Stefano Ricci opens first store in Middle East

Notes and media contacts

About Stefano Ricci:
Stefano Ricci is a Florentine men's fashion designer, a tireless advocate and lover of the wholly Made-in-Italy products, as well as an uncompromising entrepreneur. His policy has never been a marketing or communications strategy, but purely a company bearing his name, established in 1972. All of his collections are made of unique pieces, wholly hand-designed and created with materials selected by qualified workers in Italy, then presented to an international clientele that is not conditioned by prices, but more familiar with the excellence of true quality.

People who know Stefano Ricci understand that the extreme pursuit of perfection, the selection of leathers and fabrics, the greatest attention to detail represent the core of a style chosen by Heads-of-State and international leaders, not from testimonials. However, few people know that to reach and maintain a purity level, after over thirty years of activity, Stefano Ricci has created in time a wardrobe born from ties, the distinctive garment par excellence, then developed with shirts and ripened with jackets and coats, knitwear, shoes and accessories. A wardrobe for leaders and men of success, grown in an elegant world, which is not subject to changing fashions and above all people never bent to renounce personal pleasure.

The Stefano Ricci family works in a world of its own, outside the colorful galaxy of the fashion system, moving in what could be considered as the "wonderland" for selected "Number Ones". It is enough to watch them working, constantly in contact with the world and their points of sale, from Beijing to Moscow, from the Principality of Monaco to 407 Park Avenue in New York City as well as Rodeo Drive, while at the same time intent on creating the latest collection.


The Pearl-Qatar:
UDC's flagship project, and one of the largest urban developments in Qatar, The Pearl-Qatar is achieving international recognition as the Middle East's most prestigious and glamorous location, renowned for excellence in design and construction. With an area of 4 million square metres and a 32 km coastline, this reclaimed island has been developed with funds in excess of QR50bn. It is at once a residential destination and luxury resort, shaped by the vision to create an asset and a way of life with lasting quality and value: a jewel at the heart of the Gulf.

The first development in Qatar to offer freehold and residential rights to the international community, The Pearl-Qatar continues to attract unprecedented interest from buyers and investors in more than 52 countries. On completion in 2012, it will accommodate more than 41,000 residents in approximately 15,000 dwellings divided between 10 distinctive precincts. In and around them, exquisitely landscaped parks, state-of-the-art marinas and pristine beaches will vie with a captivating world of upscale shopping, dining and leisure opportunities to bring each unique neighbourhood to vibrant life.

United Fashion Company:
Incorporated in February 2008, the United Fashion Company (UFC) is a wholly owned UDC company with a vision that sees great potential in the international language of major fashion brands. Beginning this year at The Pearl-Qatar with The Royal Avenue luxury department store, by 2017 an additional planned network of stores will extend throughout the Middle East and into Central Europe and Asia, carrying the world's most prestigious fashion labels in an elegant and sophisticated retail environment. The emphasis will be on controlled distribution and skilled merchandising, ensuring that the most profitable balance between exclusivity and volume is achieved.

UFC is a perfect example of the kind of mutual benefit in the relationship between UDC and its subsidiaries: association with UDC and The Pearl-Qatar opens doors for UFC to international brands at the highest levels.

United Development Company:
United Development Company (UDC) is one of Qatar'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, established in 1999, has an authorized share capital of QR1,072bn, and was listed on the Doha Securities Market in June 2003.

The Company targets a growing range of sectors for development, including hydrocarbons and energy, infrastructure and utilities, maritime and environmental related businesses, urban development, property management, hospitality and leisure, fashion and marketing services.

Among other initiatives, UDC established MEDCO, a joint venture with the State of Qatar and Belgium's Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering NV, which is soon to start work on the projected Bahrain-Qatar causeway - the longest in the world.


For further information, please contact:
Hala R. Nasreddine
Corporate Communications Manager,
T (+974) 44 63 430
F (+974) 44 63 435