As part of its commitment to enhance communication between the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ and all the segments of the community, including school students, the Public Works Authority organised a visit to Abdulla Bin Ali Al Misnad Secondary School for Boys.

During the visit, Ashghal showcased a number of projects being implemented in Al Khor Al Thakira Municipality in order to raise the students' awareness about Ashghal’s role in improving and developing their areas. The presentation also aimed at introducing the students to engineering fields that they can pursue to join Ashghal in its mission to implement the state’s infrastructure and buildings projects.

Participating in the visit was a team from Ashghal’s Public Relations and Communications Department, headed by Mr. Meshal Al Sulaiti,Head of Public Relations section, along with a number of engineers from Ashghal, including Eng. Ahmed Fathi Ahmed Ali, Planning and Projects Management Engineer, and Eng. Nasser Al Kuwari, from Expressway Department.Receiving them was Mr. Jassim Jumaa Al Mureikhi, the School Director, and Mr. Ali Rashed Al Muhannadi, Students Affairs Director.

A comprehensive presentation and explanation was given to the students regarding the authority’s mission and the projects being carried out by Ashghal in Al Khor and Al Thakhira, including their specifications, phases and benefits. The presentation also included photos of the completed works so far, as well as communications channels to communicate with Ashghal through the call centre or the community liaison officers for each project.The visit concluded with a questions and answers session.

On this occasion, Mr. Meshal Al Sulaiti, Head of Public Relations Section, said: "We are happy with the students interaction, and this visit represents a part of the integrated community outreach programme carried out by the authority. It also comes after the community outreach event Ashghal held recently in Al Khor and Al Thakhira Municipality to raise awareness and involve the community in the achievement of the mission assigned to Ashghal.”

Mr. Meshal Al Sulaiti added “Such school visits constitute an important part of Ashghal’s community outreach programme especially that the authority is seeking to boost local engineering talents, which requires familiarising the students with the fields in which they can specialise.Through such visits, we try to encourage these students, expand their horizon, and inspire them to choose many fields of study in which they can make a positive contribution towards building their country.”

The visit saw a lot of interaction from the students who showed significant interest in what was being presented. The authority also received a nice welcome by the school administration and teaching staff, who welcomed the implementation of similar ideas and programmes which help involve school students in the overall development system that the country aspires for in all fields, especially in the field of infrastructure development.

The following expressway projects were among the projects carried out by the Public Works Authority in the area and showcased before the students:

The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route project, Al Shamal Road Enhancement project, and Al Huwaila Link Road which was completed last year. The presentation showcased three local roads and infrastructure projects currently in progress in Al Khor and Thakhira, in addition to one completed project and another project in design phase. The presentation also showcased roads maintenance projects, highlighting the school zone safety programme in addition to buildings projects which include a number of new schools, health centres and hospitals in Al Khor and Al Thakhira, along with general and Awqaf projects which include the Marine Research Centre in RasMatbakh, the transfer and recycling station and other projects.

United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari shareholding company and master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, yesterday received a Certificate of Appreciation from the 24^th World ITMA (International Traffic Medicine Association) Congress, which was hosted by the State of Qatar from November 16 to 18, 2015, under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Hussein Akbar Al Baker, A/Director of Marketing and Communications at United Development Company, received the Certificate during a gala dinner organized in the Sheraton Doha Hotel by ITMA 2015 Congress. The certificate of appreciation, which was presented to UDC by Brig. Engineer Muhammad Abdullah Al Maliki, Secretary of National Traffic Safety Committee and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, was in recognition of the Company’s valuable contribution, sponsorship and support of the Conference.

Expressing his deep appreciation for UDC, Brigadier General Al-Maliki praised the Company’s role as co-sponsor of the conference and the efforts it made in support of the economic and investment growth in the State of Qatar. Al-Maliki also hailed UDC’s efforts to support Qatar’s national vision as evidenced in the implantation of the Country’s national traffic safety strategy in the long-term. “ITMA is pleased to contribute to the hosting of this international event aimed to primarily highlight the importance of traffic medicine and road safety, and we are hopeful to see good results leading to the effective reduction in the loss of lives on Qatar’s roads,” Al Malki concluded.

ITMA Congress provides a multidisciplinary network and forum for scientists and practitioners involved in traffic safety for the purpose of interacting with each other and exchanging ideas and information on the latest issues in this field.

