*Qetaifan Projects signs MoU with ADMARES to provide a total of 1,616 floating hotel rooms
A total of 16 floating hotels are to be set up on the shores of Qetaifan Island North to provide accommodation for tourists and fans within the fan villages during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU), to build and operate these hotels, was signed by Qetaifan Projects, a company owned by Katara Hospitality, and ADMARES, a world leader in alternative real estate.
With this signing, Qetaifan Projects continues its series of local and international partnerships that would add to Qetaifan Island North and serve the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors in Qatar, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the company.
The MoU envisages the construction and operation of the 16 floating hotels that will feature a "unique design". Measuring 72m in length and 16m in width, each hotel will consist of 101 guest rooms and a restaurant.
All of the 16 four-storey hotels will be identical, offering a total of 1,616 floating hotel rooms, the statement notes.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, managing director of Qetaifan Projects and vice-chairman of Katara Hospitality; Hesham Sharaf, chief operating officer and Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, head of business development, at Qetaifan Projects, in addition to Mikael Hedberg, CEO of ADMARES and Samer Malaeb, regional director of the company.
In view of the proximity of Qetaifan Island North to Lusail Stadium, which will host the opening and final games of the World Cup, and the large number of tourists and fans who are expected to visit Qatar before and during the World Cup, the island will provide all the needs of the masses and tourists, it is explained.
This will be done through projects, facilities and entertainment activities in addition to the fan villages during the tournament, which will include the floating hotels, the note said.
Sheikh Nasser expressed happiness at attracting investments to the country, saying: "We are pleased that there are investors who share our vision and see the development of Qetaifan Island North as a promising project."
He noted that this indicates the confidence of investors in the returns "due to the safe and secure climate achieved by the State to encourage and attract foreign investment and create new opportunities, which will reflect positively on the local market, encourage competition and stimulate the state sectors in all fields, especially with the recent developments witnessed within these sectors”.
ADMARES uses "pioneering construction methods that combine cutting-edge marine, offshore, land and modular construction techniques," the statement said, adding that its turnkey solutions guarantee "greater returns for developers, shorter project timelines and minimal environmental impact".
The signing of the MoU is in line with the efforts of Qetaifan Projects and ADMARES to "deliver sustainable solutions with minimum ecological impact", and the hotels will be built according to the "strictest energy standards". For instance, the hotels will rely on solar energy.
To ensure the overall functionality and attractiveness of the hotels, the modern and urban buildings have been designed by award-winning Finnish firm Sigge Architects.
“This is the first time ever that pure floating real estate has been used as a temporary solution for accommodation needs at this scale.
These hotels do not require major ports and deep water as their draft is significantly less than large cruise ships,” said Hedberg."After the World Cup, the hotels can be placed at any coastal location where the water is at least 4m deep.
"We are excited to be part of the solution for the accommodation needed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
Malaeb too expressing pleasure at the co-operation, said: “The ADMARES floating hotels will reinforce the position of Qetaifan Island North as a preferred entertainment island in Qatar offering a unique, sustainable hospitality experience catering to various market segment needs.”
