Editors’ Note

In addition to his current post, Omar Hussain Alfardan is a director of the following Alfardan affiliates in Qatar: Alfardan Jewellery Co. SOC.; Ghadah Jewellery Co. SOC; Almanara Trading Co. SOC; Alfardan Trading & Services Co. SOC; Alfardan Marine Services Co. SOC; and Alfardan Trading Co. Ltd. in Saudi Arabia. He is also Chairman of the Qatar District Cooling Co., Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Middle East Dredging Company, President of Resort Development Co. LLC (St. Regis Hotel-Doha), and a board member of Commercial Bank, Qatar; National Bank of Oman, Muscat; United Development Company; Qatar Red Society; and United Arab Bank, UAE. Alfardan earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1989 and a master’s degree in finance in 1993.

As one of Qatar’s most prominent family businesses, Alfardan Group’s legacy of growth is entwined with the country’s celebrated history. The Group has come to symbolize service excellence and luxury by positioning itself as a leader in the domestic market.

The torch bearer of Alfardan’s business heritage is Hussain Alfardan, whose commitment to ethics is legendary. He established the Alfardan business over five decades ago and now he runs the family business along with his three sons, Ali, Fahad, and Omar. Today, Alfardan Group is one of the region’s leading business conglomerates and enjoys a significant business presence in premium lifestyle products.

Alfardan Group’s portfolio includes the most coveted brands in the automotive and marine industries, jewelry, money exchange and finance, trading, services, real estate, and hospitality.

The Sparkle of Success

Founded in 1954 and headed by Ali Alfardan, Alfardan Jewellery is one of the most renowned pearl and trading houses in the world. With branches covering Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Alfardan Jewellery has accentuated its stature as a premium provider of quality luxury products.

Since its inception, Alfardan Jewellery has raised the bar in the world of luxury concepts in Qatar and has firmly established the most exquisite brand names in the region – global icons such as de Grisogono, Chaumet, Luis Bruni & Pascal Coquigny, Corum, Chopard, Breguet, Franck Muller, Longines, Vacheron Constantin, Gérald Genta, Baume et Mercier, Piaget, Barthelay, Gucci, and Harry Winston – as well as its own unique line of designs.

Hand-in-hand with Qatar’s Growth

The first money exchange house was opened by Hussain Alfardan in 1970. Today, the full-fledged Alfardan Exchange and Finance Company has branches across Qatar.

Alfardan Exchange and Finance Company now handles foreign currency exchange, issues drafts with corresponding banks throughout the world, is involved in gold trading, and has also accumulated an impressive portfolio and a series of investments and partnerships with global financial firms and institutions. The subsidiary also manages Alfardan Group’s portfolio of local shares and offers stock brokerage and market research services.

Fahad Alfardan has played a major role in expanding the business by introducing such innovative concepts as the “one-minute customer” service, allowing for a more efficient customer service platform.

Diversification Driven By Inspiration

Alfardan Group established Alfardan Marine Services in 2005, led by Fahad Alfardan. The company’s diversified portfolio meets the growing demand for ocean-going sailing yachts, boats, engines, navigation system, and all types of marine equipment. The company also offers charter service of boats for leisure, and expanded its product line to include several award-winning marine solutions. Alfardan Marine Services Co. selects and imports a range of the most sought after superior quality products from the world’s biggest marine sources such as Riva, Dominator, Dalla Pietà, Doral, Cruiser, Mercury & Mariner (engines), Aviva (water parks), Raymarine (navigation systems). The company has secured berthing slots in various marinas across Qatar and, today, benefits from the impressive growth of Qatar’s waterfront developments. Alfardan Marine Services Co. will open a showroom on The Pearl-Qatar in 2008 as a first phase, followed by a workshop by the end of 2009 the second phase, thus attracting the world’s leading marine investors to the country.

Beyond Brick and Mortar

Alfardan Group founded Alfardan Real Estate in 1993, managed by myself. With the objective of reshaping the dynamics of Qatar’s real estate industry, Alfardan Real Estate has been involved in supporting the infrastructure of the country and has become the cornerstone of the landmarks in Qatar. Some of the projects on the company’s roster include Alfardan Centre, Alfardan Gardens, Laguna Beach, Alfardan Plaza, Alfardan Towers, Alfardan Residence, and Qassar Towers, among others.

Alfardan Towers is located in the heart of Doha’s most prestigious business area, West Bay. It offers new standards in commercial, residential, and retail excellence. The project is comprised of a 40-story residential tower, a 30-story commercial tower, and upscale boutiques, with a second showroom for Alfardan Automobiles, which is home to BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce.

A New Leaf in Banking

The Commercial Bank of Qatar was founded in 1975. With Hussain Alfardan as Managing Director and an elite group of business experts as its management team, the Commercial Bank of Qatar has topped the region’s charts. The bank has clinched numerous awards and has prospered, solidly, over the years.

