The World's top eight women champions will be present at the ceremony which marks the start of the tournament, which is played annually at the end of the season, and takes place in Doha from November 4 to 9.
The draw ceremony to decide how players will be divided into groups will happen at the Pearl-Qatar's showplace - the Oyster, a 3,500 square meter designed to showcase the Island's development. The event takes place with the launch of three month festivities of live music, performance and acts across the boardwalk of Porto Arabia.
"It is a wonderful coincidence that this event coincides with the start of the boardwalk festivities, and a month prior receiving the first residents of the island," said Khalil Sholy, Managing Director and President of United Development Company, the owner and developer of the QR50bn plus ($14bn) The Pearl-Qatar.
For the first time in the region, the event brings together the WTA Tour's top eight singles players and top four doubles teams who will be competing for $4.45m in prize money. The eight World champion singles players are World number one Jelena Jankovic, Roland Garros champion Ana Ivanovic, US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, Wimbledon winner Venus Williams, rising Russian star Vera Zvonareva, Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva.
"Qatar is becoming a destination of choice in sports and has great presence in the international sporting arena. We are very happy to be represented here, to take part in Qatar's success which is attracting World-class events. We feel extremely proud that The Pearl-Qatar was chosen as the venue for this important ceremony," continued Sholy.
After being the first Middle East venue for the event, Doha will also host the draw ceremony during the next three years.
Also present at the draw will be Larry Scott - CEO, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Karim Alami -Tournament Director Sony Ericsson Championships, (himself an ex- tennis champion who beat Sampras in Doha in 1994) and Mr. Abdulrahman Saad Al-Shathri, President of the Qatar Tennis Federation.
There will be representatives from over 80 international media organizations and a billion households are expected to view this ceremony around the World.
The boardwalk will have live music performers and acts up and down the boardwalk for three months between 4-9 daily. Access to these events require specialised passes that can be obtained by registrering at the oyster.
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Boardwalk festivities on Pearl-Qatar to kick off ceremony of top women's tennis championship
- Qatar: Saturday, November 01 - 2008 at 16:41
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The main draw ceremony for the 2008 Sony Ericsson Championships, Women's Tennis Association (WTA), will be held at the Pearl-Qatar, at 3pm tomorrow November 2.
Russian star Vera Zvonareva.
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Posted by Siba Sami AmmariSaturday, November 01 - 2008 at 16:41 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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About The Pearl-Qatar:
The Pearl-Qatar is an offshore, Riviera-style man-made island in excess of QR50bn ($14bn) and one of the largest urban developments in Qatar, as well as the first to offer freehold and residential rights to international investors.
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.
Located 350 meters offshore the country's capital, Doha's, prestigious West Bay District and 25 kilometers away from Doha International Airport, the Island offers an exclusive retreat with easy access to the capital's thriving community.
Spanning over approximately 4-million square meters of land, and 32 kilometers of new coastline, the Island will eventually be home to an upscale multicultural community of over 41,000 residents, and comprising 15,000 dwellings within 10 precincts when completed in 2012.
The Island will also include five-star hotels, marinas, a yacht club, schools, restaurants and lifestyle amenities, and two million square feet of upscale retail space proffering some of the world's most renowned luxury brands.
The Pearl-Qatar is a smart investment that adds to the economic strength of the country with its offerings of full residency rights, freehold ownership, tailored payment schemes and a tax-free haven.
The Pearl-Qatar is being developed and promoted by United Development Company (UDC), one of Qatar's leading private sector shareholding companies.
About United Development Company:
United Development Company (UDC) is one of Qatar's leading public shareholding companies. UDC's mission is to identify and create opportunities that contribute to Qatar's growth and provide good shareholder value. The Company was established in July 1999 and has an authorized share capital of QR1.0725bn ($294m). It was listed on the Doha Securities Market in June 2003.
UDC's target areas of interest include: infrastructure and utilities, hydrocarbon and energy, urban development, environment-related businesses, fashion, and hospitality and leisure.
From day one, the Company's mandate and mission has been to become a cornerstone in the development that the region is currently witnessing; creating lasting value and maximizing returns for partners and shareholders. Through a combination of project activities and commercial enterprise, UDC has developed into the first-choice private sector joint venture partner for international investors in Qatar, and has successfully established new companies and investment vehicles across the region.
