Media and retailers gathered on the Mall of Qatar stand to view the 3-D model and flythrough video

Dubai: 9 October, 2013

The Mall of Qatar, set to be the largest shopping mall in Qatar when it opens in 2015, received an overwhelming response from the media and retailers at the region's largest real estate exhibition - Cityscape Global 2013.

Hosting regional and international retailers at the Mall of Qatar's Retailer Reception on the 9th October at Cityscape Global, Deputy Managing Director Shem Krey and Phil McArthur, Managing Director, McARTHUR + COMPANY, explained why they are so proud to be associated with this project, which they are confident will be a shopping destination that will rival some of the best in the world.

Since the project officially launched in May at Cityscape Doha, the Mall of Qatar has received a phenomenal response from the retail community. Shem Krey, Deputy Managing Director of Mall of Qatar said: "Following our participation in Cityscape Doha we have now received letters of interest from all of the major regional retailers, and we are also in final discussions with many international brands, some of which will be entering the region for the very first time".

The Mall of Qatar is located in the Al Rayyan district of Qatar and 75 percent of Qatar's 2 million population is within a 25 minute drive. There will also be a Metro station connected to the shopping mall for convenient access. Adjacent to one of the FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums, close to Education City and next to an affluent residential community, the Mall of Qatar is expecting to welcome some 20 million visitors to the shopping mall in its first year.

Donald Weir, General Manager, Mall of Qatar explained: "We are building a regional destination mall designed to attract everybody in Qatar, including visitors to the region. We are bringing together the very best brands to occupy over 400 stores, 50 of which will be luxury brands linked to a five star hotel, and four of which will be international department stores."

"We have strategically combined over 80 restaurants and cafes with a themed entertainment concept encompassing a significant portion of the mall it will offer customers something very special."

The interactive model and project fly-through video enabled the media, retailers and potential customers to gain a real perspective of the scale and quality of the mall and to ask more detailed questions during the three day event held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

Phil McArthur, Managing Director, McARTHUR + COMPANY said "When people decide to go shopping they start planning their journey, how they get there, where they park, what else they will do at their destination other than just shop. The Mall of Qatar has taken all of this into account, the mall with have over 7,000 high quality parking spaces and a close proximity to the Saudi-Doha-Bahrain light rapid rail link, as well as the new Hamad International Airport, only 30 kms away."

"Customers will drive past other malls to visit a regional shopping centre that has the best international and regional brands, fascinating entertainment and a choice of where to eat whether it's at a sidewalk cafe or a fine dining restaurant. The Mall of Qatar will offer something for everybody in Qatar, and we have worked incredibly closely with the senior management team at the Mall of Qatar to make sure that our merchandising mix and customer service is just right."

He added: "Regional and international retailers appreciate a well-planned shopping centre and we are now in final negotiations with a host of brands including tenants for the department stores, hypermarket and entertainment concepts."

The Mall of Qatar, under construction for over a year now, is 30 percent complete. Exactly on schedule to launch in the third quarter of 2013, Urbacon Trading & Contracting, as the contractor, has five factories manufacturing materials on site and are able to devote resources to their subcontractors to ensure that the mall is ready for the grand opening in 2015.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Samar Derhalli
BPG | Cohn & Wolfe
Tel: +974 55785747
Email: samar@batespangulf.com

© Press Release 2013