Rents in Qatar's residential market are poised to increase further due to the “considerable” expansion in the blue-collar workforce and on “limited” supply of new villa compounds, according to Al Asmakh Real Estate Development Company (Aredc), said Gulf Times. 

Due to “considerable” addition of educated and blue-collar workforce, demand for residences has been continuously rising, a report from valuation and research department of Aredc said. The insistence of professional expatriates, across all income brackets, to live together has led the “demand for housing stretch over all kind of rental properties”, it said. Majority of the expatriates prefer to stay in apartments, therefore these dwelling are the most in demand with Doha municipality remaining the most popular area for renting apartments. 

West Bay and The Pearl are predominantly high-end apartments catering to the affluent; whereas areas around C-Ring Road offer mid-rental and Doha downtown offers low-rental apartments, the report said. “Qatar rental market has space to grow, so the rental rates,” it said, adding a 2BR apartment in The pearl and West Bay is available at a monthly rental of QR14,000 to QR18,000; while in Al Sadd, Msheireb and Bin Mahmoud, it is available at QR7,000 to QR12,000.

A 3-BR apartment could fetch a monthly rent of QR8,500 to QR19,000 depending on the location and amenities of the building, it said. Highlighting that ever since 2010, the year-on-year apartment rental rate increase has been 7% to 10%; Aredc said “at present, we notice significant undersupply within in residential real estate market; hence we anticipate this upsurge will continue for the upcoming quarters.” Finding that the affluent segment of professional expatriates prefer to stay in villas, especially those in well-managed compounds, it said both standalone and gate community villas are in demand and have their own demographics of tenants.

“Despite a year-on-year 5% to 8% rental growth in villas, the occupancies in villa compounds remain as high as 90% and in standalone up to 70%,” it said. Al Waab and Duhail are considered premium over other areas of Qatar, even as demand is equally stretched across Doha and extended to neighbouring areas as Al Rayyan, Umm Slal, Al Wakrah and Al Khor, it said. Finding that the preference of location is based on the rents, the report said villas in Al Wakrah and Al Khor are mostly taken by larger-size household with budget constraints while those in Al Waab and Duhail by small to medium-size families with larger rental budgets.

The remaining areas such as Abu Hamour, Madinat Khalifa, Gharaffa, Al Thumama, Nuiaja and Al Hilal accommodate all segments of occupiers. The demand is seen higher for 3BR and 4BR villas with a 4BR villa in Al Waab fetching an average monthly rental of QR16,000; whereas similar size villas in Al Wakrah is available at QR10,500; thus offering wide range of choices to suit each class of household. “The supply of new villa compounds is limited, which amplifies the year-on-year demand basis on the rental rates,” Aredc said, adding the bottom line is that Qatar rental market has space to grow.

A company was found violating rules and constructing a road without license in Al Ruwais area, it was referred to security authorities, said The Peninsula. The Ministry of Environment said on its official Twitter account.

United Developers returned for a second year in a row to Cityscape Global, the Middle East’s renowned real estate event, to showcase its $1.25bn development, Place Vendôme, said Gulf Times.

Currently underway in Lusail City, Place Vendôme is anticipated to become the luxury, lifestyle and leisure destination for the region upon its completion, slated for the third quarter of 2017, according to a statement. Cityscape Global took place in Dubai earlier this month. The stand, with its “unique feature” of 1,800 crystal drops, showcased two architectural models of the Place Vendôme development, detailing all features of the project. Place Vendôme received great attention and praise from industry peers, architects, designers, government authorities and media that visited the stand to learn about the project, the statement noted. 

Sean Kelly, project director, said: “We are delighted to return to the region’s largest real estate event. We see Cityscape Global as the ideal platform to connect with industry peers and stay connected to the latest developments in our sector. Over the three days, we welcomed thousands of visitors and a large number of industry representatives who were updated and impressed by the progress of the project since last year’s event.”

Enabling works for the project were completed with the excavation of 2mn cubic tonnes from the site, the installation of 5,300 foundation piles and the pouring of 250,000 cubic m of concrete. The project is now advancing in its construction drawing significant progress on the hotel components and the levels of retail space, the statement explains. “Our return to Cityscape Global comes in line with our efforts to promote the progress of our project and reinforce confidence in Place Vendôme. We are committed towards delivering the very best and most importantly, on schedule,” added Kelly. 

Since the regional announcement of Place Vendôme at Cityscape Global last year, United Developers has travelled around the world to promote the project and introduce it to leading brands in the fashion and luxury industries. The Place Vendôme roadshow engaged retailers in Paris, Milan, Cannes, Dubai, London and most recently Florence. Place Vendôme will be returning to MAPIC later this year in Cannes, France, to meet with international retail brands.

