A NEW $1.6-billion hotel and conference/expo centre has been proposed for the upcoming 2022 Fifa World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

The Silver Pearl Hotel calls for a 1,000 plus-room luxury property to be located 1.5 km offshore near Doha. The name of the hotel refers to a structure that will literally rise out of the sea to recall the country’s seafaring and pearl diving history.

New York-based architectural firm M Castedo Architects has designed the complex along with a team of world-renowned engineering firms. Pending approval, the project will be developed by Katara Hospitality, a leading Qatar hotel developer and operator.

The building will consist of two semi-circular 30-storey towers separated by a vaulted, climate-controlled atrium over lush gardens with an open view to the ocean beyond. An adjacent structure will house a conference and exposition centre as well as a recreational landscaped roof deck to be located above a multi-storey parking facility.

Luxuriously appointed rooms and suites will be designed to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage and visual traditions. There will be a broad range of restaurants and high-end retail commercial spaces.

Visitors will arrive at the Silver Pearl by means of a four-lane elevated causeway, by private yacht or by helicopter. The entire complex has been engineered to be elevated above the sea bed which will allow for unimpeded currents and minimum environmental impact.

A major environmental consultant with extensive marine experience in the area will be responsible for making sure that lessons learned on existing projects such as The Palm and The World in nearby Dubai, UAE, are incorporated in the development of this particular site.