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The Pearl Qatar

What is The Pearl-Qatar?
This is a US multi billion man-made island covering 985 acres (400 hectares) of reclaimed land offshore the Arabian Peninsula state of Qatar - the Arab world's wealthiest per capita country. The Pearl-Qatar is the country's first international real estate venture, its largest real estate development and the first to offer international investors freehold. It is a four-phase mixed-use development comprising 10 distinct, themed districts to be developed over five years housing beachfront villas, elegant town homes, luxury apartments, exclusive penthouses, 5 star hotels, marinas, schools as well as upscale retail and restaurant offerings. It will be a destination in its own right - a lavish, secure and exclusive island retreat with a Riviera-style community.

Where in Qatar is the project?
It is being built offshore eastern Qatar, immediately east of the West Bay shoreline. The Pearl-Qatar will be approximately 20 kilometres north of the central business district of the Qatari capital, Doha. The island will be just 20 kilometres from Doha International Airport in the south. The island has been positioned with the greatest respect for the marine environment and topography.

Who is the developer?
The project developer is United Development Company (UDC), Qatar's largest private sector shareholding company with a mission to identify and invest in long-term projects that contribute to the country's growth and provide good shareholder value. UDC's founders, who on launch in 1999 held 45% of the shares, are among Qatar's most successful investors and developers. Equity is also held by a large number of other Qatari and regional investors.

What is the rationale behind the project?
UDC intends to make The Pearl-Qatar a unique living and cultural experience that integrates the best of the country's past and present. A primary objective is to incorporate a diversity of high quality living environments - from high-end luxurious villa living with private sandy beaches to fashionable apartment-style accommodation with sweeping sea views. Diversity and quality of accommodation is a key objective in the project's master planning.

The Pearl-Qatar will be a secure, family oriented environment. It will be like no other destination in the Middle East. Modeled on the best of the Mediterranean, it will be the Arabian Riviera (Riviera Arabia) and will offer a lifestyle reminiscent of France and Italy in the heart of the Arabian Gulf. The Pearl-Qatar, with 40 kilometres of reclaimed coastline and 20 kilometres of pristine beaches, will be a tourist destination in its own right.

Is Qatar ready for a development of this nature?
As Qatar has joined the ranks of the world's wealthiest and most advanced nations, it naturally seeks to develop its resources and build world-class environments. The people of Qatar deserve nothing less than the finest developments which give expression to their rich cultural heritage and national destiny. The Pearl-Qatar will live up to these expectations reflecting Qatari cultural values and economic strength while being sensitive to environmental stewardship.

Why was the name The Pearl-Qatar chosen?
Both the island's name and location, on the site of a former pearl diving site, leverage the country's strong cultural ties with the sea. This is an island rediscovered. The name pays homage to the previous mainstay of the economy - pearl fishing. Although pearling is no longer a key economic driver, it left a legacy of skills, stories, music, art and poetry that is a source of identity and pride for Qatari's today.

When will the project be complete?
Construction is in four phases with a target completion date end of 2011.

Will the island be linked to the main land?
Yes, a causeway will be constructed. Though The Pearl-Qatar will be an exclusive retreat, the causeway will ensure the island is closely integrated with, and has easy access to, the capital, Doha's, thriving community.

Is investment restricted to Qataris only and are there any conditions applied to ownership?
The project is open to investors both from within Qatar and overseas. This is the first project in Qatar to offer freehold residential rights to the international community.

Are mortgages available to local and international investors and, if so, through which financial partners?
Mortgages are available for up to 25 years and up to 85% of the total purchase price could be financed.

What are the terms of sale?
Initially a deposit of 20% is required upon reservation. The remaining 80% is due upon completion.

How many residences will be on the island and how many people will eventually reside on The Pearl-Qatar?
When fully developed the island will house around 16,000 luxury villas, town homes , penthouses and apartments which will, in total, be home to up to 41,000 residents. Exclusive luxury villas will be located in clusters, around the island's perimeter, with private beaches and stunning sea views. Also planned are medium-sized private, luxury villas and fashionable apartments, again with breathtaking sea views.

When will the first investors take up residency?
December 2008.

How many hotels will there be on the island?
Current plans are for three five-star hotels with a total room capacity of 800.

How many marinas will there be and what is their capacity?
In total there will be three marinas with mooring for 1004 boats. Extensive private and public moorage is planned and the island will have canals, lakes and interior navigable coves. The island will host a yacht club of world-class standing to cater to the international, regional and local yachting community

What is the retail capacity of the project?
The total retail space is 2 milllion square meters of retail, leisure and restaurant space, which will be targeted at the top end of the market.

What community facilities will there be on the island?
Locations have been identified for three primary schools and a secondary school. In addition, there will be several kindergarten and day care centres. The island will have several public parks and accessible open spaces.

What will set The Pearl-Qatar apart from other real estate ventures in the Arabian Gulf?

Freehold, residency Long term Riviera Island Living World-class facilities Three Marinas Breath-taking views Secure Qatari culture Strong Qatar Economy Which are the main countries to be targeted for investment? Our market research and initial interest following the project's soft launch have led us to earmark the GCC, the wider Middle East and leading European nations as our primary markets.

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Facts about Kingfisher

Kingfishers are birds of the three families Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). There are about 90 species of kingfisher. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. They are found throughout the world.
The etymology of kingfisher is obscure; the term comes from king's fisher, but why that name was applied is not known[1].
The taxonomy of the three families is complex and rather controversial. Although commonly assigned to the order Coraciiformes, from this level down confusion sets in. The kingfishers were traditionally treated as one family, Alcedinidae with three subfamilies, but following the 1990s revolution in bird taxonomy, the three former subfamilies are now usually elevated to familial level. That move was supported by chromosome and DNA-DNA hybridisation studies, but challenged on the grounds that all three groups are monophyletic with respect to the other Coraciiformes. This leads to them being grouped as the suborder Alcedines.
The tree kingfishers have been previously given the familial name Dacelonidae but Halcyonidae has priority. This group derives from a very ancient divergence from the ancestral stock.
Kingfishers live in both woodland and wetland habitats. Kingfishers that live near water hunt small fish by diving. They also eat crayfish, frogs, and insects. Wood kingfishers eat reptiles. Kingfishers of all three families beat their prey to death, either by whipping it against a tree or by dropping it on a stone.
They are able to see well both in air and under water while swimming. Their eyes also have evolved an egg-shaped lens able to focus in the two different environments.
The Old World tropics and Australasia are the core area for this group. Europe and North America north of Mexico are very poorly represented with only one common kingfisher (Common Kingfisher and Belted Kingfisher respectively), and a couple of uncommon or very local species each: (Ringed Kingfisher and Green Kingfisher in the southwest USA, Pied Kingfisher and White-breasted Kingfisher in SE Europe).
Even tropical South America has only five species plus wintering Belted Kingfisher. In comparison, the tiny African country of The Gambia has eight resident species in its 120 by 20-mile (32 km) area.
The six species occurring in the Americas are four closely related green kingfishers in the genus Chloroceryle and two large crested kingfishers in the genus Megaceryle, suggesting[citation needed] that the sparse representation in the western hemisphere evolved from just one or two original colonising species.
The smallest species of kingfisher is the African Dwarf Kingfisher (Ispidina lecontei), which averages at 10.4 g and 10 cm (4 inches). The largest overall is the Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima), at an average of 355 g (13.5 oz) and 45 cm (18 inches). However, the familiar Australian kingfisher known as the Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) may be the heaviest species, since large individuals exceeding 450 g (1 lb) are not rare.