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces that one lane in each direction on the E-Ring Road and Najma Street, intersecting at Al Thumama Roundabout, will be temporarily closed in approximately 400 meter sections. A newly constructed temporary roundabout will allow traffic around the construction works inside the roundabout, as shown in the pictured map​. The closure will begin on Tuesday, 29 September, 2015, and will last four months.

The objective of this closure is to allow for the construction works needed to convert Al Thumama Roundabout to a signal-controlled junction, as part of the Interim Upgrade project on E-Ring Road and Najma Street, which will serve to reduce traffic congestion in the area. It’s worth mentioning that the project works will include widening the E-Ring Road and Najma Street, developing the infrastructure utilities, upgrading drainage networks in the area, in addition to providing pedestrian and cyclist paths, street lighting, and landscaping.

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.

In addition, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced that a partial diversion will take place on the street parallel to Al Amir Street, stretching 800 metres from its intersection with Kasr Al Rayyan Street towards Al Rayyan Interchange. The diversion will begin on Monday 28th of September 2015, and will last for a year. During this period, the traffic will be diverted to an alternative road with the same number of lanes adjacent to the existing road, as shown in the map above.

The diversion is required to allow the construction of the bridge that will link Al Rayyan Road to Al Shamal Road via Al Amir Street, as part of the second phase works of Al Rayyan Road upgrade project, which will serve to reduce traffic congestion in Al Rayyan area and provide easy access to residential and commercial areas. Ashghal will install road signs to advise motorists of the diversion. The authority requests all road users to abide by the speed limits, and follow the road signs to ensure their safety.

Furthermore, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces that it will implement a temporary closure on the Roundabout 23, in both the East and the West directions leading to Street 23 in the Industrial Area. Al Kassarat Street, However, will remain open in the two other directions through the roundabout. The closure will start on Monday 28th September, 2015, and will last six months. The subsidiary streets parallel to Al-Kassarat Street Eastbound, and leading to the residential and commercial areas surrounding Street 23, will also be closed, as shown in the map above. 

It is worth mentioning that this closure is part of the construction works to develop Doha’s Industrial Area. The project aims to increase the capacity of roads and support the traffic flow, in addition to providing the area with integral infrastructure. Ashghal apologises for any inconvenience, and urges all road users to abide by speed limits and traffic signs to ensure their safety.

The first international Qatar Facilities Innovation Forum will be held in Doha, Qatar from 8-10 November 2015.

This major Facilities Management (FM) event brings together global and regional decision-makers to highlight the importance of improved building safety management, design, systems – and responsible long term operational maintenance. The Qatar Facilities Innovation Forum will feature the latest innovations and newest FM practices being implemented by the industry around the globe, and increasingly across the Middle East. The event is accordingly supported by the Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA).

Ali Al Suwaidi, Board Member at MEFMA, stated this week: “Facilities Management is now firmly on the agenda of the region’s governments, with building efficiency a key target. Hence our support for the Qatar Forum.” Alistair Stranack, Partner at Credo Consulting and an Advisory Board Member for the Qatar Forum, added: "Creating and executing a comprehensive facilities management strategy has to be at the top of any owner’s agenda. This isn't a nice-to-have, this is essential work." Together with some 25 other experts, both Al Suwaidi and Stranack will be speakers at the event.

Topics at the Qatar Facilities Innovation Forum will include the role of Government in defining and regulating the FM Sector (i.e. establishing GCC-wide codes for FM); whether FM companies should become involved at the building design stage, even before bricks are laid; how developers and owners can improve operational efficiency and lower costs – and how the FM Industry should use performance measures as a key differentiator. The Forum offers a unique platform for Facilities and Planning Managers, Architects, Environmental Engineers and Procurement teams – plus Health & Safety, Operations and Security Professionals.

They will exchange key industry insights, share knowledge and network with peers from Qatari and GCC Government Agencies, Transport, Healthcare, Education and Sports Authorities – as well as the entire residential and commercial buildings sector. Sanjeev Singh, Project Director of the Qatar Facilities Innovation Forum​, concluded: “The FM Industry is also keen to discuss safety and security issues, ‘green building’ requirements, and the successes – and missteps – of early adopters of FM in the region and elsewhere. “We have received highly encouraging initial reactions from the industry and the Qatari public and private sectors.”

The Qatar Facilities Innovation Forum​ is organised by TMC Conferences – creators of the recent and well-received Qatar Big Data & Analytics Workshops, held in Doha during June 2015. The current programme, with fuller details on topics and speakers, is available on the Qatar Facilities Forum​ website, www.fminnovationqatar.com or call TMC on: +971 4 276 5409; E-mail: info@fminnovationqatar.com

Techniche Middle East represented in Qatar by its exclusive authorized distributor JMS will be participating in the Employee Health & Wellbeing Conference being held on 11^th-13^th October 2015 at the InterContinental Hotel, Doha, Qatar & demonstrating the TechNiche International climate control cooling wear product line including HyperKewl™, TechKewl™ Phase Change Management Cooling, KewlFit™ and DryKewl™.

