The Pearl-Qatar


The Pearl-Qatar in Doha, Qatar, is an artificial island spanning nearly four square kilometers. It is the first land in Qatar to be available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals. As of 2018, there are 27,000 residents.
Once fully completed, The Pearl will create over 32 kilometers of new coastline, for use as a residential estate with an expected 18,831 dwellings and 45,000 residents by 2018. Developed by United Development Company and planned by architecture and design firm Callison, the island is located 350 meters offshore of Doha's West Bay Lagoon area.
In 2004, when the project was first revealed, the initial cost of constructing the island stood at $2.5 billion. It is now believed the project will cost $15 billion upon completion.

Etymology

The name "The Pearl" was chosen because the island is being built on one of Qatar's previous major pearl diving sites. Qatar was one of the major pearl traders of Asia before the Japanese introduced cheaper more affordable pearls just before Qatar's oil boom. The Pearl-Qatar helps to represent Qatar's rich past in the pearl industry. Now completed, The Pearl is said to resemble a string of pearls.

Districts

The Pearl is divided into 12 districts, each of which has a distinct architectural style. The districts are:
Residential development on the island is intended to incorporate various national and international themes, including aspects of Arabic, Mediterranean, and European culture. There are twelve precincts that make up The Pearl-Qatar Island.

Porto Arabia Towers

Total number of towers will be 31 with a total of 4,700 apartments. The address format is Unit 1234, 1 Porto Arabia. Some references use PA‑1 for convenience.
Tower NumberParcelTower NameDeveloperStatus
11OneUDCComplete
22ATwo / FardhanUDCComplete
32BUDCComplete
43ACaliforniaUDCComplete
53BFloridaUDCComplete
64UDCComplete Summer 2009
75UDCComplete
8, 9, 106A,C,DSabbanSabbanComplete
117AUnitedUDCComplete
127BUDCUnder construction. Structure complete.
138AThe LandComplete
148BTuscanThe LandComplete January 2011
159AMonacoThe LandComplete
169BTuscan / VIPThe LandComplete September 2010
1710AMonacoThe LandIn construction. Outside almost complete.
1810BTuscanThe LandComplete
1911ALa RivieraFirst QatarComplete
2011BMonacoThe LandComplete
2112Bare concrete structure complete.
2213AUDCConcrete structure almost complete.
2313BUDCConcrete structure almost complete.
2414ADenata / Denat QatarCapital Investment / AstecoComplete
2514BH.H.Shk.Srour Bui Mohamed Al Nahyan, Mr. Ali IbrahComplete
2615AH.H.Shk.Srour Bui Mohamed Al Nahyan, Mr. Ali IbrahComplete
2715BThe LandComplete
2816AJumanaSalam BounainComplete
2916B29Complete
3017Burj EleganteComplete July 2012.
311831UDCComplete

Viva Bahriya Towers

There will be 29 towers total. The address format is Unit 1234, 1 Viva Bahriya, with ''VB‑1 being the shorter, convenient version.
Tower NumberTower NameDeveloperStatus
1Construction not started
2
3Imperial RubyDurrat Al Doha / QIBIn construction
4Imperial DiamondDurrat Al Doha / QIBIn construction
5CasablancaDurrat Al Doha / QIBComplete January 2018
6Imperial OpalDurrat Al Doha / QIBIn construction
7In construction
10Bilal Pearl SuitesAHBComplete December 2011
11ImperialUDC
12The Land
13The Land
14The LandComplete
15The Land
16The LandConstruction not started
17ImperialQatar Airways
18AstecoComplete Autumn 2011
19Regency Pearl IVAl Asmakh Real EstateOpened January 2019
20TurquoiseComplete
21Imperial EmeraldDurrat Al DohaComplete
22VB22Qatar CoralIn construction. Expected June 2013.
23VB23Qatar CoralIn construction. Expected June 2013.
26Regency Pearl VAl Asmakh Real EstateComplete
27UDCComplete
28UDCIn construction
29Costa del SolUDCComplete May 2011

Qanat Quartier

The Pearl Qatar's "Venice-like community" has an extensive canal system, pedestrian-friendly squares and plazas and beachfront townhouses. The first residents started to live in Qanat Quartier in 2012. When complete there will be:
Designed by a Master Planning, Architecture and Interior Design consultancy based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abraj Quartier

This precinct is located by the entrance of The Pearl Qatar, and will have 7 towers including the tallest buildings planned for the development, at 40 storeys high.
Tower NumberTower NameDeveloperStatus
1AQ01UDCUnder construction as of 2017
2AQ02UDCUnder construction as of 2017

Commercial attractions

There will be more than 13 islands when construction is completed. The largest of the islands will feature a range of luxury villas, apartments, three five-star hotels and over two million square meters of international retail, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment facilities. Eight other private islands will be for sale to private owners with the opportunity to build upon them whatever they wish.
The Central Authority Directorate, which provides services like property registration and residency permits, opened on 3 December 2011.