Since 1999, UDC has moved from project research into development, production and operations. Project research has culminated into the successful creation of companies that are amongst the leaders in their related fields of industry. The Company prides itself in its ability to create quality investment opportunities both at home and overseas. The company is empowered to invest in financial instruments in Qatar.
UDC's founders, who at launch held 45% of the shares, are among Qatar's most successful investors and developers. Other Qatari and GCC investors are also shareholders in UDC.
About the Oyster, The Sales and Marketing Center at The Pearl-Qatar:
Located at The Pearl-Qatar itself, The Oyster is a 3,500 square meter facility giving investors a one-stop destination to experience the facilities and services that The Pearl-Qatar is offering and see the project first-hand. The Oyster provides excellent access and views of progress on the Island's development.
The two-story center is visually dazzling with an exceptional audio and lighting system to accommodate the Island development's glitzy multimedia presentations.
Home to a massive - 30 meters long - model of the Pearl-Qatar, this structure showcases the development to potential investors, as well as being a venue for meetings and conferences.
For More information:
Mira El-Baphe
Senior Media Relations Officer
Tel: +974-5970433
Fax: +974-4438971
The Pearl-Qatar is an offshore, Riviera-style man-made island in excess of QR50bn ($14bn) and one of the largest urban developments in Qatar, as well as the first to offer freehold and residential rights to international investors.
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.
Located 350 meters offshore the country's capital, Doha's, prestigious West Bay District and 25 kilometers away from Doha International Airport, the Island offers an exclusive retreat with easy access to the capital's thriving community.
Spanning over approximately 4-million square meters of land, and 32 kilometers of new coastline, the Island will eventually be home to an upscale multicultural community of over 41,000 residents, and comprising 15,000 dwellings within 10 precincts when completed in 2012.
The Island will also include five-star hotels, marinas, a yacht club, schools, restaurants and lifestyle amenities, and two million square feet of upscale retail space proffering some of the world's most renowned luxury brands.
The Pearl-Qatar is a smart investment that adds to the economic strength of the country with its offerings of full residency rights, freehold ownership, tailored payment schemes and a tax-free haven.
The Pearl-Qatar is being developed and promoted by United Development Company (UDC), one of Qatar's leading private sector shareholding companies.
About United Development Company:
United Development Company (UDC) is one of Qatar's leading public shareholding companies. UDC's mission is to identify and create opportunities that contribute to Qatar's growth and provide good shareholder value. The Company was established in July 1999 and has an authorized share capital of QR1.0725bn ($294m). It was listed on the Doha Securities Market in June 2003.
UDC's target areas of interest include: infrastructure and utilities, hydrocarbon and energy, urban development, environment-related businesses, fashion, and hospitality and leisure.
From day one, the Company's mandate and mission has been to become a cornerstone in the development that the region is currently witnessing; creating lasting value and maximizing returns for partners and shareholders. Through a combination of project activities and commercial enterprise, UDC has developed into the first-choice private sector joint venture partner for international investors in Qatar, and has successfully established new companies and investment vehicles across the region.
Since 1999, UDC has moved from project research into development, production and operations. Project research has culminated into the successful creation of companies that are amongst the leaders in their related fields of industry. The Company prides itself in its ability to create quality investment opportunities both at home and overseas. The company is empowered to invest in financial instruments in Qatar.
UDC's founders, who at launch held 45% of the shares, are among Qatar's most successful investors and developers. Other Qatari and GCC investors are also shareholders in UDC.
About the Oyster, The Sales and Marketing Center at The Pearl-Qatar:
Located at The Pearl-Qatar itself, The Oyster is a 3,500 square meter facility giving investors a one-stop destination to experience the facilities and services that The Pearl-Qatar is offering and see the project first-hand. The Oyster provides excellent access and views of progress on the Island's development.
The two-story center is visually dazzling with an exceptional audio and lighting system to accommodate the Island development's glitzy multimedia presentations.
Home to a massive - 30 meters long - model of the Pearl-Qatar, this structure showcases the development to potential investors, as well as being a venue for meetings and conferences.
For More information:
Mira El-Baphe
Senior Media Relations Officer
Tel: +974-5970433
Fax: +974-4438971
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