The Employee Health & Wellbeing conference is being held under the patronage of H.E. Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health, Qatar and officially supported by the Supreme Council of Health. TechNiche International, headquartered at Vista, California in US is the leading manufacturer of climate control heat stress management cooling apparel for individuals and corporates offering heat stress management cooling solutions to global clients across 50 countries in Sports, Defense & Police, Medical & Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Construction, Contracting, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Aviation, Animals, Civil and Industrial segments.

Techniche Middle East, specializes in improving employee & worker welfare through their range of protection gear which reduces heat stress in extreme weather conditions. TechNiche has positioned itself as the primary manufacturer and supplier of products that combat heat, heat stress and improve worker welfare in the Middle East. The Techniche product line consists of cooling garments and accessories for anyone at work, play or rest & its cooling wearables helps individuals, employees & workers mitigate the effects of high heat and humidity and improves productivity & efficiency.

JMS the authorized distributor for Qatar will be at the conference demonstrating the benefits of the patented cooling technology from the HyperKewl™ Evaporative Cooling, TechKewl™ Phase Change Management Cooling, KewlFit™ and DryKewl™ product lines showcasing the heat stress management, obesity/weight management and performance enhancement cooling products.

The 14th meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers Concerned with Housing Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was held here on Thursday.

In his opening speech, HE Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, said today's meeting comes as a continuation of a series of meetings recently hosted by the State of Qatar and it is held in the context of the development of the GCC joint work aimed at achieving visions, aspirations and directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC leaders in providing all support and assistance for GCC citizens in order to build up a human being unable to cope with the modern requirements and contribute to making the GCC countries an aspiring model.

He stressed that the circumstances in the region are accurate and difficult which require a lot of effort and work, noting that the region is witnessing radical changes and economic developments imposing on the GCC economies a number of new challenges. He highlighted the important role being played by the private sector, as the economic growth engine and generator of high-added-value job opportunities through which young people would contribute effectively in building, enhancing and developing the performance of the GCC counties' economies towards a bright future.

He explained that there are several important topics on the meeting's agenda, including housing information rules, the GCC Award in the field of housing, coordination and preparation for the meetings of housing, construction, field visits for housing projects, the GCC Building Code along with other important topics. He urged the GCC Ministers to enhance joint work in order to build up an effective cooperation towards better prospects for the future generations, renewing commitment to the approach developed by Their Majesties and Highnesses GCC leaders.

HE the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs thanked Kuwait's Minister of State for Housing Affairs, HE Yasser Hassan Abul, for his efforts during his presidency over the previous session of the Commission which made it successful by all standards.

Ashghal, Qatar’s public works authority, has awarded two contracts worth €550mn (QR2.24bn) to a consortium led by French contracting company Bouygues Construction, Abu Dhabi-based The National reported yesterday, said Gulf Times.

The contracts cover the construction of two major sewage tunnels in Doha that are being built as part of the QR10bn Idris (Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy) project. Aimed at massively increasing the capacity of Doha’s sewerage and waste water network to cope with the needs of the rapidly increasing population, the project is scheduled to be completed over an eight-year period. The work covers a northern section that will be up to 16km long and 3m wide, and a southern section that will be 14km long and 4.5m wide.

“The consortium, which includes the Qatari contractor Urbacon Trading & Contracting, is set to start work on site soon. It is due to hand over the completed tunnels in 2019,” The National said. “For this ambitious project, we have developed an innovative technical solution that will enable us to address the customer’s concerns effectively and fully meet their expectations,” the daily quoted Jean-Philippe Trin, the deputy chief executive of Bouygues Travaux Publics, as saying.

Another of the company’s subsidiaries, Bouygues Batiment International, is working towards the completion of the Qatar Petroleum District – a complex with 700,000 sq m of space that houses nine office towers, a conference centre and a five-star, 400-bedroom hotel, the report said. A report on Qatar’s economic prospects by Samba Financial Group estimates that $30bn of contracts are due to be awarded this year, and that contracts worth a similar figure would be awarded next year. The total amount of contract awards due between this year and 2020 is $135bn, according to the report.

A number of major sewage treatment works are currently under way across the country. The Doha North Sewage Treatment Works is among the prominent projects currently being executed.

The Public Works Authority announced that a one direction temporary traffic closure will be put in place for a period of 9 hours on the Corniche Street in the direction from the Emiri Diwan Intersection toward the National Theatre Intersection. The diversion will start at 2:00 am on Friday morning 9 October 2015 until 11:00 am of the same day and traffic will be diverted to the Al Bidaa Roundabout during this period.

The diversion is needed to complete the expansion works of the National Theatre Intersection based on the recommendations of the Traffic Congestion Committee after studying the needs of traffic flow at this area of the Corniche Street.