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces that the existing intersection between Leatooriya and Lijmiliya roads will be temporary closed as well as section of Lijmiliya Road running approximately 4 km towards Lijmiliya. Traffic will be diverted to a temporary roundabout and road that have been built adjacent to the closed road, as shown in the attached map. The diversion will begin on Friday 20 November 2015, and will last six months. The diversion is needed to allow the demolition of the existing road and the construction of a new dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction.

The new road which is part of Lijmiliya, Leatooriya, Al Sheehaniya Expressway project will provide permanent features, namely; a permanent roundabout, a median island, in addition to pedestrian and cyclist pathways. It is worth mentioning that the Construction of Lijmiliya, Leatooriya, Al Sheehaniya project is part of Ashghal’s Expressway Programme, and aims to enhance the traffic capacity and road safety in the area. The project also includes a wide range of works to develop the area’s infrastructure, install Intelligent Transport Systems, in addition to designing a comprehensive drainage system.

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 Public Works Authority, Ashghal, announces that traffic will be rerouted to the original four-lane carriageway on Al Shamal Road (North Bound) as of 20 November 2015 at Umm Slal Muhammad Bridge (N12) in Jaryan Jneihat area (Zone 71) and Al Duhail Bridge (N5) in Al Duhail Area (Zone 30).

The section of the closed Al Shamal Road (north Bound) at Al Duhail bridge will be reopened to traffic following the removal of a four-lane existing temporary Northbound diversion that was put in place in the direction from Doha toward Al Shamal to allow for the construction of a section of the bridge at N5 which has now been completed. Similarly the section of the closed Al Shamal Road (north Bound) at Umm Slal Muhammad will be reopened to traffic following the removal of a three-lane existing temporary Northbound diversion that was put in place in the direction from Doha toward Al Shamal to allow for the construction of a section of the bridge on N12 which has now been completed.

It is worth noting that the total length of roads under construction as part of Al Shamal Road Enhancement project is approximately 200 km. The project encompasses the construction of service roads on Al Shamal Road from north of Doha City at Al Duhail Interchange to Al Shamal City north of Qatar. The project also includes the construction of two new interchanges in Izghawa and Umm Slal Mohammed Areas, in addition to upgrades to three existing interchanges, including Al Kaaban Interchange which connects to the Al Huwailah Link Road.

The upgraded roads are designed to enhance the connection with the new development projects near the highway. The works also includes upgrading Al Khor Road and building link road between Al Shamal Road and Umm Birkah Road and dedicated cycle path will be built along the length of Al Shamal Road.

Ulak Group Real Estate Conglomeration which is one of the biggest companies providing service in the real estate sector prepares to meet its products with investors and customers in Qatar-Doha between the dates of November 16-19, 2015 within the scope of a tour of launch and exhibition.

Glorest which provide service in Turkey in the matters such as real estate project development, real estate procurement, real estate investment management with the motto of “Build, Sell, Manage!”; UPN International which manages the sale of real estate products procured from every corner of Turkey to Gulf Countries, Asia and Europe with strong sales channels; Ulak Group which starts a launch and exhibition tour with the company Multikent which carries out professional works with the Housing and Facility Management Services prepare to meet with the investors in Qatar between the dates of November 16-19

Ulak Group which has a real estate product portfolio in İstanbul, South Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean regions and Turkey in general shall meet its customers with lots of choices such as land, estate, finished housing, housing projects and commercial real estate products (malls, hotels, touristic facilities etc.). With branches located at five regions in Turkey, Ulak Group has product portfolio and projects in not only in the main cities but also throughout Turkey.

Ulak Group which has lots of branches which provide service throughout Turkey shall present its projects and investment products located at areas such as İstanbul, Bursa, Tekirdağ, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Yalova, Bolu, İzmir, Çanakkale, Balıkesir, Aydın, Kuşadası, Muğla, Bodrum, Antalya, Trabzon and Ordu with a great organization which is prepared by the company between the dates of November 16-19 at Sheraton Hotel in Doha. Ulak Group which is the leader of its sector in Turkey will explain their products one by one and will hold face to face meetings with the investors of Qatar who would like to invest in Turkey.

The first stage of the first period Real Estate Products Launch and Exhibition Tour shall be held by Ulak Group in Qatar – Doha in the months of November –December. The organization of Ulak Group shall go on to Abu Dhabi on January 2016.

