Every parent wants their kids to realize their potential and grow up to become successful, accomplished adults who make a difference in their own lives as well as the lives of those around them. In today’s world, that’s no easy feat, especially considering the constant barrage of 21^st century distractions and a limited realm of exploration that stack the odds against children and youngsters.

What today’s kids really need is ‘an escape to the real world’; a trip to a place that builds their character and grooms their skills and talents, without feeling like a bore. Fortunately, Doha has recently introduced an answer to that challenge for families and parents who have big aspirations for their kids. It began with a bold idea that has culminated into the construction of an entire city with one purpose in mind; blending education and entertainment to prepare children for adulthood and prime them to become tomorrow’s, skilled professionals, talented artists and responsible citizens.

Since KidzMondo Doha, Qatar’s first ever edutainment city, opened its doors for families at the Mall of Qatar, parents have been converging at the entrance of the theme park ready to send their kids on a mental and physical voyage of investigation, exploration, and adults’ role play; an adventure of a worth waiting for is what they got. At KidzMondo Doha, a child’s journey begins with a trip. Upon checking in, every young visitor to the city claims their own boarding pass, an RFID (radio-frequency ID) tracking bracelet – to ensure their safety and constantly keep track of each child’s whereabouts – and a check for 50 Kidlars, the exclusive currency of KidzMondo, along with a map of the city.

Once through the KidzMondo International Airport, children become a part of an amazing experience as they enter KidzMondo-Doha, where they officially become ‘Kidizens’ of the city. Their first stop is at the city’s bank, QIIB; where they can cash their checks for Kidlars, which they can spend the way they like. With a detailed map in their hands and Kidlars in their pockets, Kidizens can follow directional signs to visit KidzMondo’s myriad establishments, where they can have fun interacting with peers, gaining new knowledge and developing fresh skills, all while learning how to earn and spend Kidlars – depending on their preferred activity.

To help them decide for themselves, the door to each establishment features a sign that indicates whether they will be spending Kidlars, or earning them for their participation. Founded on its own written constitution, functioning infrastructure and curricula that have been especially designed to holistically educate children and enrich their experience, KidzMondo Doha’s young visitors’ journey at the indoor theme park has equally been designed with the end in mind. Before they ‘live the role’ of their adult counterparts, Kidizens have already experienced the ‘at-first-glance’ inner-workings of an adults world, like learning how to cash a check at the bank and read a map of the city where their opportunities to learn are endless, as well as follow direction.

Whether they are excited to learn driving and race in a track, enroll at the Acting Academy, secure the neighborhood as police officers, or build a new house at the Construction Site, all that is left for Kidizens to do is to explore a ‘city of opportunities’, and develop their cognitive, emotional, psychomotor and social abilities along the way.

United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari shareholding company and master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, today announced its quarterly financial results for the first quarter of 2017. The Company’s net profit amounted to QR 244 million, while the net profit attributable to equity shareholders stood at QR 231 million, and the basic earnings per share stood at QR 0.65

The first quarter marked a special start of the year for the Company as it smoothly transitioned from 2016 and accelerated the development of various residential and commercial areas by allocating the necessary resources for promising leading projects in real estate and infrastructure development, hospitality, property management and others. The first quarter of 2017 also saw an increase in revenues of 68% compared to the same period of last year. This reiterates the Company’s capacity to provide source of income with good returns despite the current instability in the real-estate market. While UDC is well concentrated on long-term opportunities, it diligently continues to focus on its core activities, trusted to yield stable financial results.

During the first quarter, the Company witnessed a steady increase in the retail leasing percentage in The Pearl-Qatar. As such, the volume of leased retail properties during Q1 2017 increased by 22% compared to the first quarter last year, in addition to the sales volume of residential units of 25% on a year-by-year basis. This progressive trend is expected to continue as the island prepares to welcome a wider selection of retail shops on The Pearl-Qatar demonstrating UDC’s ability to increase revenues and maintain operational stability.