The bank offers tailor-made financial services that address the demanding requirements of customers. Its service portfolio runs the entire gamut of corporate, retail, and investment needs. It has a network of 23 branches, sales offices, and pavilions.

Powering the Infrastructure

Qatar Construction & Development Company (CDC) was established in 1982. CDC is a registered grade “A” construction and development company, specializing in providing project solutions that cover civil engineering, construction, oil and gas development, infrastructure development, and telecommunications.

Involved in the very first stages of the oil and gas industry development, CDC offers its expertise in oil and LNG exploration, production, petrochemistry, and refinement for many national and international companies.

An Ideal Growth Partner

Alfardan Group of Companies was one of the founders of United Development Company (CDC) in 1999. One of the leading private sector shareholding companies in Qatar and the Middle East, UDC has been listed on the Doha Securities Market since June 2003 with QAR 1000 billion in equity.

UDC’s target areas of interest include infrastructure, energy-intensive industries, downstream hydrocarbons, real estate, construction, and environment-related businesses. UDC is the major player in the creation of the wholly-owned The Pearl-Qatar, a multibillion dollar rediscovered island encompassing an area of nearly four million square meters. Creating over 32 kilometers of new coastline, The Pearl-Qatar will be home to over 40,000 residents in more than 15,000 dwellings within 13 inspiring precincts by 2011. It is the largest and the first international real estate development project in Qatar.

The UDC board of directors, led by Chairman Hussain Alfardan and prominent entrepreneurs from Qatar, has a thorough understanding of the Qatari and GCC markets.

UDC also owns Qatar Cool, the state-of-the-art district cooling company; Qatar Dredging Company, a joint venture with the State of Qatar and Belgium’s Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering NV; and Seef Limited, a joint venture with Qatar Petroleum.

A Sterling Name in Hospitality

Headed by Omar Alfardan, Resorts Development Company (RDC) aims to redefine hospitality in the Middle East. As an affiliate of Alfardan Group of Companies, RDC derives its competencies from unsurpassed service levels that have reshaped luxury in a timeless dimension. Committed to establishing unparalleled benchmarks in top-of-the-line luxury travel, tourism, and hospitality, RDC aims at introducing the best for discerning travelers.

Earmarking another first of sorts for the region, the Alfardan Group, through RDC, partnered with the celebrated Starwood Hotels & Resorts to bring one of the most glamorous brands in the world, St. Regis, to Qatar. St. Regis will be located on the beachfront in the West Bay area of Doha and within close proximity to the diplomatic area. The hotel will include two reflecting towers, each consisting of 14 floors, offering 328 oceanfront guest rooms, including 246 rooms, 82 suites, and 18 bungalows. The development also includes the St. Regis Serviced Residences. The Residences will include two identical towers which contain 296 units and a circular tower which will contain 125 units. The units vary from one-bedroom up to five-bedroom apartments. In addition, it will include a conference and banquet center located at the podium of the towers comprising approximately 28,000 square feet of leasable space.

Driven to Succeed

Another key division of Alfardan Group is Alfardan Automotive, home to an exceptional assortment of the world’s automotive icons. Another company under my leadership, Alfardan Automotive includes Alfardan Automobiles, Prestige Cars Company, Alfardan Premier Motors, Alfardan Sports Motors Company, and Alfardan Motorcycles.

Armed with its partnership with BMW Group, Alfardan Automobiles was set up in 1996, initially operating at the Sheraton Hotel, with a small showroom and only four cars on display. Today, Alfardan Automobiles operates in several state-of-the art showrooms throughout Doha and is Qatar’s exclusive importer of BMW, MINI, ALPINA, and Rolls-Royce.

Presitige Cars Company’s main business is luxury car rentals and leasing, and includes BMW, MINI, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, and Jaguar.

Alfardan Premier Motors is a successful business unit. The division manages two brands: Land Rover, and the newly awarded exclusive brand, Jaguar.

Alfardan Sports Motors Company, established in 1999, manages Maserati and Ferrari. It is recognized as the country’s premium attraction for sports and luxury vehicle enthusiasts. The company is inaugurating its second showroom at The Pearl-Qatar. Alfardan Sports Motors Company has achieved the highest sales per capita of Ferrari cars in the world for 2007 and launched MENA’s first ultra-luxurious Ferrari Boutique in 2006.

Alfardan Motorcycles was established in November of 2006 with a focus on the management and selling of motorcycle brands. It has two showrooms in Qatar featuring Triumph, Piaggio Group (Vespa), KTM, BMW, and Ducati. In 2007, the division bagged the worldwide “Most Improved Ducati Distributor” award. Alfardan Motorcycles is going regional with the first branch slated to open in Oman. It also offers clients a lifestyles division.

A Journey of Excellence

A premium provider of luxury, the Alfardan Group is on a constant journey towards excellence, with business principles driven by quality and attention to detail. The group is committed to providing nothing short of the most innovative and premium services. Strategic partnerships have been at the core of the group’s success and Alfardan Group is set to keep on this path by exploring new growth and investment opportunities.