A snapshot of select projects in Qatar Wednesday, 04 May 2011 05:48

Lusail light rail transit system

Qatar Railways Company and Qatari Diar recently signed a 5-year contract with Parsons International and Aecom to manage the construction of the new Lusail Light Rail Transit system.  The Lusail Light Rail Transit system is central to the transportation infrastructure of Lusail City, one of the largest and most ambitious real estate development projects being undertaken in the Middle East and North Africa region. It will feature 30km of track, 7km of which are underground, 24 stations (seven of which are underground), service depots, and a viaduct.

The contract was signed in New York at the Business and Investment in Qatar Forum by Eng Abdulla Abdulaziz Turki Al Subaie, Managing Director and Board Member of the Qatar Railways Company, and John Dionisio, President and CEO of Aecom, on behalf of the Aecom/Parsons joint venture. The Lusail Light Rail Transit System is part of the Qatar Railway project which is a $30bn integrated railway system that will cover all major areas in the country and consist of three transport modes: Long distance, metro and freight. The Qatar Railways Company is wholly-owned by Qatari Diar Real Estate Development Company.

Construction for the state-of-the-art integrated railway network project of Qatar will start soon. The recently formed Qatar Railways Development Company, a 51/49 joint venture between Qatari Diar, represented by QRC and DB International, will be the sole entity responsible for developing and integrating Qatar’s visionary railway network, encompassing a range of transport modes such as metro systems, long distance passenger travel, and freight transport.

QRDC will also connect Qatar’s network to neighbouring countries via the Bahrain-Qatar causeway, to create the region’s first fully integrated railway system. Initial studies of the ambitious project and the preliminary design for the integrated railway network have already been completed. Procurement process for the project will start in June and construction will kick off in 2012. “The entire project will be completed by 2026 but the network needed for the World Cup 2022 will be finished by 2020.

Msheireb Properties

Dohaland recently rebranded the company to Msheireb Properties as part of its planned future growth strategy and line with focus on its heritage and proud Qatari identity. The linkage of the new brand name to the company’s first development Msheireb is intended to celebrate the saliency and significance of the signature project in the continual evolution of the company.  

The new brand name is inspired by the location of the company’s first project. The old downtown district of Msheireb grew up around a single well whose generous reserves inspired a community to put down roots, creating the city’s first suburb. Today, that site is turning into the world’s first fully sustainable downtown regeneration project. The name, speaks of flowing energy and vigorous life, giving a clue to the ambitious plans for the 31-hectare site.

Launched in March 2009 as a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the company aims to set a benchmark for sustainable downtown development that uses a bespoke architectural language which is forward looking, yet draws its inspiration from the past.

Qatar-Bahrain Causeway

The total cost of Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, one of the longest bridges in the world, is likely to be in the tune of $5bn, which will be the largest amount of money spend on any causeway. Construction work of the causeway is expected to start before the end of 2011 and conclude in 2015. The causeway will be the most costly strategic project at world standards. The total cost is between $4bn-$5.5bn to meet the cost of new designs, construction materials and other development projects.

Qatar–Bahrain causeway is of 40km length including four vehicle lanes and two railways. Consortium of Al Diyar Real Estate Company, Vinci Grand Projects, French Contracting Company, German Hochtief Company, Consolidated Contractors International Company in Greece and Middle East Dredging Company, will be in charge of construction work. The causeway starts from Askar village located in the eastern side of Bahrain Island to Ras Ishairij in Qatar. The causeway construction will help achieve economic integration and sustainable development between the two states. Transport costs and services and commodities values will be reduced in the long run. About 4,000 vehicles are expected to pass daily through the causeway after completion and the figure is expected to rise to 12,000 by 2050.

The Peninsula