"This joint venture will play an important role in supporting Qatar's 2030 vision of being a global centre of sporting excellence," said Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, secretary general of the Qatar Olympic Committee, after putting pen to paper on an agreement with AKI and UGL Limited.

The agreement, to start in 2012, will initially focus on providing integrated facilities management services and property services to Government and private sector clients across the country.

"The most important thing is not just to build a facility but how to maintain it," said Sheikh Saoud, who is leading Doha's bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. 

"We have to look closely at operational costs and whether facilities will end up for other purposes than sports because they can't cope with the cost.

"This is a key issue for us in Qatar.

"Hopefully this joint venture...will make sure we have no white elephants."

UGL Services provides corporate real estate and facilities management services to a wide range of Government and large corporate clients in nearly 60 countries from four hubs in the Middle East, Australia, Singapore and North America.

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