AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, real estate briefs column.(Column)

Oct. 31--SOROUH PROFIT RISES 40 PERCENT: Abu Dhabi-based Sorouh Real Estate said third-quarter profit grew as revenues more than doubled on sales of land and residential units, reported Reuters. Sorouh's profit in the three months ended September 30 rose 39.2 percent to Dhs216.91m ($59m), or 0.09 dirhams per share, up 39.15 percent from the year-earlier period. The profit was derived solely from operating activities with no asset revaluations, the company said.

L&T IN JV WITH EASTERN INT'L: Larsen & Toubro Limited, India's largest engineering, technology and construction conglomerate, and UAE-based Eastern International, a Bukhatir Group Company, have entered a joint venture to construct a package of 295 Victory Heights Villas in Dubai Sports City, valued at $157m. The developers will be working closely with Bureau Veritas, a globally-recognised consultant, to provide a guarantee of quality for the project.

BH COMMERCIAL SALES UP 500 PERCENTBetter Homes, the largest real estate agency in Dubai, has reported a 500 percent growth in commercial sales over the first three quarters for 2007. The firm said the growth is due to the continued high level of demand on the leasing side, rising capital values, growing investor confidence and ...