The Pearl Qatar the most glamorous location in the Middle East in Ragheb Alameh's music video

Ragheb Alameh chooses to film his new music video in The Pearl-Qatar

Doha, Qatar - 26 November, 2007: For the past few years, Arab artists have been competing in their search for the best and most beautiful locations to film their latest music videos. Some have travelled to the most beautiful cities in the world, like Paris, London, Milan and Monaco, in the aim of marketing their songs in the most glamorous of ways, and presenting them to music lovers all over the Arab world.

As for Ragheb Alameh--one of the greatest artists on the Arab scene--he chose to film his latest song in the most glamorous address in the Middle East, The Pearl-Qatar Island. The island located east of the Qatari capital--Doha--and developed by United Development Company is an emblem of luxury.

Filming was divided between Doha and Lebanon, and most of the scenes in the video were shot in The Pearl-Qatar. The island and its glamorous attractions that include residential towers, beaches, beach clubs, luxurious marinas and spas formed the essential background for the video. Scenes also reflected the glamorous and luxurious lifestyle that The Pearl-Qatar will be offering its residents and visitors upon its completion in 2011. Aspects of splendour and extravagance were highlighted by the internationally renowned French director Thierry Vergnes, who focused on the distinguished buildings, spas and entertainment centres, exclusive towers, marinas and yachts.

Ragheb Alameh expressed his happiness in the success of the scenes filmed on the island. He also spoke highly of the development witnessed in Qatar on all levels, especially the unique construction boom that is visible through major projects that are being developed in the country, most important of which is The Pearl-Qatar.

When asked why he has chosen The Pearl-Qatar as location to film his music video, the Superstar answered, "It is not a secret to anyone that this island will be offering a different and exclusive level of luxury and glamour. We have heard a lot about its unique characteristics and the lifestyle it has promised to provide its clients and visitors. We are used to searching for the most beautiful locations to film our new music videos. This is why this time we have chosen to film in The Pearl-Qatar since it is the most distinctive real estate project in the Middle East."

Officials at United Development Company assured that life in The Pearl-Qatar will be even more splendid and plush than the one projected in the music video, especially that the island has 13 different precincts each characterized with its own style and each offering its visitors and residents a unique living experience. The officials also explained that the island will not only be a leisure and entertainment destination in Qatar, but will also be a high-class residential area considered as a perfect home for a multicultural society made up of 32 nationalities from all over the world. According to those same officials, The Pearl-Qatar is 13 different addresses within one island.

Elie Jubran, General Manager of Marketing and Communications at UDC, expressed his happiness that the Arab Superstar Ragheb Alameh has chosen The Pearl-Qatar as location to film his music video. Jubran also welcomed the respected artist and his team saying, "We are very proud of the level of luxury, quality and glamour that UDC was able to offer through The Pearl-Qatar project. We are delighted that the name of the island will be linked to a major celebrity in the Arab music industry, Mr. Ragheb Alameh".

Ragheb Alameh and his team wrapped up the final stages of filming and are now editing the music video in France.

-Ends-

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 July 1999 and has an authorized share capital of QR 1.072 billion (US $294 million),. It 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 March 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 Fertilizer Company (QAFCO) and other Qatari investors. Operations began in 2004.

In mid-2006, 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 saw the establishment of Ronautica-Middle East, a Marina Operations and Management Company. UDC holds a 60 percent stake while Ronautica S.A. holds 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.

ABOUT THE PEARL-QATAR
The Pearl-Qatar is an offshore, Riviera-style man-made island, covering 985 acres of reclaimed land with an estimated cost of more than 50 billion dollars. 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 kilometers of new coastline.

The Pearl-Qatar's name and location, on a former pearl diving site, highlights the country's traditions, and strong historical and cultural ties to the sea. It is an island rediscovered.

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 13 distinct districts to be developed over a period of five years. The Riviera Arabia themed districts will house three luxury hotels, two boutique hotels, three marinas with combined mooring for over 1004 boats, and more than 2 million square feet of luxury retail, recreation and restaurant space.

Built 350 meters offshore of 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.