Restaurants

The Pearl-Qatar is home to a wide selection of dining outlets covering the full range of cuisines from South American to French/Lebanese through to casual options such as Alison Nelson's Coffee Bar. Time Out Doha Awards 2012: Midori, the Japanese restaurant in Porto Arabia, took out Best Newcomer in the awards. Pampano, also operated by Hospitality Development Company, a fully owned subsidiary of United Development Company, the master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, received the "Highly Commended" certificate in the Best South American category.
Porto Arabia Restaurants:
Restaurant NameCuisineLocationStatus
Al TabkhaPalestinian/Lebanese18 La CroisetteOpened February 2013
Anima Gallery & LoungeInternational30 La CroisetteOpen
BiCE RistoranteItalian1 La CroisetteOpen
Burj Al HamamPalestinian/Lebanese1 La CroisetteOpen
Carluccio'sItalian18 La CroisetteOpen
DalloyauFrench, Tea Room6 La CroisetteOpen
Elevation BurgerAmerican3 La CroisetteOpened in November 2012
Just BurgerAmerican19 La CroisetteOpened in January 2013
Le Relais de l'EntrecôteFrench1 La Croisette
Les Deux MagotsFrenchClosed in 2012 following the alcohol ban.
LizaLebanese4 La CroisetteOpen
Maze by Gordon RamsayContemporary FrenchClosed June 2012.
Wafi GourmetLebanese18 La CroisetteOpening soon
Zaatar w ZeitLebaneseOpening soon
ShakespeareEnglishOpen
Nando'sSouth AfricanMedina CentraleOpen
MeguJapanese6 La CroisetteOpen
JunkoJapanese12 La CroisetteClosed due to health related issues
The Noodle HouseAsian: Thai, Malaysian10 La CroisetteOpen
IslaMexican, Latin1 La CroisetteOpen
PatagoniaArgentinian, Steak31 La CroisetteOpened April 2013
Quisine by Guy SavoyFine Dining6 La CroisetteOpened in November 2012
Royal TandoorIndian20 La CroisetteOpened November 2012
SormaniItalian with French influence1 La CroisetteOpen
Tse YangChinese6 La CroisetteOpen
Lokum IstanbulTurkishOpen

The Pearl Qatar is also home to a number of cafés, lounges, bakeries and confectioneries:
NameDescriptionLocationStatus
Armani CaffeCafé7 La CroisetteOpen
Bread BasketBakery, Pastry, Deli1 La CroisetteOpen
Caffè Vergnano 1882Café10 La CroisetteOpen
Cake and BakeCake shop13 La CroisetteOpen
Caribou CoffeeCafé12 La CroisetteOpened January 2013
Chocolate Bar Café1 La CroisetteOpen
Coffee TimeCaféBoardwalk
Columbiano
Costa CoffeeCafé16 La CroisetteOpen
Foshy BerryFrozen Yoghurt12 La Croisette
The Frozen Yogurt FactoryFrozen Yoghurt18 La CroisetteOpen
Gold GourmetChocolate store1 La Croisette
Haagen DazsIce cream6 La CroisetteOpen
La Crêperie Pain de FranceCrêpes7 La Croisette
Lemon GrassCafé10 La CroisetteOpen
Marble Slab CreameryIce cream12 La CroisetteOpen
Second CupCafé4 La CroisetteOpen
StickhouseIce cream16 La CroisetteOpen

Retail

The island is home to many renowned luxury brands:
Marsa Malaz Kempinski is the largest hotel in The Pearl, and is located on its own islet. The hotel features 281 rooms, a 1,100 m² ballroom and conference halls. It has a beach with provisions for water sports and swimming, a 3,000 m² spa and tennis facilities. Boat tours are offered by the hotel. Seven restaurants are located in the hotel.

Beach resorts

Nikki Beach Resort and Spa was to be located at the end of Porto Arabia. The original completion date was scheduled for July 2012, but construction was stopped due to an alcohol ban. As of 2017 no progress had been made.
Taliamare Beach Club is at the Qanat Quartier beach. It opened in 2017.

Transport

Modes of transport varies from precinct to precinct. Golf carts are heavily used in Porto Arabia and Medina Centrale, while boat taxis are available in Porto Arabia and Qanat Quartier. Limousines are available in Porto Arabia, Medina Centrale, Qanat Quartier and Viva Bahriya.

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