forced to play in online review space, says Harcourts exec]
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