Moreover, the Company’s effective policy of managing general and administrative costs has resulted in a healthy expense to income ratio of 11%. UDC’s achievements in the first quarter of 2017, include a great deal as the Company sold at a record time of 5 days, the first phase of residential units at Al Mutahidah Towers in Viva Bahriya. The Company also announced availability of The Pearl Tower 1 for leasing, which provides state-of-the-art office space and the latest commercial project on The Pearl-Qatar. On the retail front, The Pearl-Qatar inaugurated 20 new shops in Porto Arabia, Medina Centrale and Qanat Quartier. The shops feature a variety of brands targeting a wide segment of the Island's population and visitors and represent a great addition to The Pearl-Qatar's list of attractions for visitors, tourists and residents alike.

In the first quarter of the year, UDC successfully launched a free public Wi-Fi solution on The Pearl-Qatar, in partnership with Ooredoo. The public Wi-Fi connection is now accessible to both visitors and shoppers. The quarter also saw the opening of a Government Services Complex in Medina Centrale on The Pearl-Qatar, where ten governmental agencies and the Traffic Directorate offer their services to both citizens and residents. The Complex represents a significant addition to the myriad of integrated commercial services on the Island and comes to cement the position of The Pearl-Qatar as an ideal location to live and conduct businesses in the country.

UDC has also revamped its website, making it more accessible to users who will now enjoy a faster and richer browsing experience. As for the Company’s construction projects, UDC kicked off infrastructure construction works at Giardino Village, one of the most promising residential areas on the Island, consisting of landscaped villas that offer spectacular views of the Island's mainland in addition to building 10 residential villas in the same location. UDC is a leading Qatari public shareholding company with a mission to identify and invest in long-term projects contributing to Qatar’s growth and providing good shareholder value. Established in 1999, the company went on to be listed on the Qatar Exchange in June 2003. It has an authorized share capital of QR 3.54 billion and total assets of QR 18.3 billion at 31 March 2017. 

UDC activities cover a multitude of vital investment sectors including real estate development, property management, infrastructure and utilities, energy-intensive industries, hydrocarbon downstream manufacturing, maritime related businesses, and hospitality.

Qatar continues to be the fastest-growing construction market in the Arab Gulf region, with the sector expected to account for 45 per cent of the country’s investments between 2015 and 2018. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the non-hydrocarbon sector hit 5.6 per cent in 2016 with the construction industry as the largest contributor.

In line with Qatar Vision 2030, the country has earmarked QAR 46 billion in investments for 2017 and industry analysts predict the market to peak within the first half of the year. Under the auspices of H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of Qatar, Project Qatar is set to welcome exhibitors from several countries at the 14^th International Trade Exhibition for Construction Technology, Building Materials, Equipment and Environmental Technology, which will be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) from May 8 to 11, 2017.

The country is seen heading towards a major construction boom as mega-infrastructure projects get underway such as underground railways and several stadiums, as well as a substantial number of industrial and private buildings for the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup. Project Qatar 2017, considered as the country’s largest exhibition for building, environmental technology and materials, provides the ideal platform for exhibitors to showcase the latest construction equipment and services, deepen their market presence, and build new business relations with companies of all sizes. Qatar’s lucrative construction market attracts the world’s biggest players and provides unparalleled opportunities for aspiring companies to secure deals with the industry’s top decision makers.

George Ayache, General Manager, at IFP Qatar, said: “The extraordinary growth of Project Qatar year after year is testament to the scale of infrastructure development that has been going on in the country since 2004. Project Qatar continues to attract a large number of companies from nearly 40 countries seeking to take advantage of the massive growth in the country’s construction sector. The quality of deals and networking opportunities have also increased and have had a positive overall impact on the industry. We are confident the 14^th edition will bring in more high-profile deals for companies seeking to create landmark projects in Qatar, Belgium, France, Pakistan, Italy, China, Korea, Egypt, UK, Germany, Kuwait, KSA, Turkey, Spain, Bulgaria, India and the United States.”

Project Qatar consistently supports Qatar Vision 2030, which serves as the country’s roadmap to the future and aims to push its sustainable development, representing a balanced economic growth with human and natural resources. It presents an inclusive model of the country’s economic, social, human and environmental development to improve the lives of citizens and residents.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure required for the 2022 FIFA World Cup^TM, has entered into a partnership agreement with Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) that will see the renowned medical institution contributing to the assessment of the health of workers on World Cup construction projects.

