Crystal Lagoons, the multinational water innovation company and developer of man-made crystal clear lagoons, has held a series of meetings with prominent Qatari real estate developers as the country looks to capitalise on a growth in tourism numbers and estimated revenues.
“Many developers throughout the region are looking for a point of difference and features such as Crystal Lagoons' ability to bring the idyllic lifestyle of the beach anywhere in the world not only add to the aesthetic appeal of a destination, it also provides practical recreational and leisure facilities, such as paddle boarding, sailing and kayaking, at low construction and maintenance costs. Essentially, we offer a sound return on investment (ROI), because developers can charge a premium for properties overlooking or even in the proximity of our lagoons,” said Carlos Salas, regional director, Middle East, Crystal Lagoons.
According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, the country aims to welcome between seven and nine million tourists annually, supported by $40 billion to $45 billion worth of sector investment under the country’s National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 plan, up from an estimated 4.3 to five million people in 2022 – when it is set to host the Fifa World Cup. Approximately three million visitors arrived in 2015.
“With its futuristic skyscrapers and ultramodern architecture, the state has the potential to become one of the most exciting tourism and real estate markets in the world, especially after committing significant investment into major infrastructure projects across the country,” added Salas.
The new developments are expected to include residential units comprising apartments, villas and condominiums, a range of hotels, a business park, medical facilities, a range of universities and schools, an extensive retail offering and a cultural centre.
“We have developed our patented technology and a proven business model to ultimately add significant value at a very low cost. Our ultrasonic filtration system means we use less than two per cent of the energy required by conventional filtration systems, half the water of a park of the same size and 30 times less water than a golf course,” said Salas.
“These unique selling points have fast-tracked our growth and expansion and we’re now able to take our technology and creating an idyllic lifestyle anywhere in the world. Furthermore, and looking to the future, we can provide our partners in the Middle East, North Africa and India with a viable, affordable long-term solution, despite climate and geographical challenges, particularly when you consider we can use any kind of water including brackish from underground aquifers, eliminating the need to consume valuable fresh water resources,” he added.
Showcased for the first time in Doha, Salas unveiled a new film-based evaporation technology. The cutting-edge technology lowers water-waste rates by up to 70 per cent, further enhancing Crystal Lagoons’ sustainable credentials.
Exclusively manufactured in Canada for Crystal Lagoons, the technology consists of adding a special additive to the water which spreads an invisible anti-evaporation layer on the surface of the lagoon. This additive can be used at different water temperatures and withstand wind and rain.
The company holds two Guinness World Records for the world’s largest lagoon, the first in San Alfonso del Mar, Chile and Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, which is the current world record holder at 12.2 hectares. Crystal Lagoons currently boasts over 600 projects, in various stages of development, in 60 countries worldwide
