São Paulo – Qatar has announced plans for the construction of a US$ 5.5 billion island on the coast of Doha, to host fans during the 2022 World Cup, disclosed news agency Reuters on Monday (27). The project was revealed by Barwa Real Estate, a real estate company belonging to the sovereign fund of Qatar.
The complex should count on luxury villas, a theme park and five floating hotels in the form of cruise ships. According to Reuters, the CEO at Barwa, Abdulla al-Subaie, announced, during a real estate conference in Doha, that the hotels will have capacity for 25,000 tourists.
According to the news agency, Qatar has already allocated 40% of its 2016 budget to infrastructure projects aiming at supplying the greater demand for rooms during the competition. “We forecast that there will be short-term demand for hotels, so it may not make sense to offer hotel rooms, so it may be more intelligent to offer these rooms over just a short period,” said Subaie to Reuters.
“Oryx Island may accommodate between 20,000 and 25,000 people. The cruise vessels may be docked for a week, two weeks… They may be mobilized or demobilized for a short period,” he explained. Subaie pointed out, however, that the project is only in the conceptual phase.
The executive also said, according to Reuters, that his company has agreed to sell one million square metres of land to the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for the construction of Lusail stadium, where the final match of the World Cup will take place. The sales price has not yet been agreed on.
Barwa is the main real estate developer of the Gulf, with shares sold on the stock market. The company has properties in France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, operating in the retail, business, residential, hotel and related service sectors.
*Translated by Mark Ament