The Chairman of the Executive Board of Ulak Group which aims to meet with the investors in Kuwait, Russia and Azerbaijan by continuing their participation in the exhibitions to be held in these countries made the following statement: “Real Estate Sector of Turkey has become a leading market among the sectors such as textile and tourism which mainly create the economy of Turkey. Real Estate sector experiences a swift development with intense opportunity and demands both in domestic and foreign market.

According to the statement of Deloitte which is a U.S. based assessment company; foreign demands have increased for real estate sector in Turkey and due to this reason this might considerably affect the development of our country in a positive way in the following period. Due to this reason we bring housing projects and real estate investment properties in Turkey to the investors of Qatar personally and facilitate their investment in Turkey”.

In the launch of Ulak Group in Qatar – Doha, names from Qatar protocol shall be present as well. The ones who wish to invest in Turkey from Qatar may make a reservation in the event by visiting www.investtorealestate.com address online. 

A delegation of members from the Central Municipal Council (CMC) visited the headquarters of the Public Works Authority to get introduced to services offered by Ashghal to customers through its Contact Centre and Customer Zones, on Tuesday 17 November 2015.

The delegation was headed by CMC Vice-Chairman and Head of Public Utilities Committee Mr. Hamad Lahdan Al Muhannadi. The Public Utilities Committee delegation consisted of Mr. Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Hitmi, committee vice president, Mr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdullah Al Khulaifi, Mr. Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Ghali Al Marri, Mr. Nasser Bin Hassan Al Kubaisi, Mr. Abdullah Bin Salem Al Khuwar, in addition to Mr. Nasser Bin Rashed Al Muhannadi Assistant Manager of Meeting and Member Affairs at CMC, and Mr. Ghanem Saleh Al Kuwari, Assistant of the Public Relations Manager and Mr. Taleb Ali Al Ethbah from Public Relations at CMC.

The visit started with a meeting with H.E. Eng. Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi President of the Public Works Authority, during which he welcomed the delegation and commended the CMC efforts to coordinate and cooperate with Ashghal to develop municipal work.

H.E also showcased a number of projects and initiatives launched by the authority that aim to enhance communication and direct interaction with people through the Contact Centre and the Customer Zones at Ashghal. He also pointed out the completion of phase I of Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS) implemented by Ashghal in cooperation with Microsoft. The CRMS enhances the services offered to customers, in addition to combining the system with social media channels to create a comprehensive and efficient experience for citizens and residents.

In addition, the authority’s Customer Zone located at Ashghal headquarters in West bay area and Assets Affairs headquarters at Salwa Road, receive customers and offer services under one umbrella effectively and swiftly, including answering enquiries, dealing with complaints and suggestions, receiving service requests and providing and receiving permit forms.

On this occasion, H.E. Eng. Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi said “We are delighted to have CMC Vice-Chairman and Head of Public Utilities Committee and the esteemed committee members visit the authority. This visit is an ideal opportunity to strengthen cooperation and coordination between Ashghal and CMC members. We in Ashghal are glad to receive the CMC suggestions and comments to be able to develop the services we offer to people and to serve our customers to the best of our abilities, because our ultimate goal is to serve the citizens in a better way.”

CMC Vice-Chairman and Head of Public Utilities Committee Mr. Hamad Lahdan Al Muhannadi expressed his pleasure with the effective services Ashghal offers to nationals and residents through its Contact Centre and Customer Zone, and he commended the authority’s continuous efforts to enhance and develop these services using advanced technology. After meeting the President, the delegation visited the Traffic Control Room in Ashghal where they attended a presentation by Eng. Yousef Al Emadi, Manager of the Roads Maintenance Department, who gave detailed explanation on the role of the control room which mainly includes monitoring, controlling and maintaining traffic signals.

It is worth mentioning that the Traffic Control Room monitors traffic and traffic signals and adjusts them using advanced technological systems and cameras. The system currently covers approximately 92 intersections out of 200 across the country,and is being installed to include other intersections. The Traffic Control Room also monitors Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption System (EVPS). There are approximately 80 intersections across the country with EVPS, while more are being added. The Over-Height Vehicle Detection System is also monitored, which is a system installed at tunnels and bridges to detect vehicles that violate the maximum legal height before entering tunnels or passing under bridges.

