Teams fight bogus fire in 20-storey block as The Pearl-Qatar readies to welcome its first residents

The "emergency" was part of an exercise planned by United Development Company (UDC), the owner and developer of the more than QR50bn The Pearl-Qatar Island, and was co-ordinated and monitored by the General Administration of the Civil Defense.

The purpose of the fire-fighting drill, which was carried out at Tower 4, was to verify the emergency systems in preparation for the island opening for its new residents by year end, said Saeed Al-Sulaiti, TPQ head of administration.

This was a further demonstration of UDC's commitment to ensuring the best in terms of luxury, quality and safety for all its residents.

"We are testing our safety and fire systems to get better understanding how the safety and fire-fighting systems work for the best interests of our residents at the Pearl-Qatar," he added.

Al-Sulaiti said the drill was a huge success thanks to the unlimited support demonstrated by the Head of Civil Defense Authority, Staff Brig. Abdullah Muhammed Al Suwaidi, throughout the different development phases of the Island.

A similar, smaller, drill had taken place two months previously, during which a number of emergency plans, involving outside aids, tools, and a command and control team were carried out.

UDC officials, and a technical team, as well as First Lieutenant Mohamed Al-Kaabi of the Civil Defense attended the drill.