At least part of an outdoor air-conditioned commercial plaza that was slated to open this year at Katara Cultural Village is now eying a late 2017 launch.

In a statement this month, international project management company Turner & Townsend said it has been awarded a multi-million pound contract to fit out Galeries Lafayette, part of the upcoming “Katara Plaza.”

Qatar’s first branch of the three-floor Paris-based retailer will have 400 luxury brands specializing in clothing, accessories and homeware, and is expected to be completed “before the end of 2017.”

It is being designed by Paris-based architect Bruno Moinard of 4BI & Associates, the statement added.

Development

A year ago, when officials first announced details about the new Katara Plaza, they said the entire development would open sometime in 2016.

However, representatives of the Ali Bin Ali Group, which is managing the project, were unable to comment today on whether that timeline would be met.

Katara’s website now estimates completion to be between 2016-2017.

When the development does open, it will include the region’s first evian spa, named after the French mineral water firm, as well as a gift-shaped mall for children that sells toys, clothes and school supplies.

The mall will also contain “edutainment” features such as a robotics lab, as well as a large candy store and kids’ salon, according to the development’s website.

Thoughts?