Working with workers, contractors and catering supply companies to improve workers’ nutrition, the assessments and training pilot programme, which started in February, will see a team of experts from WCM-Q examine workers’ health, diets, and general awareness of the importance of nutrition. The team will also evaluate current nutritional intake and identify prevalent health challenges amongst workers, which improved nutrition may help to resolve.

The pilot programme, which will initially target a random sample of 1,000 workers on SC projects, will be broken down into the following stages:

• Phase 1 – Health Checks & Reporting: WCM-Q to carry out basic health checks of 1,000 workers to determine prevalence of health related issues; including but not limited to: hypertension (high blood pressure); blood glucose; hydration status, body measurements, grip strength and respiratory parameters. The key findings will be compiled into a report outlining the recommendations for phases 2 & 3;
• Phase 2 – Awareness & Training Campaign (workers, contractors & caterers): WCM-Q will aim to educate the sample of 1,000 workers on the benefits of healthy lifestyles and balanced diets, and key stakeholders on the need to provide nutritious food options for workers. Access to dieticians and nutritionists will be provided;
• Phase 3 – Catering Enhancement & Reporting: WCM-Q will work collaboratively with contractors and catering suppliers to recommend nutritional food options for the sample of 1,000 workers via revised food options within their worksites and accommodation.

This landmark initiative, which is being launched with the Institute of Population Health at WCM-Q, will conclude with the release of a detailed report to the Supreme Committee that will summarize the outcomes, impact and key findings of the programme, and make recommendations for future intervention.

Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, Senior Associate Dean for Population Health, Capacity Building and Student Affairs at WCM-Q, said: “We are extremely happy to be partnering with the SC on this highly important initiative. We are particularly pleased that the initiative places such strong emphasis on practical steps to monitor the health of workers and take action to improve nutrition and understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet.” The  expert team from WCM-Q will be led by Dr. Shahrad Taheri, Professor of Medicine and Assistant Dean for Clinical Investigations, and Dr. Odette Chagoury, Associate Director of Clinical Research. Dr. Taheri and Dr. Chagoury both have a wealth of experience assessing the effectiveness of health and nutrition interventions.

Dr. Taheri said: “Nutrition plays a vital role in an individual’s health and even small changes to diet can make a huge difference to overall wellbeing. The impact of this initiative, both on the short and long-term health of workers associated with SC construction projects, could be significant, particularly if, as we hope, the findings are taken on board by other companies and international businesses operating in Qatar.” This agreement is the latest addition to the SC’s workers’ welfare programme, which seeks to ensure the health, safety and dignity of everyone on SC construction projects in Qatar. Workers’ welfare falls under the responsibility of the SC’s dedicated Workers’ Welfare Division (WWD), which has been tasked with ensuring that the 2022 FIFA World Cup^TM leaves a lasting social legacy for workers in Qatar.

Hassan Al Thawadi, SC Secretary General, welcomed the new initiative, saying: “Weill Cornell is a household name in medicine and we are delighted to partner with them on such an important programme. Nutrition is a vital component of any healthy lifestyle and we’re hoping that through this new programme we can uncover any prevalent or latent health concerns among our workers, address any issues that come to light and work collaboratively with our entire supply chain to make sure we improve our workers’ health and enable our contractors to offer balanced and nutritious options for workers.” “The ultimate outcome of this programme is happy and healthy workers with a more balanced diet and a better understanding of what they need to do themselves to keep healthy while working and living in Qatar.”  

Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh, Dean of WCM-Q, said: “This initiative represents an exciting opportunity to tackle a global problem, that of nutritional deficiencies amongst migrant workers. Through this initiative, we therefore not only hope to better understand the specific nutritional needs of workers in Qatar, but also to educate them about diet so they can pass this knowledge on to their families when they return home.” The launch of the programme follows a number of other significant steps the SC has taken in the last 12 months to improve the welfare of workers on SC construction projects, including the signing of an MoU with the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) for joint health and safety inspections at accommodations and sites, and the launch of an innovative cooling technologies programme involving the identification of cooling helmets, vests and towels for distribution to workers on SC sites.

The SC currently has eight construction sites underway across Qatar and just over 10,000 workers on-site at any given time. The number of workers engaged on SC construction projects is expected to rise to 36,000 in the next 12 months as various projects approach completion or the main works stage, with Khalifa International Stadium expected for completion in Q2 2017 and the Al Wakrah and Qatar Foundation stadiums both rapidly heading towards their completion dates in 2018.

