Bidding in Qatar presents a number of swing factors Contractors targeting government projects have to account for a number of variables

as they contend for the approval of both discerning international programme managers and the Qatari public Qatari and international contractors contesting for Q2022 programme projects have to prove themselves not only technically and organisationally, but also as genuine forces for the good in Qatar. Moutaz Khayyat, CEO of UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC), notes: In order to satisfy the government clients we have reinforced our commitment to best practice. Many of the international programme managers on these projects are being exacting, and operating in line with standards that many contractors are simply not used to in the Gulf. These expectations apply to all communication, pre-qualifications and tender submissions; and on top of this, contractors face the challenge of creating a positive image of themselves in the minds of Qataris. Ramez Khayyat, MD of UCC, explains: While many consider meeting international best practice to be unnecessary, we see it as being an essential part of our business model. Implementing an international benchmark of quality is not only important for Qatars development, but furthermore for our reputation as a main contractor. For the contractor this also has a bearing on government clients and projects, because these clients the key decision makers and VIP positions in the government are also members of the Qatari public. Also key to UCCs strategy moving forward, therefore, is to increase awareness about UCC as a company, and as Dr. Basim Ibrahim Mohamad, deputy managing director for business development at the firm, notes: We have to be involved in CSR, and the newspapers and the media. All factors play a significant role in developing our place in Qatar, however it will be the standards of our completed projects that will serve as our strongest PR.