The Traffic Control Room works closely with the Central Operation Room in the Ministry of Interior, and it is part of a wider model that includes a National Intelligent Traffic Control System. After the presentation, the delegation went on a tour of the Customer Zone where they were introduced to the operating mechanisms of the zone.Ashghal’s Customer Zone is a walk-in customer service facility for the public to engage and directly interact with Ashghal staff. The Customer Zone offers 14 interactive services such as providing service request forms and receiving forms and permits needed to implement these services.

The delegation concluded its visit at the Contact Centre where members attended a presentation that introduced them to the working mechanisms of the centre. The Contact Centre works around the clock seven days a week and deals with approximately 5000 calls a month. During 2015, the Contact Centre received and dealt with more than 22 thousand requests and complaints, and it is currently being developed to enhance Ashghal’s ability to provide multi-channel engagement with the citizens and residents in the State of Qatar through social media and mobile phone.

The severe water-logging in Doha Industrial Area caused by the heavy downpour on November 10 is yet to clear, hitting normal life of residents of the locality. Although the area has been battered by rains in the past, no visible action has taken place to improve the infrastructure, especially on streets 35 to 40.

Warehouses of several leading companies, mainly importers of food items, are located on these six streets. As a result, vehicles carrying foodstuff regularly get stranded in the giant potholes that are water-logged. The absence of proper and effective drainage systems in the area has also adversely affected the lives of the residents. This had caused severe flooding on the streets even when the area received light rains in the past.

Owing to such issues, several companies have moved their workforce to other areas out of Doha, especially to such locations as Umm Salal Mohamed. Some of the regular visitors to the area, mainly daily office-goers, told Gulf Times that although they stay outside the Industrial Area they find it extremely difficult to move through some of the streets as their vehicles could get stuck in the muddy and slushy pools. "More than once our vehicles were stuck in the past owing to extremely bad conditions of the roads during the rains," said an office-goer.

On occasions residents have been shifted to other localities by the owners of their companies as because of prolonged water-logging. Though there has been massive allocation of funds for the development of better road and other infrastructure in the eastern Industrial Area in recent months, no major work seems to have taken place to improve the conditions of the streets where accommodations of several companies are located. Recently, Ashghal had announced allocation of more than QR1bn for better roads and other infrastructure in the area.

source: Gulf Times

Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation and Qatar’s leading developer of sustainable and innovative projects, hosted the 4th annual Risk Management Forum at the Qatar Convention Centre on 19th November.  The forum was attended by representatives of a wide range of sectors and industries.

This year’s forum focused on building resilience and adding value through risk management whilst also exploring the subject of risk culture and the human factor. The forum also discussed issues in relation to their impact on the Gulf region more generally. The forum featured panel discussions and parallel sessions along with excellent presentations highlighting the themes of the conference.  Additional topics such as adapting international standards regionally, public consultation in setting standards, encouraging learning and creativity in organisation to quickly adapt were debated.

Some of the panellists that led the sessions were:

• Aarn Wennekers, from the Ministry of Energy;
• Howard Mannella, Managing Principal Alternative Resiliency Services Corporation;
• Carlo Loveri, BC/DR Business Manager;
• Rahat Latif, Head of Enterprise Risk Management;
• Domenic Antonucci, Chief Risk Officer;
• Eddie McLaughlin, Chief Commercial Officer EMEA at AON.

A number of critical topics and key issues were also addressed by a number of influential speakers attending including Business Resilience Governance, Reassessing the effectiveness of ERM, Risk Culture, as well as how to plan for unplannable events. Commenting on the forum, Eng. Abdulla Hassan Al-Mehshadi (pictured), CEO, Msheireb Properties, said: “We are proud to have hosted this forum for the fourth consecutive year in Doha. This topic has become increasingly recognised as one that enables experts from a range of related fields to share valuable knowledge in the search for viable solutions.

“In today’s increasingly complex and competitive world, risk is a growing area of focus for senior business executives. Effective risk management is of paramount importance to ensure the continued success and growth of any organisation, simultaneously improving both operational and financial performance. In short, successful risk management leads to better business results and better reputations. “This forum strives to add value through collaboration and by contributing to the development of enhanced systems and solutions. I would like to thank all of the participants and speakers for joining us and giving their insights and expertise into risk management.”

Msheireb Properties has incorporated the latest risk management procedures as part of a broader effort to incorporate industry best practices into its operations. The company is already certified in ISO 9001:2008 for quality management; ISO 14001:2004 for environmental management; and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 for occupational health and safety management systems, and compliant with ISO 31000 principles and guidelines.

