Yesterday, Monday 7 September 2015, the first day of Future Interiors Qatar 2015 Conference was a great success. It took place at the Intercontinental Hotel The City – Doha and focused on main areas in interiors design, fit-outs and contracting in Qatar’s Interiors sector.

More than 100 attendees took part in Future Interiors Qatar - Day 1. It brought together key players across the industry’s value chain: government officials, industry regulators, project owners, project managers, design professionals, contractors and consultants, and solution providers.

Delegates at Future Interiors Qatar conference enjoyed exciting presentations on day 1 such as “Creating a space that effectively reflects an organization's image” explaining how office spaces can inspire staff and impress clients and visitors,delivered by Matthew Kobylar, Director of Interiors and Workplace Strategy at Arney Fender Katsalidis. Another interesting presentation was given by Ali Mangera, Director of Mangera Yvars Architects, clarifying how buildings interiors create intricate learning space and addressing the question of contemporary Islamic identity.

Additional presentations took place among which: “Creating high end, quality interior design without exorbitant cost implications” by Dorota Nazarewicz, Head of Department - Interior Design at Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB), Colors and their role in buildings and trends of 2015 by Karl Johan Bertilsson, Creative Director NCS Color Academy at Hempel Paints and “Addressing the important role that light plays in creating vibrant and healthy spaces” by Soumya Vijaya, Sustainability Manager at Qatar Green Leaders.

The response to this Interiors event was hugely positive as delegates and sponsors enjoyed the high quality of the speaker panel as well as the opportunities to network with the industry’s key decision makers. This is what some of the participants and delegates had to say:

“Excellent. Wish the conference could last for one week” – Project Engineer, Ashghal.

“Very good, it’s very helpful” – Interior Designer, Qatar Foundation.

“Very good. Interesting and to the point for any Interior Designer who needs to improve his knowledge” - Interior Designer, Al AQSA.

“A very good conference compared to others I’ve attended in Qatar. The future Interiors conference powered by Project Qatar provided a good range of speakers with interesting subject matter. The presentations, vendor stands and networking were a great platform for my team and I to learn, to be inspired and grow” – Director of Interior Design, Hamad Medical Corporation.

Today, Future Interiors Qatar’s second day will host speakers from Ashghal “Public Works Authority”, ASTAD Project Management, Qatar Foundation, Open Doors Consulting, Modelical, Kasian Qatar Consulting LLC, Omrania & Associates – KSA, the Italian Architecture and Design Association, Institute of Architects Registration Board in Rome – Italy. The presentations will address the following topics: BIM in Interiors Design, the impact of Neuroscience in the Interiors Design Discipline, Green and Environmental friendly issues involved with interior design and creating high end Interior Spaces for Open Learning Campus and High Tech Work Environments.

For further information about Future Interiors Qatar, please visit http://www.futureinteriorsqatar.com/

Building off its established expertise in managing and delivering some of Qatar’s most complex and iconic projects, ASTAD Project Management launched ASTAD International, which will offer the same world class, award winning project management services beyond Qatar.

H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al-Kubaisi, Chairman of ASTAD Project Management, announced the launch during "City Scape Global 2015" exhibition held from 8 - 10 September in the Dubai World Trade Center. In an announcement made during the exhibition, Dr. Al- Kubaisi said: “In the United Arab Emirates, like Qatar, there are major investments in real estate and infrastructure. The 2020 Expo in Dubai, like the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has unleashed a wave of opportunity for experienced, quality driven project management firms.”

Commenting on the launch, Engineer Ali bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of ASTAD Project Management, stated “This is an exciting opportunity to work together across borders. We will share knowledge in an effort to develop regional home-grown solutions and strengthen the region’s booming construction industry.” The expansion follows years of successful management and delivery of some of Qatar’s most complex and iconic projects which span a variety of purposes and sectors, including education, commerce, healthcare, sports, arts and culture. 

Al-Khalifa emphasized on the key values that facilitated ASTAD to thrive in Qatar, which will also be useful across the region. “We have a commitment to excellence,”he said, “Our team offers an average of 20 years of specialized experience across the board to ensure that only the world’s best practices and highest standards are applied to each one of our projects. ASTAD’s projects came as a result of Qatar’s fast paced infrastructural and construction development needs toward achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, which necessitated the establishment of a company with global level expertise coupled with a comprehensive knowledge of the local culture.

