The Pearl-Qatar awards Parsons International detailed Engineering Design Contract

The Pearl-Qatar, the US $2.5 billion man-made island being built offshore the Qatari capital of Doha in the Arabian Gulf, has awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Parsons International Limited, the Middle East arm of the US-headquartered infrastructure development and programme management leader. The scope of work includes the detailed engineering design of The Pearl Qatar’s roads, infrastructure and landscaping.

The award follows a highly competitive international tender which attracted bidders from the Middle East, Europe and the USA.

“Parsons’ edge in successful selection was its 60-year reputation based upon dependability and competency in managing some of the world’s most challenging infrastructure projects,” said Nick Bashkiroff, Development Director, The Pearl-Qatar.

“This is a world-class project and we are committed to the appointment of world-class service providers needed to deliver a project of this level of exclusivity. A high level of quality delivery is what will differentiate The Pearl-Qatar which will be an aspirational address with facilities unsurpassed within the country, indeed the Middle East. It will be a destination of pride for all Qataris and investors.”

Covering some 988 acres, The Pearl-Qatar will be two-thirds the size of the Western Mediterranean island of Gibraltar. It will be linked to Qatar’s mainland via a 355 metre-long, palm-tree lined, eight-lane super highway.

The Pearl-Qatar is the country’s first international real estate venture, its largest real estate project and the first in Qatar to offer freehold and residential rights to international investors.

The project, which will create over 40 kilometres of new coastline, is being developed and promoted by United Development Company (UDC), Qatar’s largest private sector shareholding company which is listed on the Doha Securities Market.

The rediscovered island, which is being built on a reclaimed pearl diving reef, will offer a Riviera-style community with 30,000 residents in 10 distinctly themed districts, three deluxe hotels, four marinas, leisure facilities and 60,000 square metres of luxury retail and restaurant space.

“This is an excellent win for Parsons which is establishing a portfolio of infrastructure clients around the Middle East covering some of the region’s most ambitious and innovative projects,” said Lewis Case, Parsons Vice President and manager of Middle East Operations.

“The Pearl-Qatar will raise the bar for the region’s freehold real estate, tourism and retail sectors and will be a priceless asset for Qataris and the country.”

Dredging work for The Pearl-Qatar is currently under way. The first investors are due to take up residency in late 2006 with the entire project due for completion in 2009.

Parsons International Limited has also produced an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of The Pearl Qatar, which has been submitted to The Supreme Council For The Environment & Natural Resources in Qatar.

“The Pearl-Qatar is being built with environmental concerns upper-most in mind,” said Bashkiroff. “Through socio-conscious planning, we will create a diversity of environments and experiences that will be new to the region.

“The EIA has shown that new marine habitat would be created by the project and also that The Pearl-Qatar will have a positive effect on bird life. The new upland vegetation that is to be created by this project is likely to attract a variety of perching bird species currently limited to only parks and open spaces within Doha.”

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