A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE

the

pearl-

qatarUDC – A CORNERSTONE OF QATAR’S DEVELOPMENT

United Development Company (UDC) isreviving the tradition of building vibrant

cities on the waterfront of the Arabian Gulf.The company has created The Pearl-Qatar,an exclusive Riviera-style developmentknown for its architectural elegance and tech-nical perfection. With a price tag in excessof $14 billion, it is one of the most ambi-tious urban development projects in theworld. Home to a mix of nationalities fromaround the world, upon completion in 2013it will house over 41,000 people who seeka vibrant Mediterranean lifestyle in theGulf, or a great invest-ment opportunity.

Porto Arabia, ThePearl-Qatar’s first phase,is already thriving withas diverse restaurants ascelebrated Manhattan-based ‘candy store foradults’ Alison Nelson’sChocolate Bar, as wellas opera star PlacidoDomingo and celebritychef Richard Sandoval’sMexican restaurant Pampano, and world-class brands such as Gianfranco Ferré,Hermes and Vera Wang, making The Pearl-Qatar a shopping and dining haven. Moreover,the recent unveiling of towers, villas and town-houses has also brought more residents toPorto Arabia to enjoy a lavish lifestyle sur-rounded by Qatar’s crystal blue waters.

The Pearl-Qatar is a four-phase develop-ment made up of ten distinct districts, eachwith its own characteristics. Qanat Quartierwill be the Venice of the Middle East, whileViva Bahriya is architecturally themed to

echo the very best of the Mediterranean; aperfect destination for families seekingrelaxed, beachfront living. On the east of VivaBahriya, the coliseum-style layout of FlorestaGardens provides Roman-inspired archi-tecture that is perfect for those looking forcommunity living. Those who seek a seclud-ed getaway can turn to the gated commu-nities of Perlita Gardens or Giardino Villas.

Upon completion, The Pearl-Qatar will hosta diverse range of housing options, includ-ing beachfront villas, luxury apartments andtownhouses, as well as three 5-star hotels

and several boutique hotels.Three award-winning mari-nas will complement this,while schools, health clin-ics and other services willmake it possible to live onthe island without everneeding to leave it.Residents will be able toenjoy the island’s IT infra-structure, which offerscomplete connectivity anda host of home automa-

tion capabilities to enhance convenience andsecurity. Residents will be able to control allfunctions of their home from abroad. A‘smart card’ will also allow residents to per-form all sorts of transactions on the islandwithout the need for cash or credit cards.

The Pearl-Qatar is the first developmentin Qatar to offer freehold property rights tointernational investors. With this project, UDCintends to build “a precinct akin to the finestEuropean cities, Venice’s famed canals andRenaissance architecture,” according toUDC’s MD and president Khalil Sholy. ■

This supplement has been produced and sponsored by Summit Communications. It did not involve the reporting or editing staff of The New York Times.

One of the leading publicly listed and most diversified companies in the Middle East, United DevelopmentCompany (UDC) is leading Qatar’s drive to modernity while delivering high returns for its investors

For further information contact:

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS 1040 First Avenue, Suite 395, New York, NY 10022. Tel: 1 (212) 286 00 34,

Fax: 1 (212) 286 83 76, E-mail: summit@summitreports.com

Project Director: Nathalie Martin Bea. Project Coordinator: Jose Mendez

An online version is available at www.summitreports.com

UDC intends to make The Pearl-Qatara unique living and cultural experiencethat combines the best of the country’spast and present.

The Pearl-Qatar has become the venueof choice for top international artistscoming to Doha. For instance, operat-ic legend Placido Domingo recentlyreturned to The Pearl-Qatar for his sec-ond spectacular live music and danceextravaganza with the renowned Spanishproduction, Antología de la Zarzuela,on 13 May, thereby reflecting the rich-ness and legacy being shaped here.

A primary objective is to incorporatea range of living environments – fromhigh-end luxury villas complete withtheir own beaches to fashionable apart-ment-style accommodations with sweep-ing sea views. Diversity and the veryhighest quality in accommodations is akey objective in the project’s masterplanning.

Each unique district of The Pearl-Qatar will have its own architectural

character. The names of districts, fea-tures and attractions have been creat-ed with a mix of French, Italian, Spanishand Arabian roots, summoning thepromise of an iconic destination and anindisputably glamorous address in theMiddle East.