He also stressed upon the importance of working in harmony with local traditions and norms. “We understand this region, its people, how they think, their preferences, needs, and ambitions. This goes a long way in building trust and appreciating a client’s requirements and this faculty has been instrumental in ASTAD’s success and growth.”

Beyond the United Arab Emirates, ASTAD International is planning to open branches across the world including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, and the United Kingdom. Al-Khalifa remarked “I am confident that ASTAD International will thrive across the region much like ASTAD has demonstrated that it is a leader and pioneer in the management and delivery of the most innovative projects in Qatar.” “Our teams of highly-skilled experts remain committed to the delivery of projects in line with the best international practices as we look forward to building on our success in Qatar by undertaking new projects in promising GCC markets,” Al-Khalifa added.

ASTAD was founded in 2008 as a strategic venture with the aim of providing world class project management and consultancy services for challenging infrastructure and building projects across the region through quality practices, timely delivery, precise scoping and competitive pricing. As a Qatari company, ASTAD Project Management aims to capitalize on domestic investment opportunities in the real estate and construction sector in addition to building local capacities in the field of project management and sustainable building practices.

The Public Works Authority announced that a temporary diversion will be put in place in both directions on the industrial road known as Mesaieed Road. The diversion which is 1 km in length is located 10 km from Al Wakra and 7.5 km north of Mesaieed Industrial City and the alternative route is approximately 4 Km from Sealine Petrol Station. The diversion will start on 9 September 2015 and will last 17 months until mid-February 2017.

The alternative route will be in the form of a roundabout enabling vehicles traveling on Mesaieed Road toward Al Wakra and vehicles coming from Al Wakrah in the opposite direction to bypass the construction zone and return to the original road (as shown in the attached map). Ashghal is implanting this temporary diversion to allow the construction of bridges and associated road works on the Orbital Highway Project. Ashghal requests all road users to abide by the speed limit, and follow the road signs to ensure all road users’ safety.

A joint venture between Al-Futtaim Engineering’s Qatar operations under the name Hamad and Mohamad Al-Futtaim and Voltas Qatar has been awarded a multi-million Qatari Riyal Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) contract within the giant Doha Festival City development. The contract, worth over QR 500 million will see the joint venture undertake MEP works for the main mall. The project is expected to be completed by 2016.

Dawood Ozair, Senior Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Engineering and Technologies believes Al-Futtaim Engineering’s history of successfully delivering projects has led to the company being recognised as a preferred main contractor in the region. He said, “We are extremely pleased to have won this major MEP project from Doha Festival City. This is another big milestone for our business and another opportunity to deliver our high quality services to customers in Qatar.” Al-Futtaim Engineering is a leading multi-disciplinary engineering organization with over 30 years’ successful operations across UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Hamad & Mohamad Al-Futtaim’s other high-profile MEP projects in Qatar include the Burj Al Marina within the Lusail City development, IKEA which is located at Doha Festival City and the Heritage Quarter which includes a Mosque, a prayer hall and heritage houses. Under the umbrella of MEP maintenance the company has many prestigious projects including Qatar National Convention Centre, Hyatt Plaza Shopping Mall, Landmark Group’s showrooms, and Al Fardan Properties amongst others.

Located on Al-Shamal Road, Doha Festival City is the largest mixed-use development currently under construction in the Middle East, and on completion will be Qatar’s largest retail and leisure destination. It will feature the Doha Festival City Mall, as well as a hotel and convention centre. Doha Festival City Mall, with a gross leasable area of around 250,000 sqm, will comprise 550 outlets representing international and local brands, including 85 restaurants and cafes, VOX Cinemas and a snow park. It will feature around 8,000 parking spaces.

Qatar plans to build 2,000 residential villas at a cost of QR10 billion in the next four years. The villas are expected to come up in an area of 2,500,000 sqm in the southern part of Doha.

