QR1.5bn BARWA Village under construction in Wakra

BARWA Village will be the company's next mega project in Qatar. Covering an area of 400,000 sq m, with a built-up area of 186,000, BARWA Village is a master-planned development that demonstrates the commitment of BARWA's Board of Directors to ensuring communities located outside Doha deserve the same quality of life as those living in the urban areas enjoy.

BARWA Village's 18 low-level (G+M+1) residential blocks provide a mix of apartment lifestyle options: 96 studios, 262 one-bedroom and 100 two-bedroom apartments, in addition to 918 retail shops to cater for the projects tenants and visitors. The project's facilities include various amenities serving the project's apartment blocks.

Among numerous community facilities 6000-sqm international standard school that accommodates 900 students, a two-storey 270-sqm nursery, a neighborhood park, public plazas, playground, neighborhood center, two-storey 800-sqm mosque, two-storey administration building, and a shopping plaza; incorporating a hypermarket in the ground floor, a total of 918 retail units in the first floor and food courts and kids games in the second floor. Every detail has been considered to ensure BARWA Village encourages social interaction and a modern, healthy lifestyle and togive residents every opportunity to create a community spirit that will enhance the quality of life within BARWA Village. It worth noting that 100% of the residential and commercial components will be offered for rent only.

All business activities permitted by Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be allowed within BARWA Village. Accordingly, the project will be a self-contained development containing all necessary facilities such as banks, post office, medical center and other civil service facilities. Hospital facilities will be provided at the brand new Al Wakra Public Hospital currently being constructed for Hamad Medical Corporation close to BARWA Village.

Located 10 kilometres south of Doha International Airport close to the main Doha-Wakra highway at Ras Bo Fontas, and just 20 minutes from the centre of Doha, construction of BARWA Village will last 15 months and the first tenants will take up residency in the first quarter of 2010.

"BARWA Village in Wakra is an integrated community unlike any in Qatar today. BARWA gives the highest priority to the continuing development of Qatari towns and villages outside Doha to ensure that each project contributes to the economic and social success story witnessed by modern Qatar of today,"

says Mr. Ghanim bin Saad Al Saad, Chairman and Managing Director of BARWA Real Estate.

BARWA Village embodies the vision of BARWA and demonstrates the company's commitment to the urbanization of Qatar.

"At BARWA we strongly believe in our maxim 'The Future is Qatar' and are fully committed to continuing the planned urbanization of the country through the use of modern construction techniques and a steadfast focus on building a safer, stronger and grander Qatar," adds Al Saad.

BARWA has assembled a team of architects, designers and consultants to ensure BARWA Village meets the exacting standards the company insists on. BARWA itself is the master developer and it will also be responsible for the infrastructure works with Marbu (Design & Build) and UDC (Architects) taking the remaining building works under contract.

BARWA Village is a stylish, modern development that carefully balances the needs of residents, the surrounding area and the various communities of the State of Qatar. More than 30% of BARWA Village is public green areas, which minimize CO2 emissions. The development will not allow high rise buildings, which in turn will help reduce traffic congestion. Maximum allowed height for residential units is G+M+1 and civic buildings (school, nursery, clubhouse, administration building and mosque) will be G+2. Only the shopping plaza (G+3) will be taller.

"BARWA is as dedicated to its social responsibility as it is to profitability. While we conduct our business with the aim of generating maximum returns for our shareholders, we are stubbornly committed to certain principles that we never ever compromise," confirms Al Saad.

BARWA Village, along with the company's other groundbreaking projects such as BARWA Housing and BARWA Financial District, are made possible due to BARWA's extraordinarily successful financial performance which has reach new heights in 2008. BARWA recently announced record half year net profits of QR278.8m for the six months period ended 30 June 2008, a 38.4% increase when compared to the same period in 2007. Record BARWA profits are now being wisely invested by the Board of Directors in Qatari and overseas projects, creating a surge in the value of BARWA assets to an incredible QR24.2bn.

"At BARWA, before we are builders, developers or property managers, we are a company devotedly committed to the cause of Qatar and its people. Accordingly, we are devotedly keen to engineer, innovate and launch new various holistic solutions that satisfy a wide range of local communities' needs. Our projects, starting with BARWA Housing Program and ending with this new mega project, reflect our vision to cater for the needs of mid-income and disprivileged segments. Through its unique design that contains many green plazas and landscapes alongside modern amenities, BARWA Village is a clear manifestation of BARWA's principles and values as well as BARWA commitment to promote a new modern lifestyle,"

said Dr. Youssef Mohamed Al-Horr, President of Strategy & Investment, BARWA Real Estate,

"Offering new innovative holistic solutions and is one of the leading high-profile projects achieved by BARWA. BARWA is always keen to develop high profile projects that perfectly fit within our strategy and support our vision to be a leading regional and international real estate company. Thus, BARWA Village is another project that reflects BARWA's vision," said Mr. Khalid Al Delaimi, Deputy President of Local Business Development, BARWA Real Estate.

Mr. Khalid Abdulla Al Hitmi, Project Manager for BARWA Village, concluded:

"BARWA Village provides a mix of residential units including 96 studios, 262 one-bedroom and 100 two-bedroom apartments, in addition to 918 retail shops. The project has various amenities including international standard school, nursery, park, public plaza, playground, shopping center, mosque, and administration building."

BARWA local and international projects are the best spokesmen of BARWA's achievements. BARWA local projects includes: BARWA Al Baraha, BARWA Al Doha, BARWA Commercial Avenue, BARWA Al-Khor, BARWA Al Rayyan and BARWA Financial District. Among BARWA international projects: Somerset Al Fatah (Bahrain), Somerset Corniche (Doha), Sheza hotels, Ajman Corniche (UAE), New Cairo (Egypt), Paris Hotels (France), Istanbul Seagate (Turkey) and Vegetables Central Market Development Project (KSA).