Qatar Rail on Wednesday signed a number of high level agreements at Cityscape Qatar 2019, including naming rights agreements with Hamad International Airport (HIA)/Qatar Airways, and two major financial institutions in the country – Qatar National Bank (QNB) and Commercial Bank.
The event was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment atar National Tourism Council Secretary-General and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker, and other dignitaries.
The agreement with HIA/Qatar Airways, signed by al-Subaie and al-Baker, is one of Qatar Rail’s strategies aimed at forming key alliances with renowned local and international corporations and brands to promote their services at the Metro stations and reach wider market segments.
HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment and Qatar Rail managing director engineer Abdulla Abdulaziz Turki al-Subaie, and Qatar National Tourism Council secretary-general and Qatar Airways Group chief executive HE Akbar al-Baker at the agreement signing on Wednesday (supplied picture).
The second day of Cityscape Qatar also witnessed the signing of naming rights agreement of Lusail Station with QNB, which was represented by QNB Group COO Ali Rashid al-Mohannadi.
“Obtaining the right of naming Lusail Metro Station as “Lusail – QNB Station” is a major achievement. The station will operate as the metro station serving Lusail that will provide a convenient and secure transportation option to avoid the city’s traffic congestion,” al-Mohannadi said.
The Lusail Station, one of the Red Line’s elevated stations of the Doha Metro, is the key metro station in Lusail City and will be part of the first operational phase of Doha Metro. It is located close to the Lusail Stadium, Lusail Race Course and Lusail Handball Stadium.
The station is one of the exchange stations and will link to Lusail Tram network, enabling passengers to travel between Lusail Tram and Doha Metro lines to complete their journeys.
Qatar Rail’s chief of Strategy & Business Development Ajlan Eid al-Enazi said: “Naming rights is a strategic and long-term opportunity that allows companies to reach a wider segment of its target market and promote their brand across. We look forward to working more closely with our partners to further strengthen our alliance and contribute to achieving their goals."
HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment HE Abdulla Abdulaziz Turki al-Subaie and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker and other officials at the agreement signing
Qatar Rail also signed two agreements with Commercial Bank, firstly allotting commercial spaces at Qatar University (QU) Station and the naming rights to boost their promotions for a period of five years.
The agreement details the right for Commercial Bank to promote its brand within prominent advertisement spaces both inside and outside the metro station.
Commercial Bank will also take over all commercial spaces at QU Station and open an integrated branch spreading over 110sq m to provide a wide range of banking services to students, entrepreneurs and metro passengers.
The station will also feature a meeting point for professionals, in addition to food and beverage facilities.
“Commercial Bank is proud to sign such a high-end agreement with Qatar Railways Company. Such an agreement represents one perfect collaboration and partnership between public and private companies,” Commercial Bank Group CEO Joseph Abraham said. “We hope to reach a wider niche of customers through our branch in QU, especially university students, teachers and visitors.”
Qatar Rail's chief of Service Delivery, Abdulla Saif al-Sulaiti said: “The agreement between Qatar Rail and Commercial Bank is a model example of public-private partnership that contributes to the development of the business sector while providing opportunities for businesses to reach a broader customer base.
“We are pleased to partner with Commercial Bank to enrich the services we provide at Doha Metro station this will position the stations as a destination for students, SMEs and other segments of the community,” he added.
