The 25th UPU Congress will be held at the brand new Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha.
"With its modern infrastructure, accommodation facilities, technology and prime location, the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) has everything needed to make the Doha Congress a success", says Abdul Rahman Ali Al-Aqaily, acting CEO of Qatar Post, who has been proposed by the Qatari Government as Chairman Designate of the Congress.
The QNCC, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, has 40,000 m2 of available exhibition space and can accommodate up to 4,000 delegates. It houses a 2,300-seat conference room, three auditoriums, and 57 meeting halls and rooms, as well as reception areas, restaurants, and IT and media facilities.
In addition to being an architectural and technical wonder, the building also strives to be environmentally friendly, with 3,700 m2 of solar panels providing about 12% of its total energy.
Following its official opening in June 2011, the centre will host the 20th World Petroleum Congress, which will be attended by thousands of participants.
The UPU International Bureau's Congress Preparatory Committee, which visited the facilities, went away impressed with the progress of the work and the commitment on the part of the Qatari Government.
The 25th Congress will be held from 24 September to 15 October 2012, and will be attended by some 2,000 delegates from the UPU's 191 member countries.