The French companies exhibiting at the Project Qatar from 8 to 11 May 2017, will be focusing on quality and reliability. The French Pavilion organized by Business France, national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, will introduce innovative products & technologies to local construction professionals in Doha.

The French pavilion will focus on sustainable and environmental-friendly buildings, energy efficiency and timber constructions but also smart buildings and home automation to reinforce partnerships with existing projects and develop new joint-ventures and engage negotiations with local contractors, distributors and agents in new areas of activities in Qatar. In a sector where safety is outstanding, the select delegation of French companies attending Project Qatar will be renowned for their expertise in the area of high-quality projects, such as 5-star hotels and villas, public buildings such as shopping malls, schools and stadiums. French exhibitors will then seize the opportunity to present smart cities solutions, bioclimatic materials, Mechanics, Electricity and Plumbing Contracting – MEP, among other specific offers.

Christelle Peyran, Head of Business France Qatar said: “France is focused on energy efficiency, sustainable development and R&D. France invested 18,8 billion euros in 2015 in renovation and energy retrofits, becoming the 3^rd market in Europe in terms of eco-friendly buildings.  21%  of French companies in building sector have a R&D center to develop new materials”. French construction sector is quite fragmented with around 350 000 French companies hiring a  workforce of 1.5 million and sales revenues of €129 billion.

“In Project Qatar 2017, we have selected the best companies to match Qatar’s expectations of high quality standards and cost effective solutions”, Peyran added. The construction industry alone in Qatar represents 5.7% of the GDP. After being awarded the 2022 Football World Cup, Qatar rapidly embarked upon an intensive investment program in major infrastructure projects. There is also a growing demand for sustainable development, with profitable segments being hotels and "green" construction that encourage the use of innovative products.

The following companies will be exhibiting their products on the French pavilion, located Hall 2 (Stand D36 D37 D46 D47):

BRIDGIN : measurement, marking & topography equipment, a new real-time depth and slope control tool for all buckets – www.idig-system.com

GUARD INDUSTRIE : research, development and manufacture of solutions to protect, decorate, consolidate and clean materials – www.guardindustrie.com

ICOPAL SAS : waterproofing systems, in particular membranes, but also construction and roofing materials. – www.icopal.com

AXIMUM : industrial expertise and construction-work know-how at the service of safe and reliable mobility - www.aximum.fr/en

CONTROLAB : conception, development, manufacturing and marketing of laboratory equipment for civil and mechanical engineering - www.controlab.fr/index.php/en/

SERGE FERRARI SAS : leading French industrial group in the field of composite membranes – www.sergeferrari.com

STERELA : Electronic systems for transport (air/road) / Traffic measurement checking, road traffic management – www.sterela.fr

TERREAL : manufacture and marketing of tiles and other terracotta products – www.terreal.com

The Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’, will close an existing U-turn on Dukhan Highway to enable the construction of an underpass on the Dukhan Highway East project.

The minor road change, which is located near Wajba Interchange, has been designed in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic. The traffic change will commence on Saturday 13 May 2017, and is expected to be in operation until February 2018. As shown on the attached map, road users travelling westbound on Dukhan Highway who need to return to Doha will need to continue straight to the Amiri Guard Roundabout to perform a U-turn. There will be no other changes implemented on Dukhan Highway as part of this diversion. Ashghal requests all road users to abide by the speed limit, which remains at 50 kph, and follow newly implemented traffic road signs to ensure their safety.

ASTAD received an award for the Tarsheed In Design Competition for the Qatar University Sports & Events Complex during the 5th Anniversary of the National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency on 24 April 2017, organized by Kahramaa at the newly opened Kahramaa Awareness Park.

ASTAD’s role is to design and manage the construction of the new Qatar University Sports & Events Complex. ASTAD provided Qatar University with an innovative solution to combine two building programs into a single complex resulting in significant cost and energy savings. Other projects that ASTAD has managed the development of also won awards in several competitions including Northwestern University and Lusail Sports Arena for ‘Conserving Building Competition’ and Solar Panel Units for the QF Irrigation System for ‘Best Renewable Energy Initiatives Competition’. The Tarsheed Conserving Building Competition recognizes the buildings that incorporate, support and promote best practices in conservation of energy, water and other natural resources.

