Qatari Diar in-house consultant in UK move

Work for British project managers on Qatari Diar buildings could dramatically be cut as the developer’s in-house consultant moves to the UK.

Abdul Razzaq Al-Siddiqi, managing director of Qatari Project Management (QPM), said the firm hopes to project manage all UK schemes by the Qatar-based developer, currently building the Shard and Chelsea Barracks.

“The intention is to focus on going wherever Qatari Diar goes,” he said. Once QPM is more established in the UK it intends to take on a greater proportion of Qatari Diar’s work, he explained.

At the moment we’re at number 17 in the world. The UK is one of our targets

Abdul Razzaq Al-Siddiqi, QPM

QPM has partnerships with EC Harris, Hill International and Rider Levett Bucknall, and is working with EC Harris on a “high profile” project in London, Al-Siddiqi said, the first time it has worked in the UK. Although he insisted the firm would work with other consultants, its presence will cut down jobs available to other firms.

“We have no plans to move in alone. We have agreements that allow us to tap into each partner’s expertise,” he said.

He also said QPM would look to acquire UK firms as it expands to become a top five global project manager by 2025. “We’re now at about number 17 [in the world]. The UK is one of our targets.”