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces that the single-lane exit road at Al Kheesa Interchange (N.10) on Al Shamal Road will be temporarily closed. Traffic will be diverted to a temporary newly constructed single-lane exit adjacent to the closed road, as shown on the attached map. The diversion will begin on Friday 9^th October, 2015, and will last three months and 20 days.

The diversion is located within Zone 70 in Jeryan Jenaihat area, and aims at improving safety and allow for the construction works of pier no.5 foundation of the proposed flyover, which is part of the Road Enhancement Works on North Road project. Ashghal will install road signs to advice motorists of the diversion. The authority requests all road users to abide by the speed limits, and follow the road signs to ensure their safety.

United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari shareholding company and master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, today announced plans to sell 56 villa plots for residential development in Giardino Villas, one of the most prestigious and upcoming villa precincts on the Island.

Open for a period of three weeks from November 1 to 21, Villa plots range in size from 520 to 1,570 square meters and are all ideally situated in one of the most secluded and unassuming neighborhoods of The Pearl-Qatar. Within a short walking or driving distance from Viva Bahriya, Medina Centrale, Porto Arabia and Qanat Quartier, these new villa plots are conveniently located to allow for easy access to the retail and entertainment outlets in these districts.

Early buyers can benefit from an incentive plan designed to reward investors coming forward in week one by offering them a 15 percent discount on the original set price of a given plot, while the discount for second and third week buyers will be 10 and 5 percent respectively.  Following the end of sales period on November 21, buyers will pay the full set price of the plot as originally announced.

The sale follows the successful auction of select sea-view townhouses in Qanat Quartier, which shows demand for properties at The Pearl-Qatar is on the rise. Investing at The Pearl-Qatar has historically netted good financial returns, and with the limited availability of real estate plots still available on the Island, potential investors realize this opportunity may not be obtainable again in the foreseeable future. While investors are expected to adhere to the requirements of the Giardino Villas Village’s master plan, they are allowed to develop villas that meet their own personal need. Upon signing the purchase agreement, each investor will receive clear design guidelines and is expected to follow them to ensure that Giardino Villas Village is designed in line with the Village’s minimum aesthetic expectations.

Carefully positioned amidst lush, landscaped parkland and picturesque lakes, The Pearl-Qatar’s Giardino Villas Village promises to be a highly prized residential district of spacious villas nestled in beautifully arranged gardens shaded by trees, while also neighboring key landmarks such as the five-star Marsa Malaz Kempinski, top class outdoor sports and leisure facilities and the shopping havens of Porto Arabia and Medina Centrale.

The Public Works Authority’s Human Resources Manager, Mr. Saif Al Kaabi, has won the Asian HR Leadership Award from non-profit human resources group CHRO Asia. The award was presented to him in recognition of his outstanding achievements and continuous efforts in developing human resources and enhancing capabilities through implementing a range of plans and initiatives that have contributed to enabling the authority’s nearly 2000 employees.

The recognition comes as a result of Al Kaabi’s continuing efforts to attract and retain Qatari talent and implement individual development plans, in addition to implementing a Succession Planning process to create leadership cadres in the authority. Al Kaabi also led international recruitment campaigns and initiatives to attract qualified and experienced candidates from around the world, with the aim to create a diverse work environment to support Ashghal's rapid development.

The award was presented to Mr. Saif Ali Al Kaabi at an award ceremony on October 6, 2015 at Taj Dubai, UAE. The event was hosted by Employer Branding Institute, Stars of the Industry Group, and the non-profit human resources group CHRO Asia.

Upon receiving the award, Al Kaabi said: “I am honoured to receive this award and represent the Public Works Authority. The credit for this achievement goes to authority’s senior management in the first place. A management that supports and encourages the implementation of plans, programmes, and initiatives aimed at developing the human resources and investing in the human capital, in line with the authority’s strategy emanating from the Qatar National Vision’s Human Development Pillar. The credit also goes to the experienced team of the authority’s Human Resources Department.”

Al Kaabi added: “At the Public Works Authority, we believe that human potential is one of the most important assets that any organisation or authority can have. Our strategy and approach are constantly focused on the development and empowerment of national cadres. We realise that enhancing competencies and retaining good cadres in all of Ashghal’s engineering and management work fields is the best way to achieve organisational excellence, which in turn will lead us to achieve the authority’s ultimate mission; building the country.”

The Asian HR Leadership Award represents an important achievement in the region, and reflects the corporate strategy adopted by the Public Works Authority with regards to the development of human resources at all levels. These Awards honour business leaders and organizations in recognition of their important efforts and commitment to achieving excellence, developing best practices, and developing innovative strategies.