The plan was discussed at a meeting of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment, chaired by the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, on Wednesday. The villas will be allotted to Qataris coming under the umbrella of the housing system. For more information, please visit this link.

source: Qatar Tribune, Al Arab

Large-scale development, leaks from older infrastructure and seawater intrusion have resulted in a rising water table under much of Doha, a conference was told on Wednesday, said Gulf Times. “The issue poses technical challenges and greatly increases the risk of polluting the sea and groundwater as construction projects pump water away from sites and it has already reached a critical state in some areas,” a scientist cautioned. Leading figures from Qatar’s public and private sector came together at the event to discuss the threat of a rising water table to major infrastructure projects.

Hosted by Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Uniquip-Hoelscher and Hyder Consulting /Arcadis, the conference featured prominent speakers such as HE the Minister of Environment Ahmed Amer Mohamed al-Humaidi, Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, and German ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel. The renowned national and international environmental and water sustainability experts discussed risks to drinking water, fish stocks and public health that result from pollution entering groundwater or being discharged to the sea.

They evaluated the scientific as well as the economic aspects of ground water management in construction sites. It was pointed out that contractors as well as public institutions have to be enabled to use water management technologies, which protect fundamental social assets such as health and the environment. This way they will create competitive advantages for the sake of their citizens and the sake of the State of Qatar and its economy.

One discussion forum focused on best practices - from a governmental and regulatory standpoint. Companies from the private sector exposed case studies featuring leading technologies and innovative applications. The participants shared case studies about high profile international projects such as the Copenhagen Metro where the German company Hoelscher Group is active. With its Qatari Joint venture Uniquip-Holscher, it uses cutting edge groundwater treatment technologies at the Gold Line of the Doha Metro. Here as on other construction sites in Qatar the dewatering technology meet the demands of construction while also purifying the water to a quality that is able to be reused for any purpose.

“A large amount of water is extracted due to construction of many projects in Qatar. This water has much lower salinity than seawater; therefore, it requires far less energy to treat it. The treatment of construction water can save energy and could be reused for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes,” explained Dr Mohamad Khaleel, executive director, QEERI. Addressing the problem in a way that protects human health and the environment is a priority in the National Development Strategy and members of Qatar’s Permanent Water Resource Committee are working across government to set standards and regulations, it was pointed out.

As a nation built on the heritage of its coastline and entirely dependent on the Arabian Gulf for its source of drinking water and much of its fresh seafood, Qatar has set strict guidelines to ensure that development does not damage one of its most precious resources—water.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SCDL) has lauded construction company Midmac for implementing SCDL standards in its accommodation for workers building the Khalifa International Stadium, said Qatar Tribune. According to the SCDL website, a team of the Workers' Welfare Unit in SCDL visited Midmac's accommodation for workers and was satisfied with the living conditions and facilities available there. 

"We saw their previous facility, which was at quite an elevated standard already for 2,000 people," explained Stephan van Dyk, audits and training manager for Workers' Welfare at the SCDL, on the journey to the accommodation. "Midmac officials said that they were intending to take a new facility and we said we'd go beyond SCDL standards which are contractual minimum. It was just a shell and rooms, and then two months later they had built kitchens, all stainless steel, they had done the rooms to our specifications, finished off the indoor sport facilities, and when they finished it they moved in", he added. 

The resulting new accommodation is centred around a large hangar which has been turned into indoor sports facilities such as badminton courts, as well as an air-conditioned dining room with numerous televisions, a separate TV room and another indoor rest and recreation room. "We made a final inspection just before they moved in and had a walk through," said Megan Jenkins, SCDL governance and enforcement manager, Workers' Welfare."We went through the facility and made some comments, such as there were no mirrors above the basins in the bathrooms. All of our comments and feedback got taken on board. It was like a 3D model of what we had written on paper coming to life."

The attention to detail which Van Dyk and Jenkins exhibit not only in conversation but also walking around the site, making suggestions for small improvements here and there, are no coincidence: They helped to write the SCDL's 50 pages of Worker Welfare Standards which are contractually binding to all contractors working on SCDL projects today. For Jenkins, every instance of the Standards positively impacting workers' lives is rewarding, but there was a particularly memorable inspection recently during the cricket World Cup.