The Pearl-Qatar will offer a differ-ent experience in all measures. It com-bines unique dimensions of tranquil lifesurrounded by every luxury the worldcould offer. The development was ini-tially imagined as ‘a touch of modernelegance, with shades of indulgence,’which is proving to be an in-demand com-bination.

The Pearl-Qatar’s popularity withinvestors and homeowners has beenbacked by phenomenal sales of resi-dential units from buyers and investorsin more than 52 countries. This rapidpace of sales and significant interestexpressed exemplifies the first-rate andsterling reputation that The Pearl-Qatarhas garnered.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Legendary opera tenor PlacidoDomingo’s recent live performanceat The Pearl-Qatar

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

the pearl-qatar

Ronautica Middle East was estab-lished in March 2007 to manage and

operate first-class marinas in the MiddleEast. This newly created company offersThe Pearl-Qatar’s clients a range ofpremier services, all seamlessly inte-grated into the exclusive luxury envi-ronment. The three state-of-the-artmarinas at The Pearl-Qatar resort city

will serve the

population as the ideal platforms toengage in a true nautical lifestyle.

Ronautica Middle East will managethe hire and maintenance of the berths.It will also offer complementary leisureservices, such as a sailing school, yachtsales, sightseeing tours and boat shows.

“It is our mission to bring the sea clos-er to the people and our marinas at ThePearl-Qatar are designed to make that

happen,” says Jaume Marco, generalmanager of Ronautica Middle East.

“We are fully confident thatRonautica will play a major role inproviding excellent marina services onthe island, while contributing to theoverall advancement of the whole pro-ject,” adds Rabih El Khoury, salesmanager at The Pearl-Qatar.

The Pearl-Qatar is the largest island

in Qatar’s waters, making quality mari-nas a top priority. During the develop-ment’s two-year land reclamation process,4 million square meters of new land werecreated with a 32-kilometer (20-mile)shoreline, three coves, navigable canalsand several other diverse features that willkeep water-loving residents of The Pearl-Qatar safe, entertained and well-con-nected for years to come. ■

SEA TO BELIEVERonautica Middle East, a fully owned subsidiary of UDC, is building three sophisticated and environmentally friendly marinas aswell as a yacht club of international standing to cater to the international, regional and local yachting communities

One of UDC’s greatest victories asa developer has been its ability to

build something of The Pearl-Qatar’smagnitude without harming the envi-ronment. With a full-fledged environ-mental team conducting tests at allstages of development, there is evenproof that The Pearl-Qatar’s develop-ment has been beneficial to the sur-rounding marine environment. Forexample, environmental reports con-firm that in some areas of The Pearl-Qatar, there is now richer marine lifethan before construction began.

Qatar Cool’s role in introducing dis-

trict cooling to the island has also beenhighly effective as UDC’s answer tothe high demand for air conditioningand the national need for energy effi-ciency. The world’s largest district cool-ing plant is being built on ThePearl-Qatar and will provide 130,000tons of refrigeration in order to sup-ply all of the buildings on the man-madeisland. District cooling has many impor-tant benefits upon comparison withconventional air conditioning systems.On top of very low emissions and highefficiency, district cooling provides asignificant cost reduction, which if

spread throughout the entire country,will lead to massive savings.

The dredging that has taken placein The Pearl-Qatar has also played animportant role in establishing the man-made island as a beacon of sustain-ability. The dredging has occurred over

a shallow rock area, meaning that theisland has a very strong foundation.

Environmental training is also giv-en to the staff, retailers and contrac-tors to help ensure people understandwhat they can do to help protect theenvironment.

Measures will continue in the futureas an artificial reef is already plannedfor development, hundreds of speciesof indigenous plants and trees are beingplanted, and extensive and varied mon-itoring programmes, such as ecologi-cal surveys, sea water testing, noise,dust and emission monitoring are inplace ensuring that The Pearl-Qatarremains a safe, green place in whichto live. ■

A SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENTThe Pearl-Qatar’s development has been hailed as a primeexample of environmental stewardship and sustainability

The Pearl-Qatar’s three marinas will offer the ultimate experience

for luxury boating

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