It is worth mentioning that Mr. Saif Ali Al Kaabi, Human Resources Manager in Ashghal, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics, major of management, from Qatar University year 1999, and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Al Kaabi is also a winner of the “HR Professional of the Year 2014” award in the Public Sector category, from the sixth Annual MENA HR Excellence Awards 2014 held in Dubai. The award recognised human resources leaders for their innovative initiatives that inspire employees and contribute in achieving the corporate goals within the leadership standards.

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced that the southbound lane of Jassim bin Hamad Street which is 350m in length will be temporarily reopened, connecting the street with the westbound lane of Al Rayyan Road as shown in the attached map. The street will reopen as of Wednesday 14^th October 2015. The reopening of the street will cut journey times allowing commuters to directly access Al Rayyan Road through the Jassim bin Hamad Street instead of having to drive on Al Rashid Street and onto Al Yamama Street.

This temporary opening aims to ease traffic congestion in the area and reduce the impact of construction work on the residential and commercial areas surrounding Al Rayyan Road Project, Contract 2.  The lane will remain open throughout the implementation period of Al Maseelah Intersection, which is an important part of the project. Ashghal will install road signs to advice motorists of the diversion. The authority requests all road users to abide by the speed limits, and follow the road signs to ensure their safety.

The Oberoi Group opened a luxury hotel in the year 2014 in Dubai and will manage a luxury beach resort in Ajman which will open in the second quarter of 2016. The Oberoi Group has entered into Management Contracts for two new luxury properties in Qatar:

• A 250 key luxury hotel being developed in the West Bay area of Doha.
• A 148 key luxury serviced apartment building located in Lusail, Doha.

Planning of both the above projects is well under way and construction will commence early next year with completion of both projects in mid 2018. The hotel in Doha will reflect the same standards of luxury that Oberoi Hotels & Resorts are known for and the Lusail serviced apartments will also bring Oberoi’s exacting standards to a serviced apartment residential complex. Both Qatar projects are being sponsored by Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company (SAQ).

Mr. P.R.S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group said, “We are extremely pleased to have been selected by the Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company (SAQ) to assist them in the design and management of these two projects and we look forward to bringing the Oberoi hospitality to the Qatar market”. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts was voted the “World’s Best Hotel Brand” by Travel + Leisure, USA, this year.

On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) has organized a media roundtable hosting editors-in-chief of Qatar’s print media publications and revealing to them the Company’s renewed vision following the recent launch of gabbro and other materials’ sale last August 20th.

The roundtable also targeted the enhancement of the media’s role in QPMC’s outreach to suppliers and customers on the one hand, and the Company’s showcase of its efforts to fulfil Qatar’s national development goals and ambitious vision. With transparency being a key objective behind the building of tight bonds with the media, QPMC is equally working on embracing local contractors and private sector companies, who now constitute an essential pillar in QPMC’s reintroduced vision.

After welcoming senior media representatives and praising the local newspapers’ efforts to highlight achievements of all institutions working towards Qatar’s economic prosperity, Engineer Eisa Al-Hammadi, QPMC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), expressed the Company’s keenness on strengthening the role of the media through a communication mechanism that ensures efficient delivery of the latest news about the Company's projects and milestones and that responds swiftly to media enquiries about the Company's operations and strategies.

Al-Hammadi then discussed QPMC’s new vision, which includes developing close partnerships with the private sector which is considered as Al-Hammadi put it, "a key catalyst in the primary materials’ trade dynamics and real estate investment in the country”. He further stated, “It was necessary to revisit our vision after ten years in operation, and a paradigm shift from a cargo handling company, to a major construction materials’ trader and distributor and ambitiously, a price regulator at the local level.”

Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) has recently signed five agreements with private sector establishments for the procurement of primary construction materials to the Qatari market, mainly gabbro and limestone. As per the agreements, Doha Quarry is committed to provide 3 million tons of gabbro for a one year period while MFH will procure limestone for five years in the amount of 7.5 million tons. For its part, Oryx Trading has agreed to supply 2 million tons of gabbro for a year and finally Village Trading will be supplying in turn 6 million tons of gabbro over five years to QPMC; all Qatari owned companies.

Al-Hammadi commented that these agreements are capable of increasing the local stockpile of primary materials under the supervision of QPMC to 58 million tons, which takes care of the national demand first and foremost and ensures both price competitiveness and constancy for the benefit of QPMC’s new partners: private sector companies.

On the other hand, the Company signed to date, supply agreements with 24 local contractors to source to them 1.1052 million tons of materials, which would increase profitability and investment in the upgrade of Company assets and facilities to the highest levels allowing for the expansion of activities in the coming years, according to Al-Hammadi. In this past September alone, QPMC unloaded through its ports over 1,952,515,907 tons of materials.

In planning the import of the required quantity and specifications of gabbro aggregates, QPMC plays its part in ensuring that the construction sector continues to progress in the right direction by securing the required materials, by facilitating the stability of prices and by ensuring the regular availability of materials for the benefit of local public and private contractors. Along these lines, QPMC’s CEO, Engineer Eisa Al-Hammadi said the company seeks to “stabilize the prices of primary infrastructure materials and establish quality standards for aggregates and limestone in the long-term as part of its pivotal role in the country’s infrastructure development on the instruction of the Qatari government.”

