Egis, the French engineering group specialising in infrastructure and transport systems, has been awarded design and construction supervision contracts for the Um Alhoul Economic Zone project in Qatar.

The work on the project, which forms part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, will span a period of five years.

Situated to the south of Doha, the Economic Zone will extend over an area of 27 square kilometres and will bring together a number of activities related to metallurgy, petrochemicals, construction materials, logistics and marine industries. It will also benefit from sea access due to the construction of a dedicated canal.

According to a report by the Qatar Peninsula, the first two zones of the project, Ras Bufontas and Al Karaana, will be located south of Doha Airport, while the third zone will be ‘implanted’ in the port city of Al Waqrah, south of the capital. Together, they will create three industrial and logistic zones aimed at encouraging private-sector investment and promoting the diversification of Qatar’s economy.

Manateq, the state company responsible for the promotion and operation of these economic zones, said it had awarded the construction management of these three zones to Egis, which will be tasked with auditing the masterplan designs already drawn up.

It will also focus on delivering detailed plans, carrying out specific design studies – from conceptual to preliminary design phase for buildings and water cooling, and treatment plants – and the supervision of construction works.