According to the Wall Street Journal WSJ; Barwa Real Estate Co., a local firm partly-owned by the government, is planning to develop an island, which will feature five floating hotels, luxury villas and a water park, off the coast of Doha at a cost of about $5.5 billion. The Oryx Island will use electrical vehicles, water taxis, ferries and private boats to transport visitors, according to the company.
The Oryx Island project is said to be able to accommodate about 25,000 people and is slated for completion in seven to eight years time.
Plans for the mega real estate project come amid a wider building and infrastructure boom in Qatar in the run-up to the 2022 event. High government spending on new roads, drainage systems, a rail network and stadiums for the World Cup are all seen boosting Qatar’s economic growth in the years ahead.
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.