The procured materials will be stored in QPMC-owned facilities in Lusail, Mesaieed and RasLaffan which will ensure accessibility of materials in the north, south and the capital city of Doha and timely delivery to all construction sites around the country as well as customer satisfaction including contractors and customers of primary materials from the private and government sectors.

In parallel, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and QPMC had also recently signed a framework of agreement and according to the agreement, QPMC will supply Ashghal with 91 million tons of gabbro and limestone for the next five years, making it one of the main customers of QPMC and a catalyst for infrastructural development in Qatar. The long term commitment with Ashghal as a key client, has also led QPMC to seek a deal with Hyundai Glovis, to ship a bulk amount of 50 million tons of aggregates to Qatar; over the coming five years.

The decision to launch sales of primary materials on the local front, through a central entity, QPMC in this case, will allow Ashghal and Qatari contracting companies involved in construction projects in general, to take advantage of competitive prices and guaranteed quality noting that the signed agreements include various specifications of primary materials to suit all construction requirements. Additionally, to maintain transparency while keeping cost to a minimum without compromising on quality, QPMC adopts the FIFO (first in first out) mechanism which means the materials entering the storage facility first will be sold first.

To account for the increasing demand on primary materials amidst the thriving construction sector, it is worth mentioning that QPMC is increasing the capacity of the bulk materials with the construction of the Gabbro Berth Terminal in Mesaieed Port, which will have an unloading capacity of 34 million tons a year. In Lusail, QPMC’s jetty will supply 3 million tons of construction material per year to support all construction work in the new city. QPMC has also set up two floating jetties in RasLaffan to supply the needed primary materials; with total port receiving capacity of 9 million tons a year; pointing out that all ports operate around the clock.

DTZ Qatar released its Q3 2015 market report today. The report highlights the impact that the government’s revisions of its spending plans has had on Qatar’s real estate market in the past six months, particularly the commercial and prime residential markets. 

The most significant findings include:

Residential Sector

• There has been an increase in vacancies in the prime residential market due to recent redundancies in the oil and gas sector.
• Despite these increases, rents in this sector have remained strong in Q2 and Q3. This is primarily due to an increase in population. The population of Qatar reached 2.37 million in May 2015, representing an increase of 9.2% since May 2014 due to steady job growth in non-hydrocarbon sectors such as finance, hotels, restaurants, and trade and transport.

Commercial Sector

• The commercial sector has witnessed a reduction of new office acquisitions from the public sector. Typically the public sector accounts for 60% of office leasing in Doha’s West Bay area.
• Most of the Q2 and Q3 activity has been limited to transactions of less than 250 m². There have been no commercial leases in excess of 3,000 m² agreed in Q3.
• There is currently 1.7 million m² of purpose built office space in the West Bay area. This represents about 40% of the supply. 

Johnny Archer, Associate Director, Consultancy and Research, DTZ, stated: “Declining oil and gas prices have resulted in a review of the budgets in many government departments and in the oil and gas sector; however, the government has recently confirmed that spending on infrastructural projects will proceed as planned. The key concern in the residential sector is rental inflation where new supply of accommodation for the middle income families has struggled to meet the demand of an increasing population. There has been an increase in vacancies in the prime residential market in recent months; however, with non-hydrocarbon sectors experiencing double-digit growth, occupancy levels are likely to recover over the next six months.” 

Kenneth Corbin, Head of Commercial Agency, DTZ Qatar added: “Whilst the residential market is showing signs of resilience during this period of Government review, the commercial sector is likely to be challenging in the near term as Landlords look to the private sector to fill the temporary void in Government take up. In our opinion, those Landlords offering the most flexibility in lease terms will reap the greatest benefits. Additionally, with an excess of 300,000 sqm of office space expected to be released to the market in the next 12 months in West Bay and Lusail, occupiers will be presented with an opportunity to improve the standard of their existing space and / or improve their current lease terms.”

In the hospitality market, DTZ expects occupancy levels to come under pressure due to the 4,000 new hotel rooms that will be available in the market from 2016. The supply of hotels will increase further in the medium term as preparations for Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 continue. A total of 11 new hotels have opened in 2015 adding around 1,400 rooms to the sector. More than 1.3 million additional square metres of retail space in 12 new shopping malls is currently under development and may be handed over by 2019 according to DTZ Qatar’s report. This translates into a 220% increase on the current supply, which will have a major impact on the retail market. Currently there is a strong demand from retailers and high occupancy levels and there is an increase in rental levels of lease renewals at busier shopping malls.

