Posted on April 24, 2018
United Development Company (UDC), one of the largest Qatari shareholding companies and master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, has signed three contracts worth QR 334 million for the development of Gewan Island. The Gewan project was unveiled by HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior at Cityscape Qatar 2018.
The event brought together HE Mr. Turki Bin Mohammed Al-Khater, UDC Chairman and Mr. Ibrahim Jassim Al-Othman, the company’s President and CEO, along with a number of officials, department chiefs, businessmen and representatives of the public and private sectors.
Gewan Island, UDC’s current biggest real estate project, spans across 400,000 sqm. The island, which derives its name from the full-round, pink-tinted and perfectly shaped pearl, will support a mix of property types, catering for different accommodation and investment needs.
Commenting on the signing of contracts, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Othman said: “We are very confident that Gewan Island and its real estate offerings will attract both local and international investors. Our investment in these construction contracts reflects our commitment towards shareholders to working with leading real estate development companies as part of our efforts to implement development projects that enhance Qatar’s position on the global investment map.”
SNC-Lavalin’s Faithful+Gould business was chosen to provide project management services for UDC’s Gewan Island development.
Mr. Ibrahim Al-Othman and Faithful+Gould’s Regional Managing Director Mr. Campbell Gray signed the contract that tasked the company with implementing the delivery strategy and program for Gewan Island and working with all stakeholders to plan for earliest possible completion, together with procurement and management of other consultants and contractors.
Faithful+Gould is currently overseeing the development of the design for the project, along with providing technical peer review and value engineering options.
“We are proud to be working with UDC on its flagship project, Gewan Island, which indicates the robustness of the local real estate sector and its strength,” said Mr. Gray.
“At Gewan Island, we will use a unique mix of digital platforms and tools that support our service delivery model through innovation and automation to enhance the efficiency of project management for our customers and save both time and money. Our cooperation with SNC-Lavalin, a global provider of professional and project management services, enriches our global experience in this field, which distinguishes us from competitors”, added Gray.
Dar was appointed to carry out the design consultancy services pertaining to master planning, infrastructure, architecture and engineering consultancy services of Gewan Island development.
Mr. Ibrahim Al-Othman and Mr. Hussein Hamieh, Dar Al-Handasah’s Director of Operations, Qatar, signed the contract at UDC’s pavilion at Cityscape Qatar 2018 in the presence of Imad Al-Rimawi, Dar Al-Handasah’s Qatar Resident Manager.
Dar Al-Handasah’s scope of services will cover master planning and infrastructure, as well as buildings architectural and engineering design services. Infrastructure services include designing roads and bridges as well as marine works in addition to water supply, firefighting, wastewater, storm-water drainage and irrigation networks, power networks, telecommunication and low current networks, a gas network, and a solid waste vacuum network. The scope of services will also cover the environmental impact study, the traffic impact study as well as the preparation of tender documents.
“We are very proud to be appointed by UDC on their leading project, Gewan Island, one of the major real estate ventures in the Gulf region, which features recreational facilities, residential units and villas among other facilities,” Mr. Hamieh said.
“Dar Al Handasah is a leading international multidisciplinary consulting firm in engineering, architecture, planning, environment, project and construction management, and economics, and operating in 40 offices worldwide, with a presence in Qatar since 1978,” he added.
Mr. Ibrahim Al-Othman signed a contract tasking Middle East Dredging Company (MEDCO) with the execution of the marine works including marine dredging and reclamation, the construction of sand beaches, shore protection rock revetments, breakwaters, and quay walls for Gewan Island. Construction works shall commence later in May 2018 for a year and half period.
Mr. Alberto Mino, General Manager of MEDCO signed the contract in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Bart De Groof, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Qatar.
His Excellency The Belgian Ambassador said: “We are very pleased to witness the signing of this important agreement with UDC, which involves marine works at Gewan Island as an expansion to The Pearl-Qatar Project; and we value this constructive partnership and fruitful cooperation between our Belgian Shareholder of MEDCO, with UDC which is considered one of the leading local and regional real estate developers and a contributor to the growth of the local economy”.
It is worth mentioning that Gewan Island was designed as an extension to The Pearl-Qatar, offering its residents a comprehensive living space merging entertainment and retail outlets with smart technologies. It features a theme park, an air-conditioned outdoor ‘Crystal’ boardwalk, a green park and a waterfront retail esplanade that will attract new brands to Doha.
The island will be home to apartments, waterfront and beachfront villas, and 6 modern island villas in addition to retail outlets, entertainment facilities, a sports club and a mosque.
Source: Zawya
