HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Um Alhoul Special Economic Zone yesterday. He was joined by (seated, from left) Manateq CEO Fahad Rashid al-Kaabi and HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassem bin Mohamed al-Thani.
By Peter Alagos
Business Reporter
The new Um Alhoul Special Economic Zone is set to enhance Qatar’s logistic and storage facilities, a senior official has said.
“Major players and stakeholders in the private sector are looking forward to the immediate development of the Um Alhoul Special Economic Zone, which is expected to address issues such as logistics and storage, specifically in Qatar’s industrial sector,” said Manateq CEO Fahad Rashid al-Kaabi.
“They are very happy to see a new economic zone in the region, specifically in Qatar, because everybody is aware of the shortage of land and its availability for business,” al-Kaabi told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Um Alhoul zone yesterday.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani in the presence of HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani and al-Kaabi among other dignitaries.
“This zone, which is strategically located at the new Hamad Port, just south of Wakrah and next to the Mesaieed Industrial City, will consist of facilities and services for a wide range of industrial activity,” al-Kaabi explained.
Spanning 33.52sq km, Um Alhoul stands as a light manufacturing zone and is designed to cater for petrochemicals (downstream and plastics), which will comprise 6.5% of the area; building materials (non-bulk), 5.2%; maritime onshore logistics, 3.9%; metal (downstream), 3.9%, food processing, 0.8%; transportation and automotive, 1.8%; tools, machinery, and others, 3.9%; and logistics.
Al-Kaabi said that the special economic zone featured a dedicated canal to accommodate marine-related industries.
“Given its proximity to the port, the new economic zone will be of particular interest to the maritime industry, including ship building and repair for mid-sized ships, dhows, leisure craft, offshore platforms and dredging equipment.
“Other marine-related services will include bunkering, chandlery, warehousing, and distribution.”
He said that land allocation for investors at the Um Alhoul Special Economic Zone would be received by the second quarter of 2015, while lands for the first development phase would be delivered to investors in the first quarter of 2016.
Manateq is responsible for developing and operating three new special economic zones in Qatar that aim to facilitate private sector growth and promote manufacturing in downstream heavy and light industries.
Al-Kaabi said the 4.01sq km Ras Bufontas was the first special economic zone to be developed by Manateq. With its strategic proximity to Hamad International Airport, al-Kaabi described Ras Bufontas as an “ideal location for Qatar’s advanced technology and logistics businesses”.
The Al Karaana Special Economic Zone will be the largest of the three zones at 48sq km, providing an opportunity to grow specialised industries and logistics zone.
Asked for the proposed development plans for Al Karaana, al-Kaabi said: “The opening the Al Karaana Special Economic Zone will be in the near future and we will make the necessary announcements as soon as we are able to finalise the design.”