Following the 5^th anniversary, ASTAD Chief Executive Officer Engineer Ali Al-Khalifa stated: “At ASTAD we partner with our Clients and strive to develop high performance, efficient and environmentally friendly projects for a more sustainable future. I would like to commend our expert design and sustainability teams for this win and express appreciation for all of their sustained efforts that continue to increase ASTAD’s recognition and credibility.” In the area of energy efficiency and sustainability ASTAD regularly works together with their clients to develop efficient, high performance, and climate-responsive projects that are internationally recognized through green building certification. ASTAD is currently working on over 50 green building and infrastructure projects.

The Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’, will shift a 600 metre section of Al Rufaa Street to a parallel diversion route to enable the construction of the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route.

The proposed road change, which is located on Al Rufaa Street between Mall of Qatar and Al Shamal Road, has been designed in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic. It will commence on Tuesday 13 June 2017, and is expected to be in operation for a brief period of six months.  

As shown on the attached map, road users travelling in both directions on Al Rufaa Street will be automatically shifted to a parallel road for approximately 600 metres, before returning to the normal road alignment. Access to other existing roads and amenities will not be impacted by this temporary diversion. The Public Works Authority advises that it will need to reduce the existing number of lanes on Al Rufaa Street from 3 lanes to 2 lanes for this short 600 metre section. Ashghal requests all road users to abide by the new speed limit, which has been reduced from 100kph to 80kph, and follow newly implemented traffic road signs to ensure their safety.

As part of on-going efforts to foster sustainable competition in the telecommunications sector, the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has hosted today at its headquarters an introductory session to introduce the “Duct Management System”.

Through the new system, CRA will manage the service providers’ requirement to utilize and access the new underground passive civil telecom infrastructure, which is managed by CRA and currently under construction. The session was attended by representatives from Ashghal Public Works Authority, Centre for Geographic Information System - Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Lusail City, Meshrieb Properties and United Development Company (UDC). 

“We are very pleased to introduce this new system to our stakeholders which will allow all service providers to access the new underground passive civil telecom infrastructure managed by CRA, in an organised and transparent way. It is a crucial step towards ensuring sustainable competition in Qatar’s telecommunications market which will ultimately benefit consumers and service provider’s alike.” said Faisal Al-Shuaibi, CRA’s Official Spokesperson. It is worth mentioning that earlier this year CRA has conducted series of high level workshops attended by relevant stakeholders highlighting the importance of effective competition in the telecommunications sector in Qatar.

The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) is the communications regulator in the state of Qatar established by virtue of Emiri Decree (42) in 2014. CRA regulates the communications & information technology and postal sectors, and access to digital media. CRA uses its regulatory powers mandated by the Emiri decree to protect consumer rights, ensure competition, manage the resolution of disputes, and manage the electromagnetic spectrum. In all its activities, the CRA seeks to ensure the provision of advanced, innovative and reliable ICT and postal services across the state of Qatar. For more information, please visit: http://cra.gov.qa/en

The Jaguar F-PACE, winner of the Best and Most Beautiful Car at the 2017 World Car Awards,  has broadened its range with the introduction of the new 250PS 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo Ingenium petrol engine. The lightweight construction improves efficiency, enhances vehicle dynamics and delivers exceptional performance and refinement while meeting the most stringent global emissions regulations.

The new 250PS 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo Ingenium petrol engine is available with an eight speed automatic ZF transmission and standard AWD drivetrain. It has single twin-scroll turbo that produces 365Nm of torque from only 1,200rpm. The smooth and responsive petrol engine powers F-PACE from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds. The new Jaguar F-PACE line-up comes with 5 years service package as well as 5 years warranty coverage. Since its Guinness World Record breaking reveal at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, where F-PACE completed the world’s largest loop the loop, the performance SUV has become Jaguar’s fastest selling vehicle.

