The six key people in charge of Qatar’s largest construction projects are: Issa Mohammed al-Mohannadi, Khalil Sholy, Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani, Ronald Barrott, Ghanim bin Saad al-Saad and Hesham Ismail Abdulrahman al-Emadi
Issa Mohammed al-Mohannadi
Position: Chief executive officer (CEO), Dohaland
Biography: Issa Mohammed al-Mohannadi is CEO of Dohaland, a subsidiary of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development, which is responsible for the $5.5bn Heart of Doha regeneration scheme. Prior to running Dohaland, Al-Mohannadi held key positions within Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas), including head of infrastructure. Starting his career in 1997 as a process engineer, Al-Mohannadi was a member of the commissioning team for RasGas LNG (liquefied natural gas) trains 1 and 2. He is also the founder and chairman of the Qatar Green Building Council and a board member of the US’ Turner International. Al-Mohannadi is a graduate in natural gas engineering from Texas A&M University in the US, and holds a master’s certificate in project management from the US’ George Washington University.
Contact: Tel: (+974) 459 0459
Khalil Sholy
Position: Managing director and president, United Development Company (UDC)
Biography: Khalil Sholy is a founder member of UDC, having been with the company since its establishment in 1999. In setting up UDC, he used his experience gained from 20 years in Qatar’s construction sector, which began when he founded the local Construction Development Company (CDC) in 1982. UDC is the driving force behind The Pearl, Qatar’s first modern, major real estate development. When completed in 2012, it will house about 41,000 residents. In addition to his roles at UDC and CDC, Sholy holds key positions in UDC subsidiary companies, including director of Middle East Dredging Company and deputy managing director of Qatar Cool. He is also chairman of Lebanon’s Projects Development Company. Sholy is a structural engineer by background and gained his degree at Evansville University, Indiana, in the US.
Contact Tel: (+974) 436 1542
Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani
Position: CEO, Al-Waab City
Biography: Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani is a prominent figure in the Qatari business world. Among her many roles is that of CEO for the $3.2bn Al-Waab City scheme. Launched in 2005, the scheme is a community-oriented real estate development. The project is backed by local conglomerate Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani & Sons Group, where Sheikha Hanadi is deputy CEO. Sheikha Hanadi is also well known for her work in financial services. In 1998, she founded Qatar Ladies Investment Company, now called Amwal. Sheikha Hanadi studied at Qatar University, where she gained an economics degree before obtaining a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and an MBA from the London Business School. She returned to Qatar University in 1997 to begin her career as a lecturing assistant in the Economics Department.
Contact Tel: (+974) 462 4555
Ronald Barrott
Position: Independent director, Al-Waab City
Biography: Ronald Barrott was brought in to review the $3.5bn Al-Waab City project in April 2009 by its backer, Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani & Sons Group. Barrott was CEO of Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties until October 2008, and remains an executive director of the developer. Barrott was briefed by Al-Waab’s shareholders to review the project. He decided to maintain the overall concept of an integrated community but recruited more experts into the development team. He performed a similar role at Aldar when he joined in late 2005, using his 40 years’ experience in construction and development. Prior to his Gulf appointments, Barrott was based in Europe, where he founded four major development companies and structured a £250m ($418m) retail fund. He is a building engineer by profession and holds an honorary fellowship of the UK’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Contact Tel: (+974) 450 2442
Ghanim bin Saad al-Saad
Position: CEO, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
Biography: Ghanim bin Saad al-Saad is a prominent leader in Qatar’s real estate and business sectors, as CEO of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and chairman of Barwa Real Estate Company, which is 45 per cent owned by Qatari Diar. In these positions, he is responsible for two of Qatar’s largest projects: the $5bn Lusail development, which spreads over 350,000 square metres north of central Doha, and the $10bn Urjuan residential development project by Barwa. Urjuan is designed to cater for professionals in the energy sector. Infrastructure works are under way on the first phase. Al-Saad is also chairman of First Finance Company, First Real Estate Company, Ghanim bin Saad al-Saad & Sons Holdings, Al-Jazeera Academy, and Rizon Partners in Bahrain. He holds a master’s degree from Kent University in the UK.
Contact Tel: (+974) 4974 444
Hesham Ismail Abdulrahman al-Emadi
Position: CEO, Energy City
Biography: Hesham Ismail Abdulrahman al-Emadi is CEO of Qatar’s Energy City. The venture, which is backed by Gulf Finance House and the Qatari government, is a key part of the Lusail development and will house several energy companies including the new headquarters of Qatar Petroleum. In this role, Al-Emadi must work with investors such as energy firms that plan to set up in the city, and is responsible for the infrastructure development. Al-Emadi came to the project from the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting, where he established the GCC Industrial Assessment Programme. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers. Al-Emadi has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the US’ Texas A&M University.
Contact Tel: (+974) 4411 522
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