The Pearl-Qatar Sponsors The Ritz Carlton's Ramadan Tent for the Second Year in a Row

Doha, Qatar, September 10, 2007: For the second year in a row, The Pearl-Qatar, one of the largest property development projects in the region, is sponsoring the Ritz Carlton Ramadan tent. This event is paving its way towards becoming a corporate tradition in a company that promises to offer luxury and comfort in Riviera-like surroundings.

According to Mr. Elie Jubran, General Manager for Marketing and Communications, "This yearly Ramadan activity is far more than an experience mirroring the unique and different lifestyle that The Pearl-Qatar promises to provide. It is a trip into the vibrant culture of this cosmopolitan city within exquisite surroundings that add a new dimension to sensory pleasure epitomized through Qatari hospitality".

"Ramadan is a 'month of blessing'", Mr. Jubran adds, "And The Pearl-Qatar aims at sharing the marvels of this month both with its close corporate family--employees--and its extended family--investors and the Qatari society. This is why we chose to repeat last year's experience, which also took place in the Ritz Carlton, given the positive feedback that we have received from investors and guests and the wide success that we have reaped."

Again, through this Ramadan activity, The Pearl-Qatar is trying to consolidate ties with its investors and the surrounding community by sharing with them a special occasion and by offering them a sneak peek into the personally tailored sumptuous world of The Pearl-Qatar.

Today, after two years of land reclamation process, The Pearl-Qatar is garnering the results of relentless work and efforts. The features of the residential areas that will be home to more than 40,000 residents are now clearly visible and can be viewed from Doha's waterfront, in addition to three coves, navigable canals and other aspects of this multi-billion Dollar project. By 2008 the project sprawling over nearly 4 million sq. meters will be ready to open its gates and welcome residents into more than 15,000 dwellings within 12 inspiring precincts.

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ABOUT THE PEARL-QATAR
The Pearl-Qatar is a multi-billion dollar offshore, Riviera-style man-made island, covering 985 acres of reclaimed land.  It is Qatar's first international real estate venture, one of the largest real estate developments in the country and the first to offer freehold and residential rights to international investors. It will create over 32 kilometres of new coastline.

The Pearl-Qatar will eventually house 40,000 residents in an up-scale, multi-cultural residential community which will be a secure and exclusive island retreat bringing the ambience and lifestyle of the Mediterranean to the heart of Arabia.

The four-phase development comprises 12 distinct districts to be developed over five years. The Riviera Arabia themed districts will house three luxury hotels, three marinas, with combined mooring for over 800 boats, and more than 2 million square feet of luxury retail, recreation and restaurant space.

Built 350 meters offshore the West Bay Lagoon area of the country's capital, Doha, the Island will offer an exclusive retreat with easy access to the capital's thriving community.

The Pearl-Qatar is being developed and promoted by United Development Company (UDC), one of Qatar's leading private sector shareholding companies.  

ABOUT UNITED DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (UDC)
United Development Company (UDC) is one of the country's leading public shareholding companies. UDC's mission is to identify and invest in long-term projects contributing to Qatar's growth and providing good shareholder value. The company was established in 1999 and has an authorized share capital of QR 1.072 billion (US $294 million), was listed on the Doha Securities Market in June 2003, and is a Gulf Business Top 100 company.

UDC's target areas of interest include: infrastructure, energy-intensive industries, downstream hydrocarbons, real estate, construction and environment-related businesses. UDC established the Qatar Dredging Company (QDC), a joint venture with the State of Qatar and Belgium's Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering NV, and formed Qatar Cool, a district cooling company, in partnership with Tabreed of the United Arab Emirates. UDC also partnered with Seef Limited, a joint venture with Qatar Petroleum, to develop a plant to produce linear alkyl benzene (LAB), which is the main feedstock for detergent manufacture. The plant started operations in 2006 with a production capacity of 100,000 tons a year. UDC has also invested in the Gulf Formaldehyde Company as a joint venture partner with Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO) and other Qatari investors. Operations began in 2004.

In November 2005, United Development Company entered into a new joint venture with BESIX NV of Belgium to establish a ready-mix concrete facility, with shareholding split between UDC (32%) and BESIX NV (49%).  The remaining shares were acquired by local Qatari investors.  Production began in June 2006. On May 31, 2006 UDC entered into a partnership with a Turkish biological wastewater treatment company (Millenya Inc.). Under the terms of this partnership, UDC acquired 60% of Millenya's equity.

United Development Company's latest business partnership was signed on November 28, 2006 when the company concluded a joint venture agreement with Spain's Ronautica S.A.  The agreement will see the establishment of Ronautica-Middle East, a Marina Operations and Management Company.  UDC will hold a 60 percent stake while Ronautica S.A. will hold the remaining 40 percent in the new firm.

UDC's founders, who at launch held 45% of the shares, are among Qatar's most successful investors and developers. A large number of Qatari and GCC investors are shareholders in UDC.

© Press Release 2007