Latest news with #QatarTourism
Tourism Breaking News
23-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Qatar to develop the waterfront in West Bay and Safliya Island
Post Views: 67 An agreement was signed between Qatar Tourism, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the aim of coordinating joint efforts to implement the waterfront project in West Bay and Al Safliya Island. This strategic project marks a key milestone in the tender process for the development and operation of five distinct beach plots along Doha's iconic waterfront in West Bay, as well as Al Safliya Island. The project is a significant step in Qatar's efforts to develop its tourism infrastructure and expand leisure options. Expressions of interest were opened to regional and international developers and operators with experience in the implementation of major hospitality and leisure projects. The scope of the project includes the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of 5 dedicated beachfront plotsin the West Bay area, as well as Al Saflia Island. The project will include accommodation facilities, F&B outlets, and leisure facilities, contributing to the creation of an integrated beach destination accessible to all. Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA), has announced the opening of Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the West Bay Waterfront Project and Al Safliya Island. The announcement was made on May 22, during the Qatar Economic Forum, in the presence of high-level representatives from the participating entities. The agreement was signed on behalf of Qatar Tourism by Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development Sector, Mr. Saleh Al Khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry and Business Development Affairs, and Eng. Mohammed Masoud Al Marri, Projects Consultant on behalf of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: 'The West Bay and Al Saflia Island Waterfront Development is a strategic initiative that underscores our commitment to the development of Qatar's tourism sector. This agreement also reflects the strength of cooperation between the public and private sectors in the implementation of development projects with a long-term impact. The project is a key step towards creating an integrated coastal destination linking the shores of West Bay and Al Saflia Island. The project also contributes to supporting economic diversification efforts and strengthening Qatar's position as a leading global tourism destination.' For his part, HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani stressed that investing in tourism projects is a key pillar for diversifying the economy and enhancing partnership between the public and private sectors in advancing development, and that these projects are an important engine to attract quality investments that contribute to achieving sustainable development and support the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 . His Excellency pointed out that the waterfront development project in West Bay and Al Saflia Island is an important step that reflects the commitment of the State of Qatar towards enhancing its investment environment and developing its vital sectors, especially tourism, hospitality and entertainment . H.E. Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Meer, President of the Public Works Authority 'Ashghal', said that the waterfront development project in West Bay and Al Safliya Island embodies a distinguished model of constructive cooperation between various government entities, as well as effective partnership with the private sector, within the framework of the public-private partnership initiative adopted by the State . His Excellency called on all national entities working in the construction sector to seize this important strategic opportunity and contribute effectively to the implementation of this ambitious project. His Excellency stressed that the Public Works Authority 'Ashghal' plays a pivotal role in the implementation of tourism projects by providing an integrated infrastructure that keeps pace with the objectives of tourism projects, while adhering to the highest standards of quality and sustainability, in a way that ensures achieving a balance between urban beauty and preserving the environment and natural resources in the country. Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO of IPA, said: ' IPA is pleased to support the West Bay Waterfront Project and Al Saflia Island, as it is a strategic initiative that contributes to attracting quality investments and enhancing the infrastructure of the tourism sector in the State of Qatar. This project also embodies the country's commitment to building a dynamic and diversified national economy, through strategic partnerships with global developers to drive development. We are confident that this project will enrich the visitor experience and open up promising prospects for innovation and sustainable development in the hospitality and leisure sectors.