"The dining area becomes not just a dining hall but an entertainment space. We went on one inspection at night and they were sitting watching the Australia India cricket final; the atmosphere was very good. Being Australian, of course I was giving it a cheer. We've been there many times in the evening and they were playing badminton on other evenings. One of the requests that came in through the Workers' Welfare Forum was to put in a second badminton court", he said.

Van Dyk remarked,"Midmac is a good example of not just implementing the standards, but lifting the quality of the implementation. They have a very good laundry facility and the dining hall is of great quality. They have put proper air-conditioners in, painted the walls with a lively colour and have pictures on the walls. Midmac's Workers' Welfare Forum also inputs directly into what is on the dining menu." The day-to-day work of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Workers' Welfare Unit revolves around the implementation of the SC's Workers' Welfare Standards across its projects. This includes many site visits, meetings with contractors and talking to workers to learn what they need in their respective accommodation facilities.

Out of its commitment to build high quality buildings and ensure they meet safety requirements, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ is testing the fire-fighting systems installed at the Hamad Medical City Fit-Out project.

Tests and examinations will include generating and pumping harmless smoke, similar to the black smoke that rises during a real fire. The tests aim to examine the fire-fighting systems, smoke detectors and smoke suction systems that take the smoke outside the building. Visitors of the area and passers-by will notice the gases rising from the building during these tests, hence the authority made sure to notify people to avoid any concerns.It is noteworthy to mention that Ashghal coordinated with the Civil Defence Department in this regards.

Tests and examinations will take place on Thursday 17 September 2015 from 8 am to 12 pm at the Hamad Medical City Fit-Out project location and at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital. 

DTZ Qatar today announces that the company has valued over $60bn of RE assets in the last 12 months, 70% of which were for loan security purposes providing a strong indicator of a thriving market. DTZ Qatar values assets across the MENA region, while most are in Qatar. The highest valued asset was valued at circa $4bn in Doha. In the previous 12 months the company’s valuation department valued assets totaling $49bn. This spike in loan requests in the real estate market has led DTZ Qatar to expand its valuation team to maintain pace with the growing demand.

Edd Brookes (pictured), General Manager of DTZ Qatar in Doha, stated: “Valuation is a core skill line within DTZ Qatar. Under Adam Stewart’s diligent stewardship our Valuation Department provides first class and impartial valuation reports to our wide range of clients throughout the Gulf region. We have recently brought in two newly graduated surveyors and are coaching them through their professional exams. It is important to us that our team members are properly qualified in the field to uphold our reputation for international best practice allied to a deep understanding of our regional markets.”

Adam Stewart, Associate Director, Head of Valuation Advisory in DTZ Qatar commented: “Strengthening the team allows us to uphold the high level of client servicing that we pride ourselves in delivering. Providing accurate, thorough and credible information and analysis is a significant factor in ensuring the sustainable growth of Qatar’s real estate sector.” Stewart says that the increase in valuations is attributed to many factors. 

He continued: “Job creation in the non-hydrocarbon sectors, particularly in the construction and infrastructure and retail service sectors, has led to an increase in population which in turn has led to higher demand for commercial and residential real estate development. According to the Qatar Central Bank Real Estate Index, the price of real estate has increased by 23.2% in the 12 months leading up to June 2015.”

DTZ Qatar is Qatar’s oldest established global real estate advisor. 

ASTAD Project Management, Qatar's premier project management consultancy has received two awards recognizing skill, innovation, and hard work in projects across different sectors.

The two projects were recognized at the “Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets in Dubai”. ASTAD nominated the two projects, which were the only shortlisted projects representing Qatar, to compete with 39 projects from across the world including finalists from Russia, Brazil, India, Turkey, China, and the GCC. Commenting on the occasion, Ali al-Khalifa, ASTAD’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “These awards are yet another testament to our continuous efforts in achieving excellence and demonstrating our focus on reliability, availability, and efficiency. These world-class specialized projects we are delivering will serve as a great example and set the benchmark for others to follow”.

