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.