As we sit nearly 10 years away from Qatar hosting the world’s top sporting event, the question some raise is, whether “Qatar is going too slow” on its commitment to deliver the mega projects linked to the 2022 World Cup. Experts who were actively involved in the planning and execution of key projects in former host countries believe that Qatar is ‘bit going slow’ in its World Cup preparations. They raise concerns that Qatar, given [...]

A surge in oil prices and Qatar’s LNG exports allowed the Gulf country to record a massive budget surplus in the first nine months of its 2011-2012 fiscal year, according to official data. Qatar had projected spending at around QR139.9 billion (Dh141 billion) and revenue at QR162.47 billion (Dh163.5 billion) for its previous fiscal year which ended on March 31, creating a surplus of QR22.53 billion. But the actual balance widened to around QR26.7 billion [...]

UAE-based operator Rotana is planning to add three to four hotels to its portfolio in Qatar ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The firm currently operates one hotel in the Gulf state, with a second slated to open in Doha City Centre in December. “By the time the World Cup comes up we’ll probably have five or six hotels in Qatar. That’s a long term plan for 2022, we’ll take time to build them,” [...]

According to a report by Commercialbank Capital, construction market in Qatar is expected to outperform many developed economies by averaging a growth rate of 12.5% a year in this decade, Gulf Times has reported. The number of projects planned or underway in the Gulf country stood at $214bn in October 2011, the report said. The value of projects has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40% between 2005 and 2011, while the [...]

Qatar Railway Co., which is building a $35 billion metro and railway system in the Gulf emirate, plans to award contracts for the elevated metro sections in the second quarter of next year. Track contracts, currently scheduled to be awarded in the first quarter of 2014, may be brought forward to next year, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Geoff Mee said at a conference in Doha, the Qatari capital. He declined to give the value of [...]

Qatar’s strong economic performance driven by high energy prices and the government’s investments as well as preparation for Fifa 2022 are driving real estate demand in the country, a report said. DTZ, one of the top global real estate services firms, predicts a positive outlook as a result of demand for all types of real estate in its latest update on Qatar’s real estate market.   http://www.albawaba.com/business/qatar-property-market-fifa-2022-424134

The budget will be “much bigger” than the previous one and may be announced this month

  The Links Group – leaders in company formation in the UAE and Qatar for over 10 years – this week met with construction companies from Malaysia and the UK to discuss establishing a commercial presence in Qatar. Held on the sidelines of Project Qatar 2012, the separate seminars were hosted by the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the Construction Products Association, a representative body for the UK’s manufacturers and suppliers of construction [...]

A new Paramount Pictures-branded hospitality concept is looking a sites in the UAE, Qatar and Oman, it was announced on Sunday. Paramount Hotels & Resorts is set to be announced on Monday at the Arabian Travel Market. The project is currently in active development by PHR under licence by Paramount Licensing Inc.   http://www.arabianbusiness.com/hollywood-giant-eyes-gulf-in-new-hotels-venture-455771.html

Being held under the auspices of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani , Project Qatar 2012 -the International Construction, Building, Environmental Technology, and Building Material Exhibition – kicks off yesterday at the Doha Exhibition Center. http://www.zawya.com/story/Project_Qatar_2012_kicks_of_another_remarkable_year-ZAWYA20120429145435/