SHAIKHANI Contracting plans to open offices in Qatar and position itself as a key player in the country’s construction boom.  

Part of the UAE-based Shaikhani Group, a multi-billion-dollar business conglomerate with interests in real estate development, trading, manufacturing and IT, Shaikhani Contracting made the announcement on the sidelines of last month’s Project Qatar conference.

Qatar is considered to be the world’s fastest growing economy with an expected 20 per cent growth in 2011, according to a recent report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The report revealed that the announcement of Qatar hosting the 2022 Fifa World Cup has positioned the country as the largest construction site in dollars per sq m, with almost $100 billion in planned investments over the next 12 years. Further, the Qatari government has also announced its move to intensify investments in heavy and costly construction projects, which includes a $4-billion project covering the construction and renovation of 12 stadiums.

At present, Shaikhani Contracting is looking into ongoing projects in Qatar such as the proposal to develop 33,000 housing units this year, which is expected to balance housing units demand in the second half of the year as the expatriate demand for housing finance is also likely to increase. Other large and long-term infrastructure projects include the renovation of the country’s key seaports, airports, and a railway connecting Qatar to Saudi Arabia. Shaikhani is expected to leverage its expertise in construction and sub-contracting in order to win strategic contracts in Qatar.

“All eyes are on Qatar right now, which has ably transformed itself as a key business hub for the Middle East,” said Rizwan Shaikhani, managing director, Shaikhani Contracting. “The country’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest developing economies has allowed us to look into reinforcing our presence in Qatar. Shaikhani Contracting brings its experience and technical expertise to these projects, along with our reputation of working closely with our clients.”