The Children of Dhreima celebrate Al-Fitr holiday with the children of the United Development Company

Notes and media contacts

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.