Doha Festival City construction to begin next month

Construction of phase one of the state-of-the-art project — the first of its kind in the country — will start with a ground-breaking for Swedish furnishing giant IKEA in April 2011. This phase is expected to be completed by the second half of 2012, with phase two scheduled for completion by 2014.

“I am extremely happy that Doha Festival City will break ground next month and in a very short period of time become the most advanced entertainment, retail and hospitality complex in the State of Qatar,” Al-Futtaim Group Vice-Chairman Omar Al Futtaim said in an e-mailed statement to Khaleej Times.

The 433,847-square metre entertainment, retail, hospitality and commercial facility, set to become a driving force behind Qatar’s diverse economic development, will be designed by DP Architects, with Arab Engineering Bureau appointed as project architects. MACE International are project managers and Al-Futtaim Investment Management are investment managers.

Al-Futtaim, QIB, Aqar Real Estate Investment Company and a private investor are partners in this joint venture project.

Al-Futtaim Group CEO Robert Willett said at the launch of project in September last that this project will transform the leisure, retail and entertainment industry in Doha while providing visitors a very attractive destination.

“QIB is proud to be part of this major project which will start next month, as it represents a new phase in the country’s economic evolution and will raise Qatar’s profile as a nation focused on innovation, excellence, and dynamic sustainable development,” said QIB Chairman Shaikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani said.

Along with IKEA, other brands from the Al-Futtaim Group have already confirmed as Doha Festival City’s anchor tenants, including ACE, Toys “R” Us, Marks & Spencer and Intersport.

Landmark Group’s brands such as Centrepoint, Max Fashion, Sports Authority, Fitness First, Home Centre and Iconic have also joined the retail mix. Robinson’s, the 153-year old department store and an integral piece of Singapore’s history, will be part of Doha Festival City offerings, which also include a fully serviced shopping centre, an indoor-outdoor entertainment park, automotive zone and two international hotels.

Doha Festival City is located 15km north of downtown Doha. With its strategic positioning, the mega complex is ideally equipped to meet the retail and entertainment needs of not only Qatar, but also the neighbouring GCC countries.

muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com