BANGKOK (Feb 8): Best Western International has launched its first hotel in Saudi Arabia.

Located in the booming Gulf city of Al Khobar, the Best Western PLUS Sand Rose Suite Hotel features 48 rooms and suites, and a range of facilities for both business travellers and family groups.

LONDON (Feb 8): The value of prime property in the world's key cities rose by only 0.2% in the final quarter of 2011 with luxury housing prices in Asia Pacific falling fastest.

SINGAPORE (Feb 8): Singapore retail investors have become more pessimistic about the investment outlook over the past six months and are shunning the US and Europe in favour of safe haven investments closer to home, a poll released on Tuesday showed.

HONG KONG (Feb 8): Helped by growing demand and a shortage of supply, Beijing office rents soared last year, making it the world's fifth most expensive city for office space in terms of occupancy costs, according to international property consultant Cushman & Wakefield (C&W).

SIBU (Feb 8): The Sarawak Housing Development Commission, in collaboration with Amcorp Group, will invest about RM1 billion for the total development of the new Sibu Jaya township.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 8): Construction and property developer Knusford Bhd may ride on recent investor interest in companies linked to Datuk Lim Kang Hoo. His name has recently appeared on business news pages for his involvement in certain major corporate exercises as well as projects in Johor, said market observers.

A house does not just provide shelter from the elements but offers an emotional refuge from the rigours of everyday living. Although the design of most houses are functional and practical, there are homeowners and architects who prefer the unconventional.

Dolomite Corp Bhd has been steering a steady but rather conservative path over the years. However, this is set to change as the low-profile group adopts a more aggressive stance to expand its property development and power businesses.

Berjaya Land Bhd started developing its 400-acre tract in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, back in the 1980s.