The first half of the year saw the UAE-based manufacturer of power cables in the Middle East, Ducab, posting an 18 percent decline in sales, as compared to the same period of 2008. This happened because of the fall in the real estate sector.

It was specified by the company that for the first six months, the total sales were $326 million. It also said that the result was in tandem with the lower activity in the property sector.

A statement issued by Ducab, which is jointly owned by the governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, read that a 30% improvement was noticed in sales during the second quarter over the first three months of the year.

"The first quarter of the year was characterized by uncertainty and this adversely affected the company's sales; however, it saw improvement in demand in the second quarter as construction projects have restarted and some stability has returned to the market," said Managing Director of Ducab.