Gulf Times - 21/9/2006

The Pearl-Qatar, a multi-billion dollar offshore island and one of the largest real estate projects in the country, has signed a marketing and advertising deal with Batey of Singapore to promote the project globally, company officials have announced.
Batey was chosen after a comprehensive study of all applicants and proposals of companies interested in spearheading the Pearl-Qatar campaign.
“Batey fulfilled the requirements we were looking for and also possesses an impressive reputation and experience,” Pearl-Qatar’s general manager (marketing) Abdulrahim al-Ibrahim said.
The official explained that Batey brought a set of fresh and innovative concepts and ideas, which is something a dynamic project like the Pearl-Qatar is looking for.
Batey, which will handle all of the project’s advertising and marketing needs, will also be creating television advertising spots and will be responsible for packaging the Pearl-Qatar brand to global markets.
Based in Singapore, Batey is one of Asia’s leading marketing and advertising agencies. Some of its major clients have included Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board.
“The Pearl-Qatar is well on its way to becoming an iconic reality of global magnitude and impact,” Batey chairman Rick Scott-Blackhall said.
He said the Pearl-Qatar is a beautiful development and with so many features and selling points, it would certainly be the most glamorous address in the Middle East.
The Pearl-Qatar is one of the largest and most prestigious real estate projects in Qatar, offering true freehold ownership opportunities to international buyers.
While all tower plots in Porto Arabia, the first district of the island to be developed, have sold out, tower plots in Viva Bahriya, the second district of the island, continue to generate wide interest and are 60% sold.
Sale of residential units in Viva Bahriya is expected to be launched soon.
Construction of the Pearl-Qatar, being built 350 metres offshore the West Bay Lagoon area, has been racing ahead and can be viewed from Doha’s waterfront.
The offshore, riviera-style man-made island, covering 985 acres of reclaimed land, will eventually be home to some 42,000 residents. It will create over 30 kms of new coastline.
The Pearl-Qatar’s name and location, on a former pearl diving site, highlights the country’s traditions, and strong historical and cultural links to the sea.
The four-phase development comprises 11 distinct districts to be developed over five years. The Riviera Arabia themed districts will house three luxury hotels, three marinas, with combined mooring for over 700 boats, and more than 2mn square feet of luxury retail, recreation and restaurant space.
The Pearl-Qatar is being developed and promoted by United Development Company.