Choice, comfort and convenience

Interior changes put the emphasis on enhanced choice, comfort and convenience. A new Light Oyster and Ebony interior option gives the premium cabin a purposeful appearance and all Prestige and Portfolio models feature the Sport steering wheel as standard. The flagship Portfolio derivatives feature enhanced front seats with powered headrest height adjustment and manually adjustable winged headrests providing supreme comfort and simplicity. In addition, Jaguar’s Dual View screen technology provides further convenience to driver and passengers.

The Jaguar F-PACE gives you state-of-the-art technology, such as optional Head-up Display and the optional convenient Jaguar Activity Key wristband, as well as advanced driving aids to make every journey easier and more relaxed. These include Jaguar’s advanced InControl multimedia system, which keeps you entertained and ensures that you are always connected. Bring your music to life with a range of audio systems including the Meridian™ 380W Sound System* with 11 speakers or upgrade to the optional Meridian™ 825W Surround Sound System* with 17 speakers. All systems ensure that everyone will enjoy a rich, enveloping audio experience.

For more information on new Jaguar F-PACE, please contact your local retailer.

Manateq, the leading provider of special economic zones, industrial zones, logistics & warehousing parks in Qatar, has signed a landmark agreement with Ismail Bin Ali Group (IBA) to develop and operate accommodation buildings that will house more than 8,700 workers in the Ras Bufontas special economic zone (SEZ).

The agreement, which emphasizes the strong partnership between the public and private sectors in the development of Qatar, will result in private sector investment totaling QR550 Million. Ismail Bin Ali Group has been awarded to construct and manage the facility in line with the Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) model, for 25 years.

The new development will sit on an area measuring approximately 150,000m², which has been handed over by Manateq, and will accommodate up to 8,784 employees and workers who will be working in the factories and warehouses within Ras Bufontas and the surrounding areas. Designed to enhance the overall experience for both employees and employers, it will include worker, supervisor and technician accommodations in the form of fully-equipped rooms, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments. The complex includes catering, laundry, training, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and community areas. Along with a public retail center, there will also be a mosque, medical, banking and administrative facilities.

Work on the project, which will begin this month, is expected to take up to three years to complete. Underpinning the strong bond Manateq has formed with the private sector to successfully contribute to the diversification and economic development of Qatar, IBA Group will offer competitive rental rates for companies interested in housing their workforce in the new development. “This is a landmark agreement for Qatar and builds on the success that Manateq has achieved to date as we continue with the development of our Special Economic Zones, which play a crucial role in transforming the country into an industrial and logistics hub for the world,” Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO of Manateq, said. “Our partnership with Ismail Bin Ali Group is a key indicator of how collaboration between the public and private sectors can have a beneficial contribution on the economic success of our country.”

Hamad Mohammed Esmael Al Emadi, CEO of IBA Group, said: “We believe in the strength of Qatar's economy and we would like to thank our government for its continuous and unlimited support to the private sector and our role is to contribute to the achievement of Qatar’s Vision 2030.” “We are proud to be working with Manateq to drive the economic development of Qatar,” the CEO of IBA Group added.  “We are committed to quality and performance and our reputation in these two areas speak for itself. Clients who invest in this leading new development will be assured of a quality product that will benefit them and their workforce.”

Ras Bufontas SEZ is strategically located next to Hamad International Airport, providing businesses with easier access to global markets. The special economic zone is aimed at various sectors including firms specializing in healthcare and medical devices, light industries, advanced technology and air cargo services.

The Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’ announces that it will implement a temporary road closure on part of Al Beday Street between Bin Zaben Intersection and Al Lebdaya Roundabout. The proposed road change is required to complete the utility works and the construction of two underpasses at Bin Zaben Intersection as part of phase two of the Al Rayyan Road Upgrade project.

The diversion, which has been designed in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic, will be implemented on 14 July 2017 and will last for a brief period of three months. To accommodate road users travelling in this area, ‘Ashghal’ has constructed a temporary road 200 metres to the east of Al Beday Street. It will consist of two lanes in each direction, and it will be connected with Al Rayyan Al Qadeem Street by a new traffic signal junction which has been constructed to the east of Al Lebdaya Roundabout.

Road users who usually use Al Beday Street to travel between Bin Zaben Intersection and Al Lebdaya Roundabout will be required to use the new temporary road and then use the new traffic signal junction at Al Rayyan Al Qadeem Street or Bin Zaben Intersection to continue on their journey. The Public Works Authority will install road signs advising motorists of the closure. ‘Ashghal’ requests all road users to abide by the speed limit, which has been reduced to 50 kph to ensure the safety of road users and project workers, and follow the road signs to ensure their safety. 

