New beachfront island adds to latest plans for the “hospitality icon of the 21^st Century”

Katara Hospitality, the leading hotel owner, developer and operator in the State of Qatar, has announced the latest plans and developments for the iconic Katara Towers, Lusail Marina District Towers underway in Lusail City.

A natural extension of Doha city, Lusail has been designed to encompass a modern, luxurious yet practical business and residential environment while being relevant for Qatar’s thriving economy. With four exclusive islands and 19 multi-purpose residential, mixed-use, entertainment and commercial districts, Lusail City is set to accommodate a total estimated population of 450,000 people, making it an element of attraction for investment in Qatar.

Katara Hospitality is one of the first investors that understood the significance of the project, committing to developing the hospitality icon of Doha for the 21st Century in Lusail City.

“The world’s most loved cities are often identified through imagery and landmark buildings.  We strongly believe the property we are developing will provide Qatar with an architectural symbol that is known and understood right across the globe.” said Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman, Katara Hospitality.

Symbolically intertwined with Qatar’s heritage, the IconicTowers in Lusail are an architectural translation of Qatar’s national seal, representing the traditional scimitar swords.

Raising gracefully from the podium level, the arched towers will host a luxurious five-star hotel to cater to discerning business travellers, a lavish six-star hotel to meet the needs of those seeking sophisticated luxury accommodation and branded apartments to become home to permanent residents. The property will make available a total of 614 rooms. State-of-the-art entertainment and recreational facilities, including specialist boutiques, VIP movie theatres, signature restaurants and a private Cigar Lounge are to be complemented by exquisite banqueting and conference spaces, as well as office dedicated areas.

The project has been recently enhanced with additional facilities, thanks to plans for a spectacular man-made satellite beach-front island. This will be home to an incredible mix of leisure and water sports facilities, food and beverage outlets as well as world-class water parks within a stunning, sun-protected garden environment. Linked to the ‘IconicTowers’ promenade by bridges, this spectacular feature will pin this property as a reference landmark within the global hospitality landscape.

“Our aim is to create the hospitality icon of the 21^st Century that is within one of the world’s most exciting urban developments. Our vision is to set new standards that go beyond the borders of the hospitality industry and provide a landmark location that is instantly recognised internationally,” commented Sheikh Nawaf.

Ground-breaking for the property will be undertaken later this year while the official opening of the property is expected in early 2017. Designed by architectural firm Kling Consult, the hospitality complex will cover a total area of approximately 300,000 square meters. The revised estimated investment that includes the satellite beach-front island amounts to QAR 2.2bn.

The foundation contractor has been recently selected, whereas the operator selection as well as the appointment of remaining contractors and partners is in the final tendering stages. The process of assigning the contracts aligns to Katara Hospitality’s rigorous tendering procedures. This ensures suitable partners are assigned to cover specific areas, having emerged from in depth analysis of comparable offers against measurable criteria.

Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality stated: “Progress on this iconic development is advancing swiftly and we are in a strong position as we move towards creating the future hospitality landmark in Lusail City.

“While we regard 2022 as a milestone in the country’s development, this new property in Lusail will also occupy a focal point for residents and travellers during the FIFA World Cup. We believe that this is our opportunity to showcase a country that has grown into an international destination and Katara Hospitality will create the landmark to underpin lifetime memories.”

Sheikh Nawaf concluded: “As Qatar National Vision 2030 creates the perfect framework for us, we will continue to develop peerless hospitality at home and abroad that are not only jewels in our portfolio, but are emblematic for Qatar as well.”

Having been at the forefront of the hospitality industry for over 40 years, Katara Hospitality has built a portfolio of iconic hotels in Qatar and key international gateways. An experienced hotel owner, developer and operator, the group has been a hospitality pioneer in Qatar. It introduced the first five star hotel with the property currently known as Doha Marriott Hotel; it launched the first internationally branded property with Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel; the Ritz-Carlton, Doha was the tallest building in Qatar at the time it opened; the first leisure destination in the country was Sealine Beach Resort; and Sharq Village & Spa was the first luxury resort in the market.

Today, Katara Hospitality’s portfolio of operating hotels and those under development has reached 26 assets globally, encompassing 6,000 rooms, while it aims to reach 30 properties by 2016 and 30 more over the following decade.