Tag Archives : qatar


UAE rail to link to GCC network

Abu Dhabi: Completion of the UAE railway by 2018 can only bring more prosperity not only to the UAE but also the country’s five GCC neighbours as rail lines are constructed across the region, said Etihad Rail . The UAE railway will connect with the sources of raw materials, industrial areas, ports and major population centres, says Etihad […]


GCC industrial investments exceed USD338 billion

Total Industrial investments in the GCC have jumped from $81 billion in 1998 to $338 billion in 2012. The Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting ( GOIC ) revealed some figures about the progress of industrial activities in GCC countries. The number of firms in the GCC jumped from 7,089 in 1998 to 15,165 in 2012. The number of workers […]


Qatar plans to spend USD100bn on roads and railways as part of its mammoth infrastructure uplift

Qatar plans to spend $100bn on roads and railways as part of its mammoth infrastructure uplift, according to Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz ). There is no railway network in Qatar currently. High congestion and traffic accidents have now prompted Qatar to build railways, Markaz said in a report. For this purpose, Qatar Railway Development Company was formed with almost $41bn worth […]


Feasibility studies for GCC railway project under way

Two international firms will conduct feasibility studies for the proposed multibillion-riyal railway project that would link the six-member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), it was revealed at a recent meeting here of the GCC transport ministers. Bahraini Minister of Transport Kamal bin Ahmad said the two companies would conduct technical, consultative and engineering […]


Oct 15 first day of Eid Al Adha in most Muslim countries… Holidays from Oct 14?

The first day of Eid Al Adha is expected be on Tuesday, October 15, in most Islamic countries, according to a statement on Sunday from the Islamic Crescents’ Observation Project (Icop). The statement says, “The sighting of the crescent should be possible in most regions of the world with naked eyes on Sunday October 6, […]


GCC traffic infrastructure projects at USD109b

DUBAI – Ongoing roads and bridges developments across the GCC are currently valued at $109 billion according to the most recent figures from business advisory and research firm, Ventures Middle East. The UAE, second worldwide for roads quality in the latest Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, has investments worth $58 billion in the pipeline for […]


‘Public spend drive to lead Qatar construction boom’

Despite concerns about long lead-times for many of the planned projects across the country and the potential for rising construction costs, Business Monitor International (BMI) has maintained an “overall bullish” outlook for Qatar’s construction sector. “A strong commitment to public spending coupled with the most attractive and stable business environment in the region will help […]


New housing projects to drive Saudi realty growth

Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) recently published the executive summary of its report on GCC residential real estate. The report examines the current and potential, demand and supply dynamics of the GCC residential real estate market. The report also sheds the light on the key challenges, constraints and pricing trends of the GCC residential real estate […]


Unified GCC tourist visa could be reality soon

Work to set up a computer system to exchange data underway: Official The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is headed towards a unified tourist visa as early as 2014, according to a senior official with the committee. “The GCC is currently striving to set up a computer system to exchange data in order to facilitate the […]


Metro projects look daunting

While the contractors working on the Riyadh and Doha metros may be facing unknown risks, the benefits make them worthwhile Construction is very different from manufacturing. Instead of striving for perfection through repetition, it involves a team of people who have never worked together before making something that has never been built before. Construction is inherently […]