ON WATER

MAIDEN VOYAGE ON WATER

Qetaifan Island North Floating Hotels KATARA HOSPITALITY

In preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Qetaifan Projects – a subsidiary of Katara Hospitality – has signed a memorandum of understanding with real estate firm Admares for the construction and operation of 16 floating hotels on the shores of Qetaifan Island North.

Designed by Finland-based Sigge Architects, the units – measuring 72m long and 16m wide – will each comprise 101 guestrooms, a restaurant and lounge bar. All 16 four-storey hotels will be identical, offering a total of 1,616 floating guestrooms. They will also be built in accordance with strict sustainability standards and powered by solar energy for minimum ecological impact.

“This is the first time ever that pure floating real estate has been used as a temporary solution for accommodation needs at this scale,” says Mikael Hedberg, CEO of Admares. “These hotels do not require major ports and deep water as their draft is significantly less than large cruise ships. After the World Cup, they can be placed at any coastal location where the water is at least 4m deep. We are excited to be part of the solution for the amount of accommodation needed for the tournament.”

H.E. Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman AlThani, Managing Director of Qetaifan Projects and Vice Chairman of Katara Hospitality, adds: “We are pleased that there are investors who share our vision and see the development of Qetaifan Island North as a promising project that has a future as the first touristic destination in Qatar.”

Located within close proximity of Lusail City and Lusail International Stadium – the latter set to host the opening and final games of the World Cup – Qetaifan Island North is a waterfront hub that aims to provide all the needs of tourists and fans during the tournament, from luxury accommodation to retail, dining, entertainment and beaches.