The National Museum of Qatar won the Community, Culture, and Tourism Project Award. The museum, designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, features a series of interlocking disks that mimic the sand rose, a mineral formation created by salt evaporation in sand layers beneath the deserts of the Gulf region, won the Community, Culture & Tourism Project Award. The museum will comprise thirteen permanent galleries which will occupy the interior like nomad camps, telling the story of Qatar’s natural, cultural, and political history from ancient times to the present.

Mansour bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Acting CEO, Qatar Museums said, "We recognize that the design of the National Museum of Qatar is unique and very challenging to construct. We wanted to build a recognizable national landmark that would inspire generations to come. We are proud of this award that recognizes the hard work put into this by every party."

Qatar’s Lusail Sports Arena, the flagship venue selected to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship edged out the Chinese competition to win the Leisure & Hospitality Project Award. The venue is designed to host world-class sporting events for Handball, Volleyball and Basketball, with the capacity to host over 15,000 spectators on a site of over 400,000 square meters. Among its key characterizes is its 3 star GSAS certified sustainability standard  for features such as  the efficient building envelope designed to reduce cooling demand by using fritting, shading and bright colored finishes to minimize heat island effect.

This year ASTAD has already won five awards at the MEED Quality Awards, 2015. Three awards went to the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies including the GCC Quality Project of the Year and the GCC and National Winner for Social Infrastructure Project of the Year. Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena was recognized as the National Winner for Building Project of the Year while the Energy Management System -Solar Micro Grid was recognized as the National Winner of Sustainable Project of the Year.

The Public Works Authority is implementing a new intersection on Corniche Street between the National Theatre Intersection and the Emiri Diwan Intersection. The new intersection is being implemented based on recommendations from the Traffic Congestion Committee and after studying the traffic flow on the Corniche Street. The new intersection aims to enable Corniche Street users coming from Al Diwan Intersection towards The National Theatre Intersection to either make left-hand turns onto Al Rumailah Street or U-turns to the other side of the street, without the need to continue until the National Theatre Intersection then make a U-turn. Project works also include widening a part of Al Rumailah Street to three lanes instead of two. 

Works on the project commence on Saturday 19 September 2015 and will last two months. Temporary closures will only take place on the lane adjacent to the work zone in the median on Corniche Street. Those closures will happen only during the night and for a maximum of two hours each time when delivering and unloading the material that will be used onto the median island. Plastic barriers will be put in place along the kerbstone of the median, which will reduce the width of the lane adjacent to the median by about 40 cm, however the lane will remain open for traffic. There will also be a closure on one lane to install the electric cables for the new traffic light signal which also takes place during the night hours and on the weekend.

United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari shareholding company and master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, today announced that its first limited auction offering of nine Qanat Quartier townhouses has successfully concluded.

Through the envelope bidding method, UDC had auctioned some of the finest and most luxurious townhouses in the Venice-like community of Qanat Quartier. By the set September 13^th deadline, the Company had received and subsequently processed bids for the nine units in accordance to the Auction’s set rules and regulations.

In what was considered to be a very competitive process with a set minimum opening price of QR 25,000 per square meter, a number of bids exceeded this amount, consequently setting a new benchmark for future sale rates at The Pearl-Qatar, where further real estate investment opportunities are expected to be offered in the fourth quarter this year in what is expected to impact UDC’s outlook and further its growth for the current financial year and beyond.

Townhouses in Qanat Quartier are offered in two or three bedroom units covering 350 square meters and above. Offering views over the picturesque water canals, all units also feature parking areas, as well as direct access to the beach. Residents can enjoy the stunning architecture, privileged lifestyle on the water and water taxis linking Qanat Quartier with other areas in The Pearl-Qatar. Residents can also enjoy a wide variety of retail options, including restaurants, cafes, gift shops, art galleries, small fashion boutiques, food markets, resorts, recreation facilities and specialized gyms.

A Venice-like community, Qanat Quartier is one of the most popular and attractive precincts in The Pearl-Qatar, quickly becoming a highly sought after address in the Gulf region. Its unique Venetian-inspired architecture, with brightly colored houses, canal ways, bridges and seaside facades, render it a unique and attractive residential destination. 