Concluding, Edd Brookes, General Manager, DTZ Qatar, stated: “Despite the softening of oil prices which were a feature of the market during the last two previous quarters, and of which there has been some growth of late, the Qatari market continues to provide both landlords and occupiers with significant opportunities. In particular, robust population growth forecasts together with very positive infrastructure deployment reinforces our view that Qatar economic growth ambitions remain highly positive despite budget revisions in the public sector.” 

Alfardan Properties has unveiled its new luxurious real estate proposition, Alfardan Elite Collection, an assortment of bespoke properties at the most sought after addresses in Doha, offering personalised services to enhance tenant’s lifestyles. Alfardan Elite Collection has been tailor-made to create an unparalleled lifestyle experience through not only superior residential and commercial properties, but a wide array of premium services and amenities. The collection includes Alfardan Gardens, Laguna Beach, Alfardan Towers, Burj Al Gassar, One Porto Arabia and Al Gassar Resort, setting a new benchmark in Qatar’s thriving real estate and property market.

Mr. Mohamed Sleiman, General Manager at Alfardan Properties commented: “Alfardan Elite Collection is a project we are all very excited and proud to launch for Qatar and its community. Utilising two decades of experience in the luxury property market, we have designed a unique offering that is unprecedented in the region. Alfardan Elite Collection is part of our ongoing vision and strategy to lead and innovate premium real estate. We see our properties as the body of our offering, but our superior services and staff are the soul.”

Sleiman continues: “Alfardan Elite Collection is unique in its attention to detail. Over the past three years we have listened to tenants conducting satisfaction surveys, attending to their needs and tailoring the Alfardan Elite Collection’s array of properties and personalised services to match.” Alfardan Elite Collection incorporates three core pillars: Safety & Security through continuous investment in state of the art technology ensures guests are safe and secure at all times; Service, the 24-hour Call Centre is a promise guests can get assistance any time of the day should they need it; and Entertainment & Well-being, offering a variety of activities for guests to enjoy at their homes.

Tenants at Alfardan Elite Collection are able to take advantage of value adding services such as music, ballet, martial arts and dance classes, as well as on-hand fitness instructors with top of the range gym amenities. Beyond health and well-being, there are also educational services for kids and adults alike, with international educational institutions offering premium language lessons at the convenience of your home. Each tenant can also take part in the many events hosted for its communities, including regular networking events to help nurture and enhance community growth.

In conjunction to unveiling Alfardan Elite Collection, Alfardan Properties also launched a first in Qatar a ‘One Hour Promise’ for its tenants. A promise offering peace of mind for families, friends and companies, that any issues will be taken care of swiftly and easily. It is a commitment to exceeding tenant expectations across maintenance, engineering or customer care queries. The ‘One Hour Promise’ is executed by professional teams located on-site at each of the Alfardan Elite Collection properties, at any given time and day.

Alfardan Elite Collection has a variety of properties, but tenants and guests will know they have arrived at Qatar’s leading luxury destination with signature soothing music and fragrance in the lobbies. Beyond top of the range premium facilities, services and amenities, at the heart of the Alfardan Elite Collection is Smart Living Solutions. As a market leader in its field, Alfardan Properties is the leading voice on the subject believing the adoption of Smart Living Solutions is vital to ensuring safer, sustainable and more efficient living and working experiences.

QPMC has strategically launched gabbro sales to local construction companies earlier on August 20th after is has secured supply agreements procuring nearly 22 million additional tons of primary materials by private Qatari companies that operate overseas quarries.

In view of its new vision, QPMC has signed a new offtake agreement with Village Trading Group for the supply and delivery of high Gabbro products with the capacity to supply 30,000,000 million tons of high quality quarry products.The signing ceremony took place at QPMC headquarters and was attended by top officials. The applauded agreement was signed by Mr. Essam Al-Abed, Village Trading Group CEO and Engineer Eisa Al-Hammadi, QPMC CEO. Under the terms of the agreement, Village Trading Group has agreed to supply QPMC with 6,000,000 million tons of Gabbro Aggregates annually over the next five years.

In planning the import of the required quantity,Village Trading Group is committed to provide QPMC with gabbro aggregates abiding with the following grades: 0-5 mm Gabbro as well as 5-32mm grades, commencing January 1^st, 2016. It is worth mentioning that all grades supplied to QPMC match the Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS) and Ashghal’s specifications and quality standards. QPMC plays its part in ensuring that the construction sector continues to progress in the right direction by securing the required materials, by facilitating the stability of prices and by ensuring the regular availability of materials. 

Along these lines, QPMC’s CEO, Engineer Eisa Al-Hammadi said the company seeks to “stabilize the prices of primary infrastructure materials and establish quality standards for aggregates and limestone in the long-term as part of its pivotal role in the country’s infrastructure development on the instruction of the Qatari government.” From his part, Village Trading Group CEO, Mr. Essam Al-Abed said, “It is imperative for us to benchmark and partner with QPMC whilst supporting its new vision which is strategically aligned with Qatar’s sustainable development and comes at the forefront of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy. It is a pride for us to partake in the nation’s imperative development thrives.”