Msheireb Properties’ mission is to support the wider aims of Qatar’s Economic Vision for 2030 by changing the way people think about urban living and improving their overall quality of life through innovations that encourage social interaction, respect for culture, and greater care for the environment.

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has announced the 2015 GCC roadshow will be held in Doha, Qatar on 25 November 2015, with the support and participation of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Officials from Jumeirah will meet with clients, regional travel trade partners and tour operators to share the latest updates on Jumeirah properties and reveal its plans for the future. Taking place across key regional markets including Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait and Doha, the 2015 edition of the annual roadshow, will also bring Jumeirah’s ‘STAY DIFFERENT™’ brand promise to life and highlight its range of 23 luxury hotels, resorts and residences across 12 destinations worldwide.

The GCC roadshow event in Doha will be held at Four Seasons Hotel Doha. A highlight this year will be a special show hosted by well-known Dubai-based stand-up comic Nitin Mirani. Jumeirah hotels are a popular choice among family travellers from the Gulf. The Group’s properties in Dubai, London, Istanbul and the Maldives are counted among the top holiday destinations during the Eid season for Gulf residents who are lured by the luxurious facilities and special promotions offered by these hotels.

As one of Jumeirah Group’s key source markets, the Gulf region accounts for 27.4% of guests year-to-date at Jumeirah hotels worldwide. Meanwhile, the number of room nights increased by 16% compared to the same period last year. Qatar accounts for an increase of 17% in room nights, compared to the same period last year. The UAE contributes the largest share at 13.9%, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at 6.1% while Kuwait at 4.5%. Residents of Gulf countries also make up a sizeable share of the guests at Jumeirah hotels in Dubai, accounting for 20.5% of guests year-to-date.

Mana Al Suwaidi, Regional Director for the Middle East & Sub-Continent, Dubai Tourism, said: “The Gulf region is considered to be one of Jumeirah’s key markets and one of the most important source markets for Dubai worldwide. We are very pleased to launch this roadshow, which gives us the opportunity to meet our partners and other officials in the local tourism sector in the Gulf countries.”

The company has also taken major steps in improving guest services with the launch of Jumeirah Inside which is on a path to completely redefine the travel discovery and booking experience. The immersive virtual tour comprises 360° video and photography which enables users to make hotel reservations on their mobiles, tablets and laptops. Developed in partnership with Google, Jumeirah Inside takes immersion to a new level with a storyline told through film, cinematics, 360° imagery, rich, never-before-seen photography, content hotspots, 3D sound and voiceovers through a refined interface. This hotel industry first is available in English, Arabic, German, Russian, and Mandarin.

DTZ Qatar, the leading global real estate advisor of Qatar, has announced the opening of its new dedicated residential leasing and sales office in Medina Centrale at Doha’s luxury mixed-used destination- The Pearl Qatar. The DTZ Residential sales and leasing office was officially inaugurated with the support of the company’s Qatari partners, Dr. Ghanem Al Hammadi and Mr. Ibrahim Al Asmakh.  

Speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony, Edd Brookes, General Manager of DTZ Qatar, said: “This is a great day for DTZ Qatar. We are known for being the oldest global real estate advisor operating in Qatar and today we are celebrating 10 years in the country. One of the ways that we have chosen to celebrate this milestone is by inaugurating our new dedicated residential sales and leasing office with our Qatari partners. Our aim as a real estate firm is to grow sustainably with the country, maintain our international best practice standards and playing our part as Qatar strives towards its 2030 National Vision goals. Our move onto The Pearl demonstrates the confidence we have in Qatar and the commitment we have to its market growth.”

DTZ Qatar recently released its Q3 market report in which the residential rental market outlook is said to be strong despite increasing vacancy. The strong rental market for the last two quarters is attributed to the population increase stemming from the growth in the private sector in non-hydrocarbon industries. The residential sales market had a strong start to the year, with the increase in mortgage applications from 2014 continuing into Q2. The residential market this year has seen the highest amount of sales activity, where second hand units typically trade between QAR13,000 and QAR15,000 per sqm, and new units can achieve in excess of QAR17,000 per sqm.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by DTZ Qatar’s partners, the department heads of the RE firm, representatives from the global head office of Cushman and Wakefield, representatives from many of DTZ’s loyal clients in Doha, and members of the press. 