The Public Works Authority held today a press conference presided over by H.E. Eng. Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi, President of the Public Works Authority 'Ashghal'. The press conference was open to all local media representatives to discuss and clarify the circumstances and reasons surrounding the water overflow at Lebsayyer Interchange (Interchange 42) on Dukhan Highway; that took place on Friday 11 September.

The authority had issued a press release on Wednesday 16 September to give an overview of the reasons behind the overflow until a press conference is held to further explain all the technical details that are difficult to include in a press release. Engineer Ahmed Al Sharif, Drainage Networks Operations and Maintenance Manager at Ashghal, gave a detailed and technical presentation in which he explained the nature of the site where the overflow of water onto the road took place. Eng. Al Sharif mentioned that Dukhan Highway was designed between 2002 and 2005 and was constructed and opened to public in 2008.

He also described the procedures that the authority usually takes on such occurrences and went over the storm water drainage facilities on Dukhan Highway Lebsayyer Interchange (Interchange 42), and displayed information about the heavy rains that fell in that particular location and played some video bits showing the intense and exceptional rainfall.

The presentation was followed by H.E. the President also reiterating that the Public Works Authority had taken all the necessary procedures as per the approved emergency plan to deal with such cases, and emphasized the following points:

• Ashghal dealt with the situation based on emergency plans and procedures.
• Ashghal is a responsible government body that is supervised and controlled by the concerned government entities, and it does not hesitate to transparently acknowledge any mistake and take action against any party that underperforms, Ashghal is also ready to submit any reports in this regards or for the concerned government entities to investigate the issue.
• Wasting resources and budgets happens when using design standards that exceeds the optimum accepted standards, dramatically increasing the projects costs without a reason except avoiding such an incident that only occurs a few times and has emergency plans to deal with it within a few hours. Those rare situations are dealt with through emergency plans and procedures, as it is not possible to design rain drainage systems or other engineering projects based on exceptional situations since this would be real waste of public money.
• The water overflow that took place in 2012 was in a different location that is five km away from Lebsayyer Interchange, and Ashghal dealt with it when it happened very transparently, and acknowledged that there was a design mistake. Action was taken against the responsible party, and Ashghal also took action on site back then. 
• After technical studies, it was clear to us that there were no technical or design defects in the mentioned interchange, but the heavy and unusual rainfall on the road and surrounding area that exceeded the network’s design capacity prevented it from coping with big amount of water. This was visible in the video that was shown during the conference and through the information Ashghal received in this regards.

H.E. the President pointed out that the Public Works Authority maintains a policy in place to make sure that any incident is looked into and investigated before providing any technical data so as to ensure that accurate answers are given. H.E. also emphasized that although there are no defaults in design, the authority still requested concerned departments to re-evaluate the design and prepare a comprehensive report. H.E the President mentioned that a meeting was held in the presence of H.E the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning, Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Khalifa Al Thani and municipality directors to discuss the emergency procedures that aim to reduce the impacts associated with such incidents.

Among the procedures discussed is the need for the presence of representatives from Ashghal at the National Command Centre in emergency situations as well as the deployment of emergency equipment such as water pumps and tankers in different locations in the country to reach the intended location faster rather than launching from one single location. At the end of the press conference, the media was given the chance to ask questions freely and openly and the questions tackled a number of issues, namely, the water overflow issue at Interchange 42 on Dukhan Highway, and other projects. H.E the president responded to all the questions in a transparent and clear manner.

The Pearl-Qatar, United Development Company’s (UDC) flagship project and one of the largest urban developments in Qatar, has prepared a line-up of entertainment activities during the three-day Eid Al-Adha holiday, September 24 to 26, 2015.

The largest assortment of entertainment and festivities await visitors at Porto Arabia boardwalk, specifically in 20 La Croisette as well as in 18 La Croisette, where another action packed program of events will be taking place indoors at Tickles & Giggles, the Island's exclusive kids party boutique, all assuring unprecedented fun with family and friends and that The Pearl-Qatar as a family destination is always eager to share the joy of Eid with its residents and visitors by organizing a range of entertaining events and exciting activities suited to all members of the family.

