Synopsis

Project title:

A case study on the global economic crisis with the prevalent escalation of real
estate prices in reference to Barwa Real Estate Company.

Company:

Barwa Real Estate Company

Company Profile:

Barwa Real Estate Company is one of the largest publicly listed real estate
developers in the region with QR3.2 billion in revenues in 2006. Barwa is also
among the Middle East region's top 20 real estate developers with over USD3.76
billion in mega-projects under development (as of year-end 2006). Barwa has
carved a niche position in the market by offering what the market needs and
thereby going a step further than the competition and thereby capitalizing on a
profitable strategy. As part of its growth strategy the company forges alliances
that drift towards the same, namely alliances such as with “Al-Imtiyaz Investment
Co:” and “Villa Moda Lifestyle”. Through these and many simile approaches,
Barwa wishes to establish itself as a major powerful player in the ever growing
Middle East real estate market.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of the economic downturn on the
real estate market and with the subsequent escalation of prices and how this leads
to the “domino” effect on most aspects of the local economy. By looking at
 “Barwa” in particular, since it is a major player in the real estate market here in
Qatar, effort will be committed to find out on the factors that caused the so called
“housing crisis” and also the rapid escalation of property prices and their resulting
effects on the economy.

Scope:

• The aim of this project is to analyze and have a critical review and identify the
main reasons as to why there was an apparent escalation of the real estate prices
in the past 3 years.

• How did the company in particular fare during the last 3 years, and whether it
illustrated similar performance facts prevalent in the market in that time?

• How did “Barwa” cope up with the extreme market conditions and what strategies
did it involve in its business venturing?

• What makes Barwa stand out and seize a distinctive share of the market?

• How did the financial tumult add to the difficulties and the downturn of returns in
the retail market and how Barwa remedied the adversity of the market?

Methods and techniques:

To solve the above queries the following methodologies that will be applied in the study
include;

1. Investigation and literatures reading:

A thorough analysis will be conducted on the state of the real estate market as a
whole and particularly Barwa and the challenges that it faces, especially in the
context of the present global economic turmoil. This will be done through
literatures and articles review also including the current situations and
 undertakings that are witnessed in this sector, primarily from the internet and
business magazines.

2. Interview:

The top management will be interviewed in order to assist in the answering of the
major queries and to know empirical and also the causal part of the research
project. Their viewpoints on various issues involving the research topic and
subtopics will also be highlighted. Instruments used here for this part will be
primarily face to face interviews. Typically questions that pertain to strategic
advancements and also development of Barwa and how it tackled the economic
crisis will be employed.

3. Case Study:

As a case study, Barwa Real Estate Company located here in Doha will be
researched on and will be the focus of the study.