The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani laid the foundation stone for the prestigious $600m Al Difaf project of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company in the Sudanese capital yesterday.
The ceremony, held at the project site, was also attended by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Economy and Trade H E Yousuf Hussein Kamal, Sudanese Vice-President Ali Othman Taha and several top-ranking Qatari and Sudanese officials.
The Al Difaf project is situated on the banks of Nile river, overlooking the confluence of the two Niles, making it one of the prime locations in Khartoum. The project site stretches over a huge area of 206,500 square metres and is a mixed use development comprising of offices, residential and retail units in addition to an impressive five-star hotel. The project is expected to be completed in five years. The company also sold its first tower, marking a grand opening of the project. Arab Engineering Bureau is the designer of the project.
Announcing the launch of the project at a press conference held at the Salam Rotana Hotel, Qatari Diar CEO Nasser Hassan Al Ansari said that the project would be one of Khartoum's most distinguished developments that would offer a different style of living to the Sudanese people. "This project is a reflection of the growing economic relations between Qatar and Sudan and Qatari Diar is proud to launch a project of this magnitude," Al Ansari said.
Replying to a question whether the security situation in Sudan was a matter of concern, Al Ansari said the company had total faith in the Sudanese people. "Sudanese are our brothers and we are not strangers here. We are feeling perfectly at home here," he said, to a loud applause from the audience.
"Our vision for Sudan ensures a better tomorrow, a future to which Qatari Diar wishes to contribute. The importance of Sudan is clear. It is the largest and one of the most diverse countries in Africa, home to deserts, mountain ranges and rain forests. It has large areas of fertile land as well as gold and cotton," Al Ansari added.
The residential part of the project provides a rich variety of opulent 2-3 bedroom apartments, surrounded by lavish green gardens, parks and playgrounds. The retail area will have shops, boutiques and restaurants, turning the dream of great living into reality, with the presence of world's leading brands.
The residential and retail unit is divided into three clusters each of these clusters is set around public open spaces that is directly connected to the riverfront and the Corniche area. The waterfront is set to be a modern stretch of paved, landscaped, and elegantly-lit Corniche. Company officials said the response to the project from potential investors has been overwhelming.
Later, addressing the concluding session of the first Qatari-Sudanese Economic Forum held at the Friendship Hall, Sheikh Tamim said Qatari-Sudanese relations were improving under the leadership and advice of the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Ali Othman Taha, in his speech, said Sudan was happy to host the Qatari Diar project and urged other Arab countries to invest in Sudan.
Four agreements between Qatar and Sudan were signed at the function. They include civil aviation; an agreement between Qatar National Bank and Bank of Sudan; between Qatari Diar and Geological Research Department of Sudan; and between Qatar Businessmen Association and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sudan.
By Hussain Ahmad in Khartoum
© The Peninsula 2008