Qatar Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Tourism launches EoI for West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Tourism (QT), in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), and Invest Qatar, has announced the opening of the Expression of Interest (EoI) process for the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project. The announcement was made on May 22 during the Qatar Economic Forum, in the presence of senior representatives from all four parties. On the sidelines of the press conference, an agreement was signed between Qatar Tourism, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the aim of coordinating joint efforts to implement the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project. The agreement was signed on behalf of Qatar Tourism by Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development Sector, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry by Saleh bin Majid Al Khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development, and on behalf of the Public Works Authority by Eng. Mohammed Masoud Al Mari, Senior Projects Engineering Advisor. This strategic initiative represents a significant milestone in the tendering process for the development and operation of five prime beachfront plots along Doha's iconic West Bay shoreline, as well as Al Safliya Island. The project represents a significant advancement in Qatar's efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and broaden its leisure offerings. The EOI process is now open to regional and international developers and operators with a proven track record in delivering large-scale hospitality and leisure projects. The development scope includes the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the five designated beachfront plots. The project will feature accommodation, food and beverage outlets, and recreational facilities, creating a unified and accessible waterfront destination. HE Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, stated, 'The West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project is a strategic initiative that underscores our commitment to expanding Qatar's tourism offering. This announcement reflects the strength of collaboration between public and private sectors in delivering impactful, long-term development outcomes. The project represents a significant step towards creating an integrated coastal destination that connects West Bay's beaches with Al Safliya Island, offering a comprehensive tourism, leisure, and hospitality experience. It will play a key role in supporting economic diversification and enhancing Qatar's position as a leading global tourism destination.' HE Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, affirmed that investment in tourism projects is a key pillar of economic diversification, and a vital driver of public-private partnerships aimed at advancing development. Such projects serve as a key catalyst for attracting high-quality investments that contribute to sustainable development and achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The West Bay Waterfront and Safliya Island development project, the Minister added, reflects Qatar's commitment to enhancing the investment environment and supporting vital economic sectors, including tourism, hospitality, and entertainment. For his part, HE Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Meer, President of the Public Works Authority, confirmed that the waterfront development project in the West Bay area and Al Safliya Island embodies a distinguished model of constructive cooperation between various government entities, and an effective partnership with the private sector, within the framework of Public-Private Partnership initiative adopted by the state. He called on all national entities working in the building and construction sector to seize this important strategic opportunity and contribute effectively to the implementation of this ambitious project. He affirmed that Ashghal plays a pivotal role in implementing tourism projects by providing integrated infrastructure that is in line with the objectives of tourism projects, while adhering to the highest standards of quality and sustainability, ensuring a balance between urban aesthetics, preserving the environment and natural resources of the country. Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani, CEO of Invest Qatar, said: 'Invest Qatar is pleased to support the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project, a transformative initiative that will attract significant investment and elevate Qatar's tourism infrastructure. This project is a testament to Qatar's commitment to creating a dynamic and diversified economy by fostering strategic partnerships with world-class developers to contribute to Qatar's growth. We believe this development will not only enhance the visitor experience but also create new opportunities for innovation and sustainable development in the hospitality and leisure sectors.'
Qatar Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Tourism, partners announce launch of expression of interest for landmark West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project
DOHA: Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), and Invest Qatar, has announced the opening of the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project. The announcement took place on Thursdayduring the Qatar Economic Forum, in the presence of senior representatives from all four parties. On the sidelines of the press conference, an agreement was signed between Qatar Tourism, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the aim of coordinating joint efforts to implement the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project. The agreement was signed on behalf of Qatar Tourism by Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development Sector, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry by Saleh bin Majid Al-khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development, and on behalf of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) by Eng Mohammed Masoud Al Mari, Senior Projects