Tell somebody that you live in Orchard area and you will instantly be recognised as a member of Singapore’s elite. Recent developments of retail space and condominiums in Orchard bring it closer to established metropolitan stars like New York and Hong Kong, with an entire stretch of high-end shopping malls and luxurious private residences

Not just the average shopping mall

Orchard is upgrading itself from just rows of malls to a truly luxurious and exclusive shopping paradise. A very good example would be Ion Orchard, a joint venture between Singapore’s CapitaLand and Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai Properties. Scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter this year, it is a world class retail center that houses haute couture retailers. This dazzling line-up pushes Orchard shopping a few notches up the ladder of sophistication and exclusivity. Shopping in Orchard in the near future will resemble that of New York’s Fifth Avenue and Hong Kong’s Nathan Road as more and more duplex flagship stores grow in downtown Singapore. Although Orchard has what downtown in New York and Hong Kong can offer, the price of property is still relatively much lower than these two cities.

Luxurious and exclusive condominiums

Strong growth spurts in the economy and good prospects in the near future have given developers the boost to conceptualize the sort of luxurious living spaces never thought possible before this. What we see in the market right now is a series of uber-exclusive and luxurious private residences. Furthermore, the developers are inching closer and closer to Orchard Road itself, rather than building their projects at the outskirts of this street because it was once considered too precious and too expensive for private residential projects.

Rising demand and record prices

The demand in the market is overwhelming. Over the past year, new developments in Orchard have been sold fast and at record prices in auctions open to only those with special invitations. This fight for a space in Orchard has led to a huge surge in prices. Projects lying slightly further away from Orchard Road but still close enough to be convenient are a good investment option. 8 @ Mount Sophia, for instance, a tranquil sanctuary hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city yet only 20 minutes walking from Orchard Road.

Orchard Road is indeed the cherry on the cake of Singapore’s prime property market. The undergoing projects only serve to reiterate its position as the ultimate in luxurious living in a sophisticated environment. If you are looking for the best in Singapore, Orchard Road is probably the answer.

Keith Lau is a professional real estate agent based in Singapore, and may be contacted at: Singapore Prime Districts

Dubai - Celine Dion’s Live in Dubai concert was an exceptional success, exceeding all expectations. The concert which Dubai had been anticipating since November 2007, had all 12,000 fans singing along with great enthusiasm.

 Celine emerged in a Kaftan, looking as glamorous as ever. The Diva warmed up the crowd with all time hits ‘I drove all night’ and ‘Power of Love’. Before launching into her latest hit ‘Taking Chances’, the Canadian artist spoke about her 3 day experience in Dubai referring to the city as a "a beautiful place, where the action is, the city of the future". Celine told fans that when she decided to go a world tour she knew it would not be without stopping in Dubai. Celine ended her speech shouting "shukran" out to all her Arab fans, who were ecstatic to hear the diva speak in their native language. Celine covered classic hits by legends Queen and James Brown.  

Royalty and celebrities adorned the VIP lounge in their haute-couture. Princess Haya was spotted with an entourage of girlfriends, while Roger Federer, visiting Dubai for the Dubai Tennis Championship, chose to keep his presence more low key, staying out of the spot light and focusing on Celine Dion’s vocals.

The concert was performed at the Four Seasons Golf Club, Dubai and was the first concert at the venue. Celine’s team found that none of the other potential venue sites visited exuded enough elegance. Kusasa, organizers of over 10 of Celine’s concerts, went through special measures with the RTA to guarantee free flowing traffic on the day of the concert.

Audiences are able to enjoy the luxurious 32,000 square meters of luscious green fields and the gorgeous arena. For VIP guests, the chic Blades Restaurant serves as the pre-concert lounge where guests mingle with a selected number of VIPs and socialites.  With its magnificent terrace overlooking the stage, they have the option to watch the concert form Blades or equally make their way down and get involved with the rest of the crowd. Food and Beverage stalls line up outdoors in each relevant ticket section to cater for the large numbers. Packaged Deli Gourmet Sandwiches, Burgers, Hot-dogs, fries, as well as healthy salads and a selection of deserts are available. “The Four Seasons Golf Club is delighted to be the venue for the Celine Dion ‘Taking Chances’ Dubai concert. The staging of Celine’s concert in this unique venue, with the Club’s stunning design as the backdrop, is a compliment to her undisputed talent,” commented Mr. Bahram Sepahi, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Golf Club.

Four Seasons Golf Club