DAMAC Properties Presents Luxury Apartment to Competition Winner

DAMAC Properties Presents Luxury Apartment to Competition Winner

Mr Hobbs won the apartment after entering the competition in the UK’s Sunday Times five years ago.

February 25, 2011 11:58 by Rasha Reslan

DAMAC Properties, one of the Middle East’s leading international real estate developers, has handed over the keys of a luxury apartment to a UK couple who won it in a newspaper competition five years ago.

DAMAC Properties flew the ecstatic winner Clifford Hobbs, and his wife, Julie, to Dubai to take possession of their new luxury two bedroom apartment, which is located in DAMAC’s prestigious 84-storey Ocean Heights development in the Dubai Marina.

“To win an apartment like this is like this is a dream come true. Julie and I are so excited to see the apartment finished. I just can’t believe how amazing it looks; I am in awe at just how luxurious it is. I can’t believe it’s actually mine” said Mr Hobbs.

Mr Hobbs won the apartment after entering the competition in the UK’s Sunday Times five years ago. Following his win, DAMAC Properties has flown Mr Hobbs to Dubai several times since winning the competition, so that he could see at first hand the progress of his prize.

“We are delighted to be handing over the apartment to Mr Hobbs. It may be a perception here in the UAE, that not all competition winners receive their prizes, however DAMAC Properties made a promise to Mr Hobbs, and we are delivering on that promise,” said Niall Mc Loughlin, Senior Vice President DAMAC Properties.

Giving away apartments in elaborate competitions became a common marketing strategy for developers during the property boom. However, there have been many cases of developers failing to honor their promises to prize winners, either due to going out of business, or because there were few repercussions if they didn’t.

“I was feeling nervous about whether or not I’d receive my apartment after reading reports in a newspaper about another man who won an apartment that didn’t exist. I am so relieved and grateful that DAMAC Properties has delivered on its commitment,” Mr Hobbs commented.

Mr Hobbs won the apartment in ‘Ocean Heights’ when it was still “off plan,” and has been fortunate enough to watch the development from the very beginning to what is now the finished article.

“DAMAC Properties has been in constant contact with Mr Hobbs, during the construction process, updating him on construction milestones as work progressed. We wanted to make sure that he felt secure that he would collect his prize as soon as ‘Ocean Heights’ was complete” Mc Loughlin added.

Designed by world renowned architects, Aedas, Ocean Heights has won a number of international accolades for its unique twisting architectural design. “Ocean Heights is a signature development for DAMAC Properties, everything about it is on a grand scale. It is the tallest, most luxurious and most complex project we have delivered to date” commented Niall Mc Loughlin, Senior Vice President DAMAC Properties.

Mr Hobbs says taking possession of his new Ocean Heights apartment is a life changing event for him, and he is grateful to DAMAC Properties for delivering on its promise.