THE Pearl-Qatar, being promoted as the most glamorous address in the Middle East, is gearing up to host Qatar’s first-ever exhibition of luxury and supercars on November 21 and 22. The Privatdrive Supercar Show, with The Pearl-Qatar as host sponsor and Commercialbank as presenting sponsor, will showcase the world’s most exclusive vehicles in a befitting atmosphere at one of the largest urban developments in the country. “This unique event will also feature luxury lifestyle essentials, including jewellery, yachts and fashion brands,” organiser Privatdrive The Exclusive Club’s founder and owner Alexis Lallement-Steiner told Gulf Times in an interview. The Monaco-born young entrepreneur, based in the UAE since one year, described Privatdrive as the world’s most unique membership club, offered on a strictly invitation-only basis. The selective members are approved and guaranteed high net worth individuals and successful businessmen throughout the world. “We offer the most impressive way for important businessmen to meet and network, behind the wheel of supercars, instead of meeting people in an office or in a very formal environment,” he stated. Privatdrive, founded in the UK in 2006, started with organising events also in Monaco and Switzerland before focusing on the Middle East. Being launched in Qatar with plans to make it an annual event, the Privatdrive Supercar Show, is to feature 35 top-of-the-range cars, including 10 which are being officially launched in the country at the exhibition. “We will have from Alfardan Automobiles, Alpina, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Rolls Royce and MINI, apart from participation by Alfardan Marine and Alfardan Jewellery with their high-end products,” Alexis explained. NBK Automobiles will display AMG, Koenigsegg, Maybach, McLaren, Mercedes, Brabus, and Spyker cars in addition to participation by NBK Prime Ride, NBK Fashion, and NBK Art Marine. Dana Motors is to showcase Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Pagani Zonda vehicles, apart from Bugatti and Lamborghini collecting items. Jaidah Group will present Chevrolet’s Corvette and Camaro, and Sur La Terre magazine, and Ligne Roset. Audi will be put on show by Saad Buzwair and Aston Martin by Horizon Automobiles at the event being held at The Pearl-Qatar’s recently opened Boardwalk at the Porto Arabia, one of the 10 precincts in the QR50bn plus offshore, Riviera-style man-made island. Privatdrive, which launched its supercar show in the region with the first edition in Abu Dhabi in February this year, followed it up with another episode in Dubai in April, before homing in on Qatar. “The Lamborghini LP 560, Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed, Koenigsegg CCXR carbon fibre edition, and the latest models of Pagani Zonda, Bugatti Veyron, and Spyker C 8, are among the cars that are being officially launched in Qatar at the show,” Alexis maintained. Each exhibitor, who has invited 500 of their top clients for the show, are also to put up within their lounge events like fashion and jewellery shows, creating the ultimate luxury experience. Gulf Times and sister Arabic daily Arrayah are the official newspapers of the event. Privatdrive intends to follow up the Supercar Show with the ‘Diamond Drive,’ tentatively slated for the end of February. “This will be an opportunity for people, who have supercars sitting in the garage to actually drive them and share the same passion and enjoyment,” he said. The idea is for a group of minimum 50 supercars to take a tour around Qatar, with a stop at the Losail International Circuit where expert instructors will offer tips on driving and safety, and return to Doha for a celebratory gala dinner. Queried on the reason for choosing Qatar to host the Supercar Show, Privatdrive founder and owner cited the fact that over the last two years, the country has been figuring in the global top five in the sales of high-end luxury car brands. “There is such a huge demand for luxury products, especially luxury automobiles in Qatar, and the market is booming at the moment,” he observed. Referring to how he decided to host the event at The Pearl-Qatar, Alexis recalled that he first came to know about the prestigious project in a lifestyle magazine in London. “The Pearl-Qatar has been promoted as the most glamorous address in the Middle East and I was trying to promote my show as the most exclusive event. So obviously it was a very easy choice for me to decide to zoom in on The Pearl-Qatar, which is steeped in the concept of luxury, the essence of my show,” he said. Alexis was of the view that The Pearl-Qatar gives him a feeling of being enveloped in luxury. “When you walk under the Boardwalk, and take in the sights of the yachts and beautiful marinas and the overall ambience confirms that The Pearl-Qatar is definitely the place for my event,” he remarked. Asked about his inspiration to formulate the Privatdrive concept, Alexis, who went to Italy as a teenager for college and university before moving to Rome and subsequently London, stated that after growing up with the annual Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco, the passion for luxury cars was in his blood. “I am really happy with the involvement of all the exhibitors in Qatar who are working very hard,” he said while observing that it is not for every event that such great support is received. “I also want to highlight the fact that without the support of The Pearl-Qatar and Commercialbank, this event would not have been possible,” he added. The name and location of Pearl-Qatar, the first in the country to offer freehold and residential rights to international investors, which is coming up on a former pearl diving site, highlights the country’s traditions, and strong historical and cultural ties to the sea. Located 350m offshore from Doha’s prestigious West Bay District and 25km away from Doha International Airport, the island offers an exclusive retreat with easy access to the capital’s thriving community. Spanning over approximately 4mn sq m of land, and 32km of new coastline, the island will eventually be home to an upscale multicultural community of over 41,000 residents, and comprising 15,000 dwellings within 10 precincts when completed in 2012. The Pearl-Qatar will also include five-star hotels, marinas, a yacht club, schools, restaurants and lifestyle amenities, and 2mn sq ft of upscale retail space proffering some of the world’s most renowned luxury brands. The Pearl-Qatar is being developed and promoted by United Development Company, one of Qatar’s leading private sector shareholding companies. GT

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