The Public Works Authority, Ashghal, announces that a traffic diversion on F-Ring Road will be in place to enable the construction of a bridge linking F-Ring Road with Al Wakra Bypass (Doha Express Highway).

The detour, installed in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic, starts on Monday, 17 July 2017 and lasts until Q4, 2018. During the realignment period, road users on F-Ring Road heading for Hamad International Airport will be able to use a parallel route with three lanes instead of four lanes for a short distance of approximately 1850 metres, as illustrated on the map.  Ashghal advises that the speed limit will be reduced to 80 kilometers per hour in place of 100 kilometres per hour. Ashghal requests that all road users obey the new speed and follow the new signage installed by Ashghal for their safety.

The New Port Project (NPP) Steering Committee and AlJaber Engineering (JEC) on Sunday signed a contract for designing and constructing food security facilities and warehouses at Hamad Port at a cost of QR 1.6 billion.

The facilities of the project will be developed and constructed on an area of approximately 53 hectares (about 530,000 square meters). The project consists of specialized facilities for the processing, manufacturing and refining of rice, raw sugar and edible oils. These products will be available for local, regional and global use. The project also includes bulk storage silos with their associated infrastructure and conveyance equipment, in addition to the fundamental structures fully equipped for the project associated operations of handling, processing, packaging, reloading and transport.

One more feature of the project will be a specialized facility for the recycling of waste products arising from the processing of basic commodities to create regulatory compliant animal feed and food stocks. Those facilities will operate as a fully functional standalone terminal, while 500 meters of the wharf of the port will be dedicated for the berthing and discharging of the ships of this new project. As per the agreement, those food security facilities and warehouses will be built and equipped in collaboration with international consultants, observing best international practices and standards for manufacturing and quality such as German Ipro and Global Port two prestigious global companies in the field of storage and world ports design.

There will also be work with global foodstuff processing and storage companies, including Bühler; a leading global Swiss-German food industries company, German BIA; the worlds top in designing and constructing raw sugar plants, sugar packaging and storage, and C M Bernardini; leading global Italian company specialized in the design and supply of equipment and plants for oils and fats industry. On this occasion, Minister of Transport and Communications H E  Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti said at a press conference held on this occasion that food security warehouses project at Hamad Port will provide a stockpile for 3 million people for two years for each commodity being processed and stored.

The Minister said Qatar over the past few years has remarkably managed to handle its strategic stockpile for food security and expanded its investment in this regard in several world countries. For his part, Mohammed Sultan Al Jaber, Chairman of AlJaber Group of Companies said: "We are thankful to the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the New Port Project Steering Committee for trusting AlJaber Engineering with the design and construction of the Strategic Food Security Facilities Project.""Being a Qatari company, we are proud to have been chosen for this strategic project for the State of Qatar. AlJaber Group of Companies shall provide full support to the project team to ensure high standards of quality and delivery on time," he added.

The contract was signed by Maisar Jamil El Qutami, Project Executive Director, New Port Project, and Osama Hadid, CEO, AlJaber Engineering. The signing ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Switzerland Etienne Thevoz, Ambassador of Germany Hans-Udo Muzel and Ambassador of Italy Pasquale Salzano.

source: The Peninsula

The Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’, will close and divert an 800 metre section of Al Furousiya Street to enable the construction of a free flowing, three-level interchange on Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street. The proposed diversion has been designed in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic and will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will commence from 22 July 2017 and will be in place for two (2) months.

During this time, road users travelling eastbound on Al Furousiya Street wishing to access Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street, will be diverted onto Khalifa Bin Ahmad Street and be required to follow the diversion route along Umm Jawlaq Street and Street 950 as shown on the attached map. Ashghal advises that it will not reduce the number of lanes on this section of Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street as part of this diversion, but it will gradually reduce the number of lanes on Al Furousiya Street from three lanes to two lanes upon approach to Khalifa Bin Ahmad Street. The Public Works Authority requests all road users to abide by the speed limit, which has been reduced to 30 kph in some areas, and follow newly implemented traffic road signs to ensure their safety.

