Leasing is well underway for the 550 retail and dining stores and outlets including Qatar's most iconic entertainment offering

Doha, May 1st, 2013. Following last week's groundbreaking ceremony that marked the commencement of construction of phase two of Doha Festival City, the owners of the iconic mixed-use retail, leisure and entertainment destination hosted in Doha over 300 major regional and international retailers, to unveil details of the development's retail component.

During the two hour event, attendees were given an exclusive preview of Doha Festival City's shopping mall component which is scheduled for completion in Q1, 2016. 

Doha Festival City is the largest super-regional, mixed-use development currently under construction in the Middle East, and it is designed to be Qatar's largest combined retail, entertainment and leisure destination.

Offering a gross leasable area of more than 260,000 m2, Doha Festival City will feature over 500 shops offering a carefully balanced selection of international and local brands and more than 70 restaurants and cafes.

"We are creating something truly unique for Qatar, a destination within a destination, a festive fusion of sights and sounds that will excite the senses, and will become a regular attraction for residents and visitors alike," said Kareem M. Shamma, Chief Executive Officer, Bawabat Al-Shamal Real Estate Co. WLL (BASREC), the joint venture representing the development's Qatari and Emirati shareholders.

"Already, some of the region's top retail groups representing the world's most prestigious and popular brands have committed expansive presence at Doha Festival City. We also plan to have a retail mix catering to both mid and luxury markets."

Doha Festival City will also be home to automotive showrooms, as well as a hotel and convention centre, all over a total site area of more than 430,000 m2, that will include 8,500 parking spaces with an efficient vehicle management system.

Its spectacular indoor-outdoor entertainment park will boast a number of exciting attractions for children and adults alike, making Doha Festival City an ideal day-out destination for the whole family.

Various and distinctive interior zones will take visitors through an inspired journey that will excite the senses and provide an unforgettable shopping and entertainment experience in an environment operating under Qatar Sustainability  Assessment System (QSAS).

"The look and feel of Doha Festival City will be unlike anything that exists in Qatar and the Northern Gulf. Apart from the world-class selection of stores, brands and F&B outlets, the development will include one of the largest entertainment destinations in the entire region and a footfall-enhancing layout and floor plan dominated by bright and inspiring walkways allowing consumers to browse in the comfort of wide open arcades," said Greg Douglas, Development Director, Doha Festival City.

Doha Festival City's mall broke ground on April 23rd, 2013 at the 433,847m2 site that is also home to the first IKEA store in Qatar and is strategically located just north of downtown Doha, on the main arterial route of Al Shamal Road, between Doha International Airport and the Friendship Causeway, the proposed road link to neighbouring Bahrain.

-Ends-

Doha Festival City is owned and developed by Bawabat Al-Shamal Real Estate Company W.L.L. (BASREC), the parent company and land owner for this iconic development. BASREC comprises four shareholders including Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Real Estate Services, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Aqar Real Estate Investment Company and a private Qatari investor.

For more information, please contact:
Ayad Nahas
Public Relations Manager
GMASCO - An Al-Futtaim group company
Email: Ayad.Nahas@gmasco.com 

© Press Release 2013