This year’s Eid festival features three nights of family entertainment shows on Porto Arabia boardwalk in 20 Croisette, highlighted by a theatre show, bubble show, wall drawing and arts and crafts workshop. Nearby, and indoor in 18 La Croisette, Tickles & Giggles will host a play arena inside their boutique with popcorn and cotton candy, face painting, balloon twisting, ‘Paint Me’ art workshop and cupcake decoration for children, as well as other related recreational activities where parents can also partake in the fun.

Admired as Doha’s “Riviera Arabia,” The Pearl-Qatar occupies a prime location off the coast of Doha’s West Bay. An assortment of residential accommodations for every taste and style, balanced mixtures of retail and hospitality outlets, three world-class marinas and an impressive beachfront have made this man-made Island one of the most desirable addresses in the Gulf region, as well as a destination for unmatched shopping and leisure experiences.

The total value of trading in real estate sales contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice from 13 to 17 September amounted to QR 1,124,934,699. According to the weekly bulletin issued by the department, the list of properties that were traded by sale includes open plots of land, houses and multi purpose buildings, which are located in the municipalities of Doha, Umm Salal, Al Khor, Al Dhakira, Al Rayyan, Al Daayen, Al Wakra and Al Shamal. 

A number of street expansion works will be implemented in the Corniche Area in accordance with recommendations of the Traffic Congestions Committee, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) said, adding that works start on Tuesday and will last for 10 weeks.

The expansion works will include the construction of an additional lane on the left side of Al Corniche Street for a distance of 375 meters towards National Theatre Intersection, enabling vehicles to turn left towards Mohammed bin Thani Street through three lanes instead of two. Works will also include widening the road for a distance of 475 meters for those coming from Majlis Al Taawon Street right into Mohammed bin thani Street and heading right to Al Corniche Street, to become two lanes instead of one. 

An additional lane will also be constructed in part of Mohammed bin Thani Street heading right towards Majlis Al Taawon Street to become two lanes instead of one for a distance of 230 meters. This is in addition to the construction of a new lane on Mohammed bin Thani Street, from its intersection with Majlis Al Taawon Street for a distance of about 50 meters. There will be no closures on the main streets during the construction period as most of the expansion works will be carried out on the central islands and street verges. 

Ashghal will install road signs to advice motorists of the road works and the authority has requested commuters to abide by speed limits and follow the road signs to ensure their safety.

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) announces that it will implement a temporary closure on Jelaiha Roundabout, at the intersection between Al-Khafji Street and the Arab League Street. The closure will begin on Saturday, 26th September, and will be in place until the morning of Wednesday, 30th September 2015. This temporary Closure aims to continue the works of converting Jelaiha Roundabout to a signal-controlled intersection, as part of phase one of the Development of Al Khafji Street and Surrounding Streets project.

During this period, two lanes will remain open in both directions on the streets surrounding Jelaiha Roundabout, namely Al-Khafji Street and the Arab League Street, as shown in the attached map. Vehicles coming from Al-Bia'a (Environment) Roundabout towards Jelaiha Roundabout will need to turn right to Dahl Al-Hamam intersection, and take a U-turn back to Jelaiha Roundabout. Vehicles coming from Hazm Al-Markhiya Roundabout towards Jelaiha Roundabout will need to turn right to the College of the North Atlantic Roundabout, and take a U-turn back to Jelaiha Roundabout.

Vehicles coming from the College of the North Atlantic Roundabout towards Jelaiha Roundabout will need to turn right to Al-Bia'a (Environment) Roundabout, and take a U-turn back to Jelaiha Roundabout. Vehicles coming from Dahl Al-Hamam intersection towards Jelaiha Roundabout will need to turn right to Hazm Al-Markhiya Roundabout, and take a U-turn back to Jelaiha Roundabout. Entrance and egress to residential buildings and businesses in the area will also remain open during the closure period.

It is worth mentioning that works of phase one will include upgrading around 300 metres of Al Khafji Street and the Arab League Street, which will include widening the mentioned streets from three to four lanes in each direction, thus enhancing road capacity to accommodate current and future traffic needs. Ashghal will install road signs to advice motorists of the closure. The authority requests all road users to abide by the speed limits, and follow the road signs to ensure their safety.