Profits in Dubai's buoyant real estate sector could ease and sales slow as buyers become more selective in the wake of the global credit crisis, the Dubai Land Department chief has been quoted as saying.

"The correction in profit levels will not be felt across Dubai as it will be limited to some areas only," Sultan Butti bin Mijrin told the Khaleej Times.

"The outlook for the sector remains positive with registered property sales so far this year reaching 200 billion dirhams ($54.47 billion)," he said.

In stark contrast to the United States and Europe, where the sub-prime mortgage crisis has already hit the property sector, Gulf Arab real estate markets continue to boom on the back of high oil prices.

The property market in the UAE, the world's fifth largest oil exporter, has been growing rapidly, pushing up property and rental prices, driving soaring inflation and rising fears that the sector is overheating.

Mijrin's comments come in the wake of a raft of reports predicting slower United Arab Emirates real estate growth.

Credit Suisse said this week that the global market turmoil and the negative sentiment on the future of the real estate market in Dubai could lead to a slowdown in the region's property sales and would hurt demand in Abu Dhabi.

Source: Trade Arabia News