Less than two years ago, in May 2005 to be exact, Sabban Property Investments (SPI) announced its plan to build three residential towers, the Sabban Towers, on Porto Arabia, the main marina of The Pearl-Qatar.

It was one of the first companies to build on Qatar’s first international freehold real estate venture.
Afrina Trading and Construction Company began the enabling works in right earnest in February 2006. The company then awarded the structural responsibilities to Jiangsu Hanjian Group Corp (JHGC), one of the top and most respected construction companies in China.
“All three towers of the QR1 billion ($274 million) project with a footprint of 19,692 sq m are now being constructed at the same time and piling work was complete in mid-2006,” says John Browne, managing director of Sabban Property Investments.
“The piling contract, which was awarded to Ammico Contracting Company, has been completed. The three towers are being built on one podium and, therefore, the piling levels vary. However, the piles are an average of 22m deep,” he adds.
Construction of project is progressing according to schedule, with the three towers – A, C and D – now visible well above the ground.
“The current build rate is a floor every nine days,” says Browne.
“We are pleased with the progress of construction work on the Sabban Towers, especially considering the logistical and other challenges we have had to overcome. The recent surge in Qatar’s construction sector has meant that several new residential and commercial structures are coming up across the country, creating a temporary strain on resources,” said John Browne, managing director of Sabban Property Investments (SPI).
“Moreover, The Pearl-Qatar being one of the most sought-after locations is attracting a growing number of developers to the project, limiting the accessibility to the construction site. However, our engineers and the rest of the workforce have done a commendable job in ensuring that work progresses at the expected pace. This is also a reflection of SPI’s experience, efficient planning and judicious use of resources,” he adds.
The Towers have a joint completion date as they are on one common-use podium level (with four levels of parking beneath) and are on schedule to be completed in the first quarter of 2008.
Sabban Towers is designed on the European-Mediterranean architecture, and all three towers will be built on one podium. With a total plot area of 19,692 sq m, the three towers will provide upscale residential apartments and luxury penthouses, with a picturesque view of the sea and marina. Some of the amenities at the towers include a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, function rooms, squash and multi-sport courts, spas, gyms and landscaped garden areas.
Tower D was launched for sale in September 2005, with Tower A reserved for wholesale investment and Tower C, the middle tower, has already been sold to an investor. There are 500 units available in total, with over 7,000 sq m reserved for outdoor recreation areas.
Since the architects for the project must be those used by the master developer United Development Company (UDC) in order to keep uniformity throughout the island, SPI appointed KEO International Consultants with Callison Architectural as its architects.
“Delivering high-quality projects to our clients has always been a priority for us and the Sabban Towers will be another testament to our commitment to quality and excellence. We have also been making an effort to involve our potential and existing clients at various stages of the construction process through seminars and forums, and in keeping with this, we are looking forward to revealing the interior design of the towers to the public in the coming weeks,” says Browne.
SPI has also announced a mortgage scheme to provide housing finance on easy and affordable terms to prospective buyers. Formulated with Commercialbank of Qatar, the scheme provides an exclusive installment repayment structure enabling end-buyers to acquire an apartment in the Sabban Towers with minimum financial outlay.
“Sabban Property Investments aims to be at the forefront of innovation in the real estate sector and as a developer we have always focused on all aspects of our business and looked for opportunities to add value to our customers,” says Browne.
“The Sabban Towers, with their stunning design and ultra-luxurious facilities, will offer one of the most exclusive residential addresses in Qatar. In keeping with our stature as a leading developer, SPI remains focused on all aspects of business and looks for opportunities to maximise value for our customers,” he adds.