The Public Works Authority, 'Ashghal', announces that a traffic diversion will be put in place on Gharrafat Al Rayyan Street between Gharrafat Al Rayyan Roundabout and Qatar Foundation (Civil Defense). The diversion will be 1150 meters in length and traffic will be diverted to a new road adjacent to the existing road that will be closed (As shown in the attached map). The diversion will start on Saturday 28 November and will continue until Q4 of 2017.

The diversion is necessary to allow the construction of the proposed Dukhan Highway East project. The project encompasses approximately 11 km of new dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction, the upgrade of service roads, and the construction of pedestrian tunnels. Ashghal will install road signs to advice motorists of the diversion. The authority requests all road users to abide by the speed limits and to follow the road signs to ensure their safety.

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced that it will implement a temporary diversion on part of Lijmiliya Road, running approximately 2 km in both directions. The diversion will start on Tuesday, 1 December 2015 and will last six months. During this period, traffic will be diverted to a new temporary road section adjacent to the closed road, as shown on the attached map.

The diversion is needed to allow the demolition of the existing road and the construction of a new dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction. The new road which is part of Lijmiliya, Leatooriya, Al Sheehaniya Expressway project and will provide permanent features, including; a permanent roundabout, a median island, in addition to pedestrian and cyclist pathways. The Construction of Lijmiliya, Leatooriya, Al Sheehaniya project is part of Ashghal’s Expressway Programme, and aims to enhance the traffic capacity and road safety in the area. The project also includes a wide range of works to develop the area’s infrastructure, install Intelligent Transport Systems, in addition to a comprehensive drainage system.

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.

DTZ Qatar receives the prestigious Arabian Property Award, Highly Commended Property Consultancy at the 2015-2016 Arabian Property Awards event held recently at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel. In its quest to discover the best Real Estate Consultancy in Arabia, the International Property Awards in London invited the finest real estate companies to present their businesses and detail the services offered. The judging committee chaired by two active members of the House of Lords scrutinised hundreds of entries received from companies in 12 countries across Arabia.

A host of the Middle East’s finest developers, architects, interior designers and real estate agents attended the event. In the presence of Lord Best, chairman of the judges for real estate categories, the results of the Arabian Property Awards were announced. Stuart Shield, President of the International Property Awards, said: “Once again, Arabian real estate agents, property consultants and lettings agencies have excelled in this competition by offering an extensive range of superb services, embracing the latest in new technology and achieving exemplary levels of customer support.”

Edd Brookes, General Manager DTZ Qatar remarked: “We are delighted and honoured to have been selected as winners within the Qatar Real Estate Consultancy section. We are extremely proud to receive the Highly Commended award in our category. This is a great compliment to the team and our efforts, and we remain focused on playing our role in seeing Qatar achieve its 2030 National Vision.”

ASTAD Project Management has been named the “Best Talent Acquisition Team in Qatar” at the inaugural LinkedIn Talent Awards 2015. The awards ceremony, held at The Address Dubai Marina on the 25^th November, celebrated the success of companies in the MENA region in the areas of talent acquisition and employer branding.

The award illustrates the company’s growing reputation as a recruiter of the construction sector’s most coveted professionals. Furthermore, it comes at a time when the industry is seeking new ways to attract high-caliber employees. According to research studies, there is an increased need for innovative approaches to talent management to help companies differentiate themselves. They have defined talent acquisition as, “a strategic approach to identifying, attracting and on-boarding top talent to efficiently and effectively meet dynamic business needs.”

Engineer Ali Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of ASTAD, said on this occasion: “This award illustrates the emphasis we put on recruitment, ensuring to provide the necessary expertise required to deliver complex, world-class projects. It also recognizes our commitment to the well-being of our workforce showcases our efforts in searching for the world’s most talented construction professionals who can assist in the delivery of iconic projects across the globe.”

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional online network, connecting more than 400 million members worldwide, including executives from every Fortune 500 company. More than 700 organizations across the region were considered for the Talent Awards, with ASTAD prevailing in a highly competitive field.

Ali Matar, Head of Talent Solutions, LinkedIn MENA, said; “We were very pleased to recognize our top Talent Solutions clients in MENA for 2015 in the inaugural ceremony, held in Dubai, UAE. Local brands have been celebrated based on their outstanding Talent acquisition strategy, engagement and results on our LinkedIn Platform. We believe that ASTAD's excelling in Talent Acquisition comes from a curated and strategic approach to social recruiting which in its turn contributes significantly to their brand strength and impacts positively their employee retention and engagement.”

