Doha

Spice Market Opens In Doha

Filed under: Dining

Jean-Georges Vongericthen has become the latest high-profile chef to take restaurants to the Middle East. Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges has announced the opening of Spice Market and Market by Jean-Georges at the new W Hotel Doha. The restaurants are part of a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and represent the chef's first foray into the Middle East. "Doha is a region full of exotic spices and rich delicacies and I'm eager to infuse some of the signature dishes found at Spice Market and Market with the indigenous flavors of the region and a wealth of new ingredients," said Vongerichten. He also blogged about the experience last week.

Vongerichten is famous for eschewing the use of meat stocks and using vegetable juices and fruit essences for a light and fresh flavor. His most recent cookbook focuses on his love of Asian flavors. The decor for Spice Market at W Hotel Doha includes handcrafted screens and a series of clustered bespoke lanterns. Jean-Georges Vongericthen will be in good celebrity chef company, Nobu is also opening up a restaurant in Doha at the Four Seasons next year.

Gallery: Qatar On The Rise

Tags: doha, fine dining, FineDining, jean-georges vongerichten, Jean-georgesVongerichten, qatar

Sotheby's Opens in Doha, Bizarre Timing

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

Once the undisputed land of conspicuous wealth and consumption, the United Arab Emirates is being squeezed by a large drop in oil prices. It's a shame this comes after the region's addiction to art has become fully entrenched. Sotheby's is planning its first contemporary art sale from its new Doha, Qatar branch on March 18, 2009 – also the opening day of the Art Dubai fair. Hell, it's enough to make you "scream" (see photo).

This looks like the triumph of ambition over common sense, but Sotheby's was probably too far into its Middle Eastern endeavors before the bottom fell out on the region's finances. And with Bonhams and Christie's already in town, Sotheby's had little choice but to follow.

The UAE has committed quickly to the art scene. Abu Dhabi is working on building a Louvre, and is erecting a Guggenheim. Last year, art auction revenues reached $34.9 million, up 70 percent from 2007. But, the upcoming auction should be tricky, particularly with the poor performance of the sector last fall in more established markets, like New York, London and Hong Kong.

In around two weeks, we'll see if Sotheby's will be able to make this new auction house work, or if it will fall victim to the greater recession-triggered decline in the art market. The Mei Moses All Art Index dropped 4.5 percent last year. This seems like a modest amount, but you need to remember that record-setting sales continued through the middle of the summer. Last May, Roman Abramovich was a billionaire with a new Francis Bacon piece in his collection. Today ... we know he feels pain, too. The second half of the year wiped out the first half's records and pulled prices down further.

It's a tough time to count on the market to make Sotheby's Doha a success, but the market doesn't give us choices.

[Photo: "El Grito" by Julio Aguilera]

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Tags: abramovich, abu dhabi, abu dubai, AbuDhabi, AbuDubai, art, art auction, art auctions, art market, ArtAuction, ArtAuctions, ArtMarket, artwork, bonhams, bonhams auction, BonhamsAuction, christies, contemporary art, ContemporaryArt, doha, dubai, francis bacon, FrancisBacon, guggenheim, guggenheim museum, GuggenheimMuseum, qatar, roman abramovich, RomanAbramovich, sothebys, sothebys international realty, SothebysInternationalRealty, uae, united arab emirates, UnitedArabEmirates

Best of Forbes This Week, 02/21/09

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

--A rug made entirely of jewels is the star of Sotheby's first-ever auctions in Doha, Qatar. Bidding will start at $5 million.

--Some stores are still pulling in customers and they range from Urban Outfitters and American Apparel to Hermes. The ten stores we can't stop shopping in.

--Brooke Astor's co-op isn't the only deal to be found in the world of Manhattan luxury real estate. Some prices are down 20%.

Tags: doha, forbes, jewels, qatar

Bottega Veneta Opens In Qatar

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Another luxury brand has made the move to Qatar, the new Bottega Veneta store is located in the Villaggio Mall in Doha, It sells men's and women's ready-to-wear, small leather goods, handbags, luggage, eyewear, shoes, and furniture. The interior is decorated with walnut tables, large glass vitrines, leather-covered door handles, ultra-suede walls, mohair furniture upholstery, and New Zealand wool carpets. The Villaggio Mall has a Venetian theme that includes canals with gondala rides and a ceiling that resemble the sky at different times of day and night. It has 220 stores and is the largest retail space in Qatar.

Gallery: Qatar On The Rise

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Tags: bottega veneta, doha, qatar

Nobu Slated to Open in Qatar

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Luxe sushi empire Nobu, backed by Robert De Niro, plans to open an eatery in Doha, Qatar's capital city. Planning is in the early stages and the exact location is unknown, but the odds-on favorite is the landmark Four Seasons Doha in West Bay on the Arabian Gulf, the Qatari Penisula reports. This will be Nobu's second Middle Eastern outpost, following the branch at the newly-opened Atlantis in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. Qatar, which has the highest per capita income in the world, is also the site of upcoming restaurants from famed chefs Gordon Ramsay and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, part of the country's growing luxeification. Nobu currently has has 21 restaurants in 16 cities around the world.

Tags: Doha, Dubai, Four Seasons, Four Seasons Doha, FourSeasons, FourSeasonsDoha, Gordon Ramsay, GordonRamsay, jean-georges vongerichten, Jean-georgesVongerichten, Nobu, Qatar, Restaurants, Robert De Niro, RobertDeNiro, Sushi

"The Laptop" Will Be The World's First Underground Stadium

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

We've seen the splendor of China's Bird's Nest, now check out a new contender for the prize of most unique stadium. The Wall' stadium in Doha, Qatar's capital city, will be the first underground stadium and the world's first open-air, air-conditioned stadium. The stadium design by MZ & Partners Architects has already earned the nickname "The Laptop." The main stand is upright with most of its height coming from the underground field. All lights will be embedded in the surrounding architecture of the stadium. It is hoped that the underground stadium will help keep the players and spectators cooler. It is expected to be completed in 2010 and will seat 11,000 people.

Gallery: Qatar On The Rise

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Tags: doha, qatar, sports, stadium