Engineering Advisor. This strategic initiative represents a significant milestone in the tendering process for the development and operation of five prime beachfront plots along Doha's iconic West Bay shoreline, as well as Al Safliya Island. The project represents a significant advancement in Qatar's efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and broaden its leisure offerings. The EOI process is now open to regional and international developers and operators with a proven track record in delivering large-scale hospitality and leisure projects. The development scope includes the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the five designated beachfront plots. The project will feature accommodation, food and beverage outlets, and recreational facilities, creating a unified and accessible waterfront destination. Chairman of Qatar Tourism HE Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, stated: 'The West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project is a strategic initiative that underscores our commitment to expanding Qatar's tourism offering. This announcement reflects the strength of collaboration between public and private sectors in delivering impactful, long-term development outcomes. The project represents a significant step towards creating an integrated coastal destination that connects West Bay's beaches with Al Safliya Island, offering a comprehensive tourism, leisure, and hospitality experience. It will play a key role in supporting economic diversification and enhancing Qatar's position as a leading global tourism destination.' Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, affirmed that investment in tourism projects is a key pillar of economic diversification, and a vital driver of public-private partnerships aimed at advancing development. Such projects serve as a key catalyst for attracting high-quality investments that contribute to sustainable development and achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The West Bay Waterfront and Safliya Island development project, the Minister added, reflects Qatar's commitment to enhancing the investment environment and supporting vital economic sectors, including tourism, hospitality, and entertainment. For his part, President of the Public Works Authority 'Ashghal' Eng Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Meer confirmed that the waterfront development project in the West Bay area and Al Safliya Island embodies a distinguished model of constructive cooperation between various government entities, and an effective partnership with the private sector, within the framework of Public-Private Partnership initiative adopted by the state. He called on all national entities working in the building and construction sector to seize this important strategic opportunity and contribute effectively to the implementation of this ambitious project. He affirmed that the Public Works Authority 'Ashghal' plays a pivotal role in implementing tourism projects by providing integrated infrastructure that is in line with the objectives of tourism projects, while adhering to the highest standards of quality and sustainability, ensuring a balance between urban aesthetics, preserving the environment and natural resources of the country. CEO of Invest Qatar Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thanisaid: 'Invest Qatar is pleased to support the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project, a transformative initiative that will attract significant investment and elevate Qatar's tourism infrastructure. This project is a testament to Qatar's commitment to creating a dynamic and diversified economy by fostering strategic partnerships with world-class developers to contribute to Qatar's growth. We believe this development will not only enhance the visitor experience but also create new opportunities for innovation and sustainable development in the hospitality and leisure sectors.'
Skift
22-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Qatar Wants Tourists Who Stay Longer
Qatar's tourism numbers grew by around 25% last year, but the real focus is on increasing how long people stay and how much they spend. Qatar's new goal for tourism isn't to have the most travelers in the region – it wants travelers who stay longer and spend more, according to the chairman of Qatar Tourism, Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji. "I'm not looking to drive the [visitor] numbers high, rather [to increase] people staying longer and increase the quality of visitors," said Al Kharji at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Wednesday. Qatar had 9.95 million room nights last year, according to Qatar Tourism data, referring to the total number of rooms occupied. The country had around five million total tourists. "Everyone globally wants to increase their number of visitors. We are focused more on room nights, though," said Al Kharji. "That's the most important [metric] for Qatar." Al Kharji said Qatar's room nights grew 22% last year. Accor CEO and chairman Sebastien Bazin was also on stage with Al Kharji. Accor is a major operator in Qatar and a member of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) sits on Accor's board. Bazin agreed that increasing the length of stay is key. "It costs a fortune to get people to Doha, so we need them to stay an extra two nights," he said. Bazin added that, even though Qatar gained visibility when it hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, more needs to be done to create awareness. On the topic of extending vacations, Bazin said that one of Qatar's shortcomings is that it doesn't have enough beach resorts. "The difficulty of this country, and it's one, and it's being addressed, it doesn't have enough luxury beach resort experiences," Bazin said. "They built it in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, they're doing it in Saudi Arabia, but Qatar is late. Most of the hotels [in Qatar] today don't have great beach access." "That's what is missing in this country. We need to go quick at it. We need to catch up." Responding to Bazin's point, Al Kharji said Qatar has stopped issuing new hotel licenses, unless they are beach projects. "We stopped licensing new hotels in Qatar, the only hotels I'll give licenses to are those on the beachfront," said the tourism chief. Qatar has around 40,000 hotel keys and 7,000 in the pipeline, Al Kharji said.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar Tourism and Partners announce launch of expression of interest for landmark West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island Project
Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), and Invest Qatar, has announced the opening of the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project. The announcement took place on May 22 during the Qatar Economic Forum, in the presence of senior representatives from all four parties. On the sidelines of the press conference, an agreement was signed between Qatar Tourism, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the aim of coordinating joint efforts to implement the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project. The agreement was signed on behalf of Qatar Tourism by Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development Sector, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry by Mr. Saleh bin Majid Al-khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development,, and on behalf of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) by Eng. Mohammed Masoud Al-Mari, Senior Projects Engineering Advisor. This strategic initiative represents a significant milestone in the tendering process for the development and operation of five prime beachfront plots along Doha's iconic West Bay shoreline, as well as Al Safliya Island. The project represents a significant advancement in Qatar's efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and broaden its leisure offerings. The EOI process is now open to regional and international developers and operators with a proven track record in delivering large-scale hospitality and leisure projects. The development scope includes the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the five designated beachfront plots. The project will feature accommodation, food and beverage outlets, and recreational facilities, creating a unified and accessible waterfront destination. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, stated: 'The West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project is a strategic initiative that underscores our commitment to expanding Qatar's tourism offering. This announcement reflects the strength of collaboration between public and private sectors in delivering impactful, long-term development outcomes. The project represents a significant step towards creating an integrated coastal destination that connects West Bay's beaches with Al Safliya Island, offering a comprehensive tourism, leisure, and hospitality experience. It will play a key role in supporting economic diversification and enhancing Qatar's position as a leading global tourism destination.' H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, affirmed that investment in tourism projects is a key pillar of economic diversification, and a vital driver of public-private partnerships aimed at advancing development. Such projects serve as a key catalyst for attracting high-quality investments that contribute to sustainable development and achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The West Bay Waterfront and Safliya Island development project, the Minister added, reflects Qatar's commitment to enhancing the investment environment and supporting vital economic sectors, including tourism, hospitality, and entertainment. For his part, H.E. Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Meer, President of the Public Works Authority "Ashghal," confirmed that the waterfront development project in the West Bay area and Al Safliya Island embodies a distinguished model of constructive cooperation between various government entities, and an effective partnership with the private sector, within the framework of Public-Private Partnership initiative adopted by the state. His Excellency called on all national entities working in the building and construction sector to seize this important strategic opportunity and contribute effectively to the implementation of this ambitious project. His Excellency affirmed that the Public Works Authority "Ashghal" plays a pivotal role in implementing tourism projects by providing integrated infrastructure that is in line with the objectives of tourism projects, while adhering to the highest standards of quality and sustainability, ensuring a balance between urban aesthetics, preserving the environment and natural resources of the country. Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO of Invest Qatar, said: 'Invest Qatar is pleased to support the West Bay Waterfront and Al Safliya Island project, a transformative initiative that will attract significant investment and elevate Qatar's tourism infrastructure. This project is a testament to Qatar's commitment to creating a dynamic and diversified economy by fostering strategic partnerships with world-class developers to contribute to Qatar's growth. We believe this development will not only enhance the visitor experience but also create new opportunities for innovation and sustainable development in the hospitality and leisure sectors.' About Qatar Tourism Qatar Tourism, the regulatory body of the tourism sector in Qatar. Qatar Tourism's mission is to promote and expand tourism in Qatar by cultivating its rich culture, develop thrilling attractions, and luxury experiences. With a clear vision to strengthen Qatar's position as a premier family-tourism destination distinguished by service excellence, to achieve diverse and innovative economic growth. Qatar Tourism will regulate and develop the tourism industry, encouraging investment from the private sector. It set the strategy for the tourism sector, reviewing it periodically and overseeing its implementation, with the aim of diversifying tourism offerings in the country and increasing visitor spend. Qatar Tourism is expanding Qatar's presence globally and enhancing the tourism sector.
