The design of palm fronds was chosen to decorate Doha Corniche, especially to match the palm trees extended along Corniche, while the tree leaf designs were chosen for poles in Central Doha to match the beautification and landscaping works going on in the region, besides enriching the Qatari identity.
On his part, His Excellency Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi, President of Ashghal commented that two new contracts are signed today to provide beautification lighting poles for streets of Doha Corniche and Central Doha. HE Ashghal president clarified that the new lighting poles have distinct features considering the strategic importance of these location in Qatar, and they are designed reflecting a Qatari identity, using Qatari ideas and manufactured at Qatari manufacturing firms, and we are so proud to award the contracts to local suppliers and manufacturers.
For his part, Eng. Ahmed Al-Abdullah, Chairman of Board of Directors of LDC expressed his gratitude to Ashghal and the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places for supports to overcome the obstacles to obtain contract for supply of lighting poles. He also expressed pride in putting the idea of palm frond design and implementing it through Qatari skills keeping international standards in the design and manufacture of poles and the operation of lighting units.
Whereas, Mr. Abdulla Al Nasr, Vice-Chairman of Al Nasr Holding Company, commented on Ashghal’s continuous support to the private sector, asserting that the company is committed to Ashghal with respect to quality of project's outputs and its timely completion.
Whereas Eng. Hamad Al-Nuaimi, from Alurays Lighting Technology that produce lighting units, said that locally produced modern street lighting units are provided for the project. He also expressed gratitude to Ashghal for supporting local companies.
Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Ansari, Chairman of Qatar Aluminum Extrusion Company (QALEX), commented that Ashghal greatly support local companies. He also pointed out that for the first time in Qatar we have locally produced safer and more sustainable aluminum columns that will last around 30 years.
Palm Frond light poles
In view of the special identity of Doha Corniche and its strategic location in the waterfront that connects eastern coastal regions, it was decided to provide decorative lighting poles designed exclusively to highlight its identity connected to the local community. Considering the presence of palm trees along Corniche, Eng. Ahmed Al-Abdullah, Chairman of Board of Directors of Lightning Design Company (LDC) put the idea of the palm frond, in cooperation with Eng. Ibrahim Al-Jaida, CEO of Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB), and LDC developed the palm frond design of the lighting units. Whereas the material manufacture and supply are assigned to local firms including Metalex to supply steel poles and bolts, and Alurays Lighting Technology to supply lightings units to decorate Corniche Street with the beauty of palm frond, the triangular shape of palm trunks and random lengths of its leaves. The clarity of these designs at night was also considered in the design features by providing them with special lighting.
These lighting poles will be an artistic work that gives exclusive distinct shape to the waterfront of Doha, with about 1440 poles to be installed, distributed in the middle and sides of the street extending from Ras Bu Abboud Bridge up to the signal near Doha Exhibition and Convention Center and Sheraton Doha.
Leaves Shaped lighting poles
Whereas, lighting poles designed in the form of leaves will be installed by Al Nasr Holding Company. Supply of materials was assigned to other local factories including Qalex, Metro Smart International, and Jets Projects to provide aluminum poles, baseline bolts, aluminum lighting provisions and street light modules. The leaf shaped design is chosen to add a distinctive beauty to the vital areas of Doha, complementing the rest of traditional beautifications works and Qatari identity. It is planned to install 1,160 poles in Central Doha streets such as Grand Hamad Street, Jabor bin Mohammed Street, A Ring Road, Museum Street and neighboring streets connecting to Doha Corniche.
Increasing reliance on local products
It worth to mention that during the period from 2016 to 2020, reliance on locally produced basic materials has increased from 38 to 70 percent and the local market has earned about 18.5 billion Qatar Riyals from the budgets of infrastructure projects and buildings over the past five years. It is expected that value of locally produced materials will reach 24.5 billion Qatar Riyals over the next five years (2021-2025) to meet the needs of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Ashghal has implemented 51 building projects during the past five years costing around QAR 6.1 billion, and the share of local products used is about 70 percent. Ashghal is also planning to implement 43 building projects in the next five years at a total cost of 4 billion Qatar Riyals.
Ta’heel initiative
Through the Ta’heel initiative launched in 2017, so far Ashghal has rehabilitated more than 150 local manufacturers to supply materials for Ashghal projects, which were otherwise imported from outside. Thus, local manufactures supplied more than 60 basic materials such as lighting poles and fixtures, drainage pipes, signboards, traffic safety elements, electrical cables, irrigation materials, and construction supplies for parks.