QInvest Head of Real Estate Investment and Advisory, Craig Cowie, discussed Qatar’s careful planning for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
The first edition of Cityscape Qatar, taking place Under
the Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim
Bin Jabor Al-Thani Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs in Qatar, concluded on May 25th at the Doha
Exhibition Centre. The event has focused on the
opportunities for Qatar to develop in a strategic and
sustainable way for a long and prosperous future towards
the 2030 Vision.
The exhibition featured more than 100 companies, including
some of the biggest Qatari developers and investors along
with other industry leaders. Cityscape Qatar also welcomed
major regional and international project management
specialists and service providers. The exhibition was
visited by more than 7,000 visitors over the three
days.
The inaugural Qatar Real Estate Summit, taking place
alongside the exhibition, was a phenomenal success,
attended by more than 250 delegates. The conference hosted
insightful discussions from industry leaders about the
strategies that will ensure Qatar’s successful growth
under the 2030 Vision.
High visitor numbers were complimented by strong
international media attendance.
The focus of the Exhibition and Summit have been the
growth of Qatar reflecting the 2030 Vision. Speaking at
the Summit, Craig Cowie, Head of Real Estate Investment
and Advisory at QInvest, discussed how Qatar’s careful
planning under the 2030 Vision meant that preparations for
the 2022 FIFA World Cup would be able to maintain growing
investment in infrastructure without overbuilding in the
wrong sectors for the World Cup.
Craig Cowie said that the infrastructure developments
currently being planned, particularly in housing, retail
and office spaces in Doha, would see an increasing level
of immigration to Qatar of professional and white collar
workers, who would be part of the country’s
diversification of its economy away from a hydrocarbon
base, toward a service economy into sectors such as asset
management.
Other panels included a Spotlight in Project Finance,
which looked at Islamic financing structures for
affordable housing projects in the GCC and an update on
Qatar’s ‘Mega-Projects’, where developers behind some of
the country’s most iconic projects spoke about their
optimism for Qatar’s long-term potential. There were also
Special Focus Sessions on retail, office space and on the
tourism and hospitality sectors.
Cityscape Qatar is jointly organised by Informa
Exhibitions and q.media Events, and supported by Platinum
Sponsors Barwa Group, Commercial Bank, and al Khaliji
Bank, Silver Sponsor United Development Company (UDC),
Investor Round Tables sponsor Al Wa’ab City and Marketing
Sponsor Media Network.