Mr. Nasser Al-Hajri, Chief Human Capital and Shared Services Officer at ASTAD, emphasized the importance of ASTAD’s HR and talent management solutions, which combine research, analysis, strategies and the latest technology to facilitate talent acquisition.

He remarked: “This award demonstrates our enthusiasm, perseverance and commitment to creating the optimum environment for our employees so that they, in turn, can operate at the highest level of their profession. ASTAD’s major strength is its people, and I would also like to give recognition to our colleagues in the HR department whose high standards of professionalism and expertise are recognized by this award.”

The LinkedIn Talent Awards 2015 were presented in several categories, including Best Employee Value Proposition, Fastest Followers Growth, Best Recruiter, Best Career Page, Earliest Adopter, LinkedIn Adopter, LinkedIn Lifetime Achievement and the Top 10 Most In Demand Employers based in the MENA region. The event was attended by high-level executives and representatives from nominated companies, which included Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Qatar Petroleum, and Saudi Aramco.

Al Farman Investment & International Trading Company, a subsidiary of Al Faisal Holding, opened its showroom for construction and interior finishes building materials. Sheikh Khaled Bin Faisal Al Thani along with numerous company representatives, contractors and consultants were in attendance. The showroom, located on Barwa Commercial Avenue, Arkan Building, has been equipped with new, high-end displays to provide clients, consultants and contractors with the opportunity to access the Company’s wide range of materials and products.

Al Farman was established in 2006 and is now one of Qatar’s leading companies, specializing in the distribution of high-quality building and interior finishes materials for integrated construction and interior design solutions. Al Farman has successfully supported Qatar’s growth and development through   a diverse range of projects, ranging from commercial and residential buildings to hotels. Al Farman is committed to supplying high-quality, environmentally friendly materials that meet international standards and specifications.

Mr. Yanni Fouad Jouaneh, Partner and CEO of Al Farman International Trading Company, added: “The opening of this showroom marks an important milestone in the growth and expansion of Al Farman. Since our formation, our desire to provide only the best has led us to create partnerships with leading international companies that supply building materials from all over the world. This has made us a market leader in this industry and has allowed us the opportunity to contribute to top real estate and construction projects in Qatar. We will continue in our commitment to develop the Company further to serve market needs and provide the best products and services to satisfy our valued customers and partners.”

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced opening of a new single-lane road at Nasser Bin Abdullah Al Missned Street, near Al Khor Corniche Roundabout towards Al Khor Commercial Street for a distance of 450 metres in each direction. The existing temporary road will be closed and traffic will be diverted to the new adjacent road, as shown in the attached map, starting from Thursday evening, 3^rd December 2015.

The diversion aims at facilitating the implementation of works on the Roads and Infrastructure for Al Khor Commercial Street project, which will improve road alignment and road cross sections within right-of-way corridors ranging between 16 metres and 40 metres, enhancing the smooth traffic flow. The project will also include the construction of signal-controlled junctions, as well as service roads and parking bays that will improve commercial and residential access.

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 Public Works Authority, 'Ashghal', announces that a temporary closure of about 600 metres will be put in place on a section of Al kharaitiyat Street toward Doha where a section of Izghawa Street will also be closed. The closure starts at the intersection of Al Kharaitiyat Street with 19th Street and ends 100 metres north of Al Tabah Petrol Station as shown in the attached map.

The closure starts on Friday 4 December for a period of 8 months and traffic will be diverted to 19th Street and Wadi Al Askar Street through the construction period. This closure is required to carry out construction works of a bridge and upgrade works on Izghawa Street which forms part of the North Road enhancement project. 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.

The Public Works Authority, 'Ashghal', announced that it is carrying out road improvement works at entrances in the Industrial Area and Ain Khaled's Residential Area from 19 November to 24 December. Ashghal urges all road users to abide by speed limits and traffic signs to ensure their safety. Ashghal will install all necessary signage in the area to notify drivers during work period. 

A scheme offering special offers for all buyers when buying villa plots in bulk, announced United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari shareholding company and master developer of The Pearl-Qatar. This new incentive will be in effective as of today, when buying ten plots or more in Giardino Villas, one of the most prestigious and upcoming villa precincts on the Island. 

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. Under UDC’s proposals, investors are expected to adhere to the requirements of the Giardino Villas Village’s master plan. However, 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.