It’s small. It’s rich. And it’s thinking big. Qatar is setting a scorching pace as it unleashes a flood of billion-dollar projects including magnificent towers, man-made islands, hotels, gas projects, a mega airport, industrial zones and a slew of other massive projects that rival some of the iconic developments under way in the region.

The List:

A drive to develop what Qatar identifies as its greatest resource – the potential of its people – will see the establishment of the region’s first educational hub in the state in a little over three years.

What is designed to be the Middle East’s largest convention centre is currently taking shape within the prestigious Qatar Education Centre in the west of Doha. Under a QR2.22 billion ($610.

With reclamation complete on The Pearl-Qatar, a $2.5 billion mixed-used island located at Doha’s waterfront, construction work is in progress on several towers that are being built by a number of investors. The first residents of the prestigious project are expected to move in by the end of this year.

Less than two years ago, in May 2005 to be exact, Sabban Property Investments (SPI) announced its plan to build three residential towers, the Sabban Towers, on Porto Arabia, the main marina of The Pearl-Qatar. It was one of the first companies to build on Qatar’s first international freehold real estate venture.

With infrastructure detail design now set for completion, the $2.6 billion Energy City Qatar (ECQ) – tagged the ‘city with a brain’, – is poised to move to the physical stage with infrastructure construction slated to commence in August this year.

Bahrain-based Technal Middle East reports that it has tripled its market share and presence in Qatar over the past year. It was a year during which it also recorded an ‘outstanding’ sales performance in all its key GCC markets.

A large amount of formwork and falsework from RMD Kwikform Middle East is being used by construction specialist J&P to create what will  be one of the largest hospital complexes in the world.

Bahrain-based Paschal Concrete Forms Company – the regional head office of German formwork specialist Paschal Werk G Maier – is looking at setting up its own engineering office in Qatar this year.

Liquid Plastics, a UK-based manufacturer of coatings and membranes, has recently completed 23,000 sq m roofing of the $100 million-plus Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, whose design ingenuity is a blend of whitewashed Mediterranean island housing and ninth century Abbasid architecture.

UK-based manufacturer of concrete batching and mixing plant Steelfields is cashing in on the construction boom in Qatar, having secured a number of prestigious contracts as the country gears up to meet the increasing demand for building materials.

The Sport City Tower’s unique design is based on a curved outer shell of glazed aluminium panels and a stainless steel mesh façade built around a central concrete tower. Inside the curved glass façade, four distinct circular structures are grouped around the central spine.

About 15 million cu m of land has been excavated and reclaimed to create the The Pearl-Qatar, a man-made island 350 offshore and 30 km from the capital Doha. The site was chosen because just below the surface is a large rock embankment.

Qatari contractors are recognising the benefits of rental fleets for smaller equipment such as Atlas Copco compressors as the rental option eliminates the need for maintenance and workshop facilities, according to Oriental Trading Company (OTC) Plant Hire, one of Qatar’s leading plant rental companies.

Drill rigs and rock tools from Sandvik Mining and Construction of Sweden have helped get a major highway project in Qatar back on track.

Smart Architectural Systems, a Sharjah-based aluminium architectural systems supplier, has been recording steady growth since it was founded in 2002. It is now looking to further penetrate the market, given the surging demand for quality systems.

Saudi Arabia-based Al Awami Planners and Consultants has started design work on two commercial buildings that will occupy prime positions in the business districts of Qatar. The projects include an 11-storey commercial and residential apartment building, which will occupy a 2,000 sq m lot area.