Asia's leading luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, has
strengthened its foothold in the Middle East by signing a management
agreement with Al Rayan Tourism Development Company W.L.L. to operate a
hotel in Doha, Qatar. The five-star, 35-storey Shangri-La Hotel, Doha will open prior to the Asian Games in 2006 with approximately 250 guest rooms
and 60 apartments.

Centrally located in the commercial heart of Doha, the new hotel will be
adjacent to one of the biggest shopping and entertainment complexes in the
world and connected to a large convention exhibition centre. It will
feature spacious rooms with wireless LAN and high-speed internet access,
and a variety of restaurants, recreation and meeting facilities.

Commenting on the announcement, Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La's chief
executive officer and managing director, said: 'The Shangri-La Hotel, Doha
reconfirms our commitment to expanding in the Middle East. Our target is
to build a regional presence of about eight to ten hotels, and we are
delighted to be opening a hotel in Doha in a prime location with such
dedicated owners.'

H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, chairman of Faisal Bin Qassim
Al-Thani & Sons Holding Company W.L.L., said: 'Having Shangri-La on board
is a major win for us. It reflects our focus on becoming a major force in
the hospitality industry.

'This is a reflection of the policy of His Highness, the Emir of Qatar
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and His Highness the Heir Apparent
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, which has been a key factor in the
multi-industry boom Qatar is now witnessing.'

Shangri-La's first hotel in the Middle East - the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai
opened in July 2003 and it will be quickly followed by the Traders Hotel,
Dubai in October this year. In 2005 the Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah
Resort & Spa, Muscat, Oman will open as one of the group's spectacular new
line of world-class destination resorts.