Specialist chalks up threefold increase in Qatar staff in just 12 months

Consultant Atkins has opened a new base in Qatar after trebling its staff to 300 over the past year.

The design and engineering specialist first established a presence in the country in 2002 to work on the Dukhan-Doha Highway.

It is currently contracted to deliver roads and drainage infrastructure in Doha on behalf of Ashghal.

In January, the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning appointed it to provide the planning and integration resource for a central planning office responsible for co-ordinating the road, rail, metro and other key programmes to be delivered throughout the nation over the next 20 years.

Atkins鈥 chief executive officer Uwe Krueger said the firm鈥檚 new office was a 鈥渧ery visible and important part鈥 of its commitment to assembling top quality teams to support its Qatar clients.

鈥淲e feel both proud and privileged to be able to support Qatar鈥檚 journey to transform its National 2030 Vision into reality,鈥 he said.

Regional chief executive Richard Barrett said Qatar鈥檚 energy, pace and strength of purpose was 鈥渉ugely invigorating鈥.

鈥淔or our engineers, architects and planners, there is no more exciting place to be in the world right now,鈥 he said.