H.E. Mr. Turki bin Mohammed Al-Khater, Chairman of United Development Company along with Mr. Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, President & CEO of United Development Company and Mr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Hamad Al Mana, CEO of Mohammed Al Hamad Al Mana Group.

Doha-based Mohammed Al Mana Group is set to build a new mall at The Pearl-Qatar after agreeing a deal to buy a plot of land from master developer mall at The Pearl-Qatar​). UDC said that the land will be used for a mall branded as 04 Mall, which will open its doors in the third quarter of next year.

Abdulaziz Mohammed Hamad Al Mana, CEO of Mohammed Al Hamad Al Mana Group, said that the 04 Mall "will be our fourth community mall project, adding to our portfolio of 40,000 sqm of already open retail spaces around Doha". "We are already a major real estate player in the Qatari market with a total 1.6 billion Qatari riyal investments in The Pearl alone," he said. He said that the mall would contain three department stores, a supermarket, a five-screen cinema and a gym and would be targeted at residents of The Pearl and the nearby West Bay community.

UDC said that the Pearl-Qatar had achieved a number of recent construction milestones, including work starting at the 480-unit Al Mutahidah Towers in the Viva Bahriya district and the construction of ten prototype villas in Giardino Village. Last month, UDC reported a 10 percent year-on-year decline in net profit to 318 million Qatari riyals, although revenue increased by 32 per cent to 1.07 billion riyals. 

Qatar Charity (QC) has successfully implemented 285 healthcare projects in 19 countries during the first half of this year to benefit thousands of people.

In a press release, QC said the projects involved the construction and equipping of hospitals, healthcare centres and clinics aimed at enhancing healthcare services and improving the quality of medical services in the countries. The countries included Palestine, Lebanon, Somalia, Niger, Mali, Ghana, Sudan, India, Bosnia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Kyrgyzstan and Morocco, the QC noted. QC thanked all supporters of its projects including Qataris and residents, affirming that this support for humanitarian work reflects the reality of the Qatari community giving, and supporting all those in need around the world.

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Qatar’s leading Islamic bank, signed a QR 1.6bn financing deal with AlJaber Engineering (JEC). The agreement was signed at QIB’s headquarters, by Mr. Bassel Gamal, QIB’s Group CEO, and Osama Hadid, CEO of JEC. The financing deal will support JEC’s current project to execute the design and construction of strategic food security facilities and warehouses at Hamad Port.

The facilities of the project will be developed and constructed on an area of approximately 530,000 square meters. The project consists of specialized facilities for the processing, manufacturing, and refining of rice, raw sugar, and edible oils. These products will be available for local, regional and global use. The project will also include rice silos and oil storage tanks with their associated infrastructure and conveyance equipment, in addition to handling, processing, packaging, reloading, and transport facilities. One more feature of the project will be a specialized facility for the recycling of waste products arising from the processing of basic commodities to create animal feed.

Those facilities will operate as a fully functional standalone terminal, while 500 meters of ship docking area will be dedicated for the berthing and discharging of the ships. “QIB provides Shari'a-compliant banking solutions which are customized to fully address the sophisticated and evolving needs of our Corporate customers. As an active contributor to the country’s economy growth, we are proud to finance JEC’s food security facilities project which is of strategic importance to the country and all the people who live and work in it,” said Bassel Gamal, QIB’s Group CEO.

Gamal underlined QIB's longstanding relationship with JEC, noting that the Bank has financed many of the company's projects, especially government and infrastructure related ones. The new financing deal is part of QIB’s business focus on building strong partnerships with local organizations and support the development of the country’s private sector as per Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Over the past few years, the Bank is actively involved in financing large projects in the energy, trade, industrial, infrastructure and construction industries supporting national investors to participate in and contribute to the diversification of Qatar’s economy.

For his part, JEC CEO Osama Hadid said: "As the main contractor of the project, AlJaber Engineering will be responsible for the design and construction of the complete facility. We will cooperate with a number of specialized international companies for the design and supply of the required equipment." Mr. Hadid also stated "We highly value our continuous cooperation with QIB, this new financing deal will enable JEC to meet its commitments toward our client, the Hamad Port Steering Committee, to ensure delivery of the project on schedule and to the highest international standards."