The words “Pearl-Qatar” sound like they are taken from Scheherazade’s fairy tale “One Thousand and One Nights.” The fabulous island washed by the warm waters of the Persian Gulf looks even more incredible as it is the most audacious project of one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
With an area of four square kilometers, this artificial island is located just meters away from the poshest district of Qatar’s capital, West Bay Lagoon, with its glassy skyscrapers, luxury villas, and the chicest apartments in Doha. The island’s name, “Pearl,” was not a random choice. Qatar was once one of the largest pearl traders in Asia, and most of the pearls were mined in Doha coast waters. Founded in 2004 by Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, this audacious project was the first in Qatar’s history to allow foreign residents to own real estate in the country.
More than ten years later, there was a grand opening of the island with its modern luxury villas and apartments, restaurants and shops, greenfield recreation areas, and pristine white-sand beaches. Each of the twelve island districts has its name and unique architectural style. Porto Arabia houses the island’s main harbor and delightful esplanade with luxurious restaurants. Costa Malaz is like a tropical island with many small villas, wellness centers, and spas. Italian palazzos and water channels of the Qanat Quartier, 15 bridges crowned by the replica of the iconic Rialto Bridge, reminding of beautiful Venice, and the modern residential estate built like the ancient Roman Colosseum adorn Floresta Gardens. The Mediterranean vibes overtook Medina Centrale; French and Spanish architectures reign the Beach Villas, and the vibrant Moroccan culture has inspired Viva Bahriya’s designers and architects.
Never before has a single, even the most daring architectural idea alluded to so many national cultures in one area as the Pearl-Qatar in Doha.