Mr. Al-Abed added, “Village Trading Group established in 2005, offers specialized services to the construction industry, has a unique full operational cycle by supplying construction materials from the source "Combined Mining And Shipping" operations in Fujairah , RAK – UAE to the markets in the state of Qatar via 2 ships of a total capacity of 90000 MT and our fleet of 60 trucks loading / discharging from Mesaieed Port & the Pearl Qatar to our customers in order to secure a regular supply of Gabbro Aggregate and Limestone.”

In parallel, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and QPMC had also recently signed a framework of agreement and according to the agreement, QPMC will supply Ashghal with 91 million tons of gabbro and limestone for the next five years, making it one of the main customers of QPMC and a catalyst for infrastructural development in Qatar.

The decision to launch sales of primary materials on the local front, through a central entity, QPMC in this case, will allow QPMC’s strategic partner Ashghal and the Qatari contracting companies involved in construction projects in general, to take advantage of competitive prices and guaranteed quality noting that the signed agreements include various specifications of primary materials to suit all construction requirements. Additionally, to maintain transparency while keeping cost to a minimum without compromising on quality, QPMC adopts the FIFO (first in first out) mechanism which means the materials entering the storage facility first will be sold first.

To account for the increasing demand on primary materials amidst the thriving construction sector, it is worth mentioning that QPMC is increasing the capacity of the bulk materials with the construction of the Gabbro Berth Terminal in Mesaieed Port, which will have an unloading capacity of 34 million tons a year. In Lusail, QPMC’s jetty will supply 3 million tons of construction material per year to support all construction work in the new city. QPMC has also set up two floating jetties in RasLaffan to supply the needed primary materials; with total port receiving capacity of 9 million tons a year; pointing out that all ports operate around the clock.

Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) has recently signed five agreements with private sector establishments for the supply of primary construction materials to the Qatari market, mainly gabbro and limestone.

The Public Works Authority 'Ashghal' announces the temporary closure of a 1 km section on each direction of the fast lane on Salwa Road, near Mesaieed Interchange (Exit 24). Traffic will continue on the remaining open lanes, as shown in the attached map.

The closure will begin on Friday 16 October until 31 December 2015, and is needed to allow for the construction of the new Junction 7 (Currently Exit 24), as part of Phase 3 of the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route project. Ashghal will install road signs to advise 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.

Khalifa International Stadium has reached a major milestone completing 3.7 million man-hours without Lost Time Accidents. Over 3,200 people work daily at the site of the historic stadium, which is one of the proposed host venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. An event was held at Khalifa International Stadium – Aspire Zone Precinct to commemorate this safety mark, which is based on industry practice representing working hours without any Lost-Time Accidents. This event was part of a series of safety-related events organized by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and its partners across all stadium sites currently underway.

Safety days and safety recognition initiatives are held on a regular basis across all 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar proposed host venue construction sites, helping to contribute to the SC’s safety record of zero fatalities on all projects. A joint venture between Micmac Contracting and Sixconstruct Qatar W.L.L. (a subsidiary of the Belgian Besix Group) is overseeing the main construction works as main contractor on the stadium. Dar Al Handasah and Projacs are the Design and Project Manager Consultants respectively. All mentioned parties, in addition to workers on site, took part in the celebratory event held recently.

Gary D. Higham, Site Senior Safety Engineer, SC Technical Delivery Office, highlighted the importance of good management and training activities to achieve this safety mark. He said: "Coordination has been paramount. Part of the achievement has been the excellent management and facilities on site, in addition to the standards of health care that are here." Eric Chantraine, HSE Manager for the Main Contractor, highlighted the importance of this achievement, given the number of workers on site is over 3,200 on a daily basis: "All stakeholders have the same commitment: Our main criteria is always safety."

On the first day on the project, workers attend a safety induction and a presentation to remind them of the basic rules and also have further training three times a week. During these regular sessions the team evaluates safety procedures and points out practices that need to be improved. Meanwhile, Sureshkuar Sreedharn, one of the scaffolders at the site who attended the event, emphasised that safety is very important for everyone working at Khalifa International Stadium: "I remind my team the safety rules every day before they start work and tell them to use their PPE. I also attend safety training regularly so I can transmit this knowledge to the rest of the workers," he said.

Originally built as a 20,000-seater stadium in 1976, the stadium is currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation to meet the FIFA Requirements and Standards for World Cup stadiums. Work includes adding a new building to the east wing, and building a single roof to cover the whole seating area. After the renovation, Khalifa International Stadium will seat more than 40,000 spectators and will be completely cooled, including the field of play, all seats and concourses. The redevelopment will allow the stadium to host group stage, round of 16 and quarter-final match.