All photos via UDC
The managers of the Pearl-Qatar have announced additional details, including a scheduled spring opening date, about a new cluster of eateries and entertainment attractions on the artificial island.
According to United Development Co. (UDC), the 5,000-square-meter Megapolis will open in March. It is slated to include an arcade with high-tech video games and indoor attractions including golf, bowling, snooker, billiards, darts, karaoke and a sports zone.
Additionally, the entertainment hub in Medina Centrale will have five eating options: Saladworks, Earl of Sandwich, Cool de Sac, Camille’s Ice Cream and Mister Pizza.
The announcement comes shortly after the Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel officially opened on the Pearl-Qatar this week, marking the first of several new dining and leisure attractions coming up on the Pearl this year.
Retooled offerings
News of Megapolis’ impending opening also comes slightly less than two years after UDC announced it was working to shift shoppers’ perceptions of the Pearl-Qatar.
In 2013, the company said it wanted people to think of the island as a “comprehensive, welcoming, flexible and balanced” place instead of a high-end, “heavily upscale” shopping hub.
Some local real estate agents have said adding amenities like an arcade, cinema and a variety of restaurants marks a turning point for the Pearl-Qatar.
In the past, much of area’s retail space was primarily supported by the island’s residents. But with a new hotel attracting out-of-town visitors as well as a host of entertainment options that are unique in Qatar, some hope that the area will become a more vibrant destination.
Others, however, note that the Pearl-Qatar already suffers from heavy vehicle congestion during peak hours. Many fear that bottlenecks in and around the island’s sole entry and exit point – currently exacerbated by lane closures related to the construction of the Lusail Expressway – will only worsen as more people start visiting as well as moving in to vacant units.
Additional amenities
In March 2004, UDC signed a lease agreement with Qatar-based Palma Hospitality Group – which operates Damasca restaurant in Souq Waqif, among other eateries – for 7,000 square meters to develop a series of food and beverage outlets in Medina Centrale.
In addition to the Megapolis entertainment area and the first five eateries that are due to open in March, Palma Hospitality is expected to open two restaurants – La Casa 28 and Debs w Reman – as well as a coffee shop, Mokarabia, later this year.
Looking ahead, UDC said it also plans to add a 2,000-square-meter indoor sporting facility dubbed “Gymito” as well as additional retail offerings “in due time.”
Thoughts?
What about the QDC that open and shut in one day on The Pearl?? Is that ever coming back?
Hopefully NEVER.
Why did they shut it?
At the time, they quoted ‘technical difficulties’…. no-one heard anything after that.
I don’t have an alcohol licence – I hardly ever drink alcohol back home even, so don’t see the point.
I opened the door to the construction site last week and they have not even started. It is still bone and concrete shell, nothing. You would think they would offer you Diha News a tour of the “near-finished” project, or you would ask for one, instead of just quoting “according to…”
dude stop lying
more venues to overload an already incapable traffic connection to the mainland ! ridiculous..
Access is a nightmare and the ‘boy racers’ will present a safety risk to all of the visitors who actually make it on to the Island. It is such a shame that what should be an example of everything that Qatar has to offer, is becoming a shining example of the problems that Qatar needs to address urgently.
All I hear is whining, stay home, nobody cares if you ever show up at the pearl.
One of the reasons I left the Pearl and Qatar – attitudes like yours!
So happy that I don’t have the ‘pleasures’ of the Pearl traffic or the this type of view any more.
well said – though I liked living on the Pearl, and alcohol is not as big an issue for me as it clearly is the locals, but I am so glad to be away from the attitude issues of people wanting to be part of the big world, but with a complete unwillingness to respect others !
Thanks Scarletti. Totally agree with your sentiments, although I suspect we are not alone in Qatar! I spent several years in Oman before I moved to Qatar and found a lot less resentment and ‘attitude’. Don’t see things changing anytime soon – in fact I truly believe things are heading the opposite way and will get steadily worse I’m afraid. Now that I have finally left the region, can’t believe how relaxed I am in day to day life. I am still an expat, (in Africa) but majority of people here have welcomed me (genuinely I believe) and I am thoroughly enjoying interaction with the local community. Best wishes to you and stay safe on those Doha roads!
byee
I understand your point of view and actually largely agree with it (i.e. the if-you-don’t-like-it,-you’re-free-to-go mentality); though if I would apply the same approach back home or in many western countries, I would be called a fascist, racist and extreme-right voter.
I understand your point of view and actually largely agree with it (i.e. the if-you-don’t-like-it,-you’re-free-to-go mentality); though if I would apply the same approach back home or in many western countries, I would be called a fascist, racist and extreme-right voter.
I said bye because he left, There is no point of view
Sums up the ‘attitude’ really – Delighted to be away!
haha, I like how everyone got riled up just because i said ‘bye’,
There isn’t really any attitude with saying bye,
When someone leaves you generally say byee,
It’s just your a disgusting person who loves to find hate in everything
You know, I know and most likely any reasonably minded person would know what you were inferring with your byee! No worries though – I made my mind up and decided to move to a nicer place. (and really enjoying the distinct absence of ‘attitude’). I remember my parents teaching me that good manners cost nothing and to treat people in a way that I would like to be treated. i.e with some respect. If you put your mind to it…………………….!
Mm I’ll try to put my mind to it next time and treat good people with respect, Thanks! But I hope you rot in Africa and never come back to our soil again, Please keep lingering on my countries news site and please keep up to date as we progress to be a better place especially since you left, byee ( sorry if that offends you ) I know good byes can hurt some times.
‘hope you rot in Africa’ – very mature indeed. Sums up the ‘attitude’ issue perfectly and shows everyone what an unpleasant individual you are. Perhaps they haven’t got around to teaching manners and good grace at your school yet! Pleased to say I am really enjoying my stay here where the local people treat visitors to their country with respect. Don’t worry – I won’t be back to yours!
Dude I think we got the message, you told us like 10 times how good it is there and good for you but if you’re still buthurt that I said bye to you then that’s your problem haha
Pity you can’t count dud. 3 times mentioned, but perhaps haven’t taught basic arithmetic at your school either! 🙂
Ok ok, you know what? I’ll stop being a douche to you, Sorry about that really, But honestly speaking here.. When I said bye I legitimately meant it, Maybe slightly sarcastic but no ‘leave here attitude’ or anything you keep going on about, Anyway I’m sorry you feel that way about Qatar, kind of generalizing but whatever it’s your opinion.
You are so right. The sooner all of us expats leave the better Qatar will be.
Expats comes from different countries, ethnic groups, and religious background, who gave you the authority to speak for them? You certainly need to see a psychiatrist, you get issues, buddy.
I find this post offensive. Can the moderator please remove it.
Dude stop spreading lies,
I visit the pearl all the time,
I barely see anyone racing ( never actually ),
Revving their motors? sure.
Dude stop down-playing a problem,
I live at the Pearl,
I barely see anyone racing (only when two cars aren’t blocking the road by chatting side by side and paying no attention to the road in front of them),
Reckless and irresponsible driving in a residential and retail area? sure.
Sorry not true, happens occasionally but it’s not a real issue, But if you wanna continue whining, Don’t stop now 😀
Give me a camcorder and 3 days and i would have all the material to convince you it is a real issue – give me 30 mins on a Thursday evening and i’ll have enough.
Reckless and irresponsible driving is more than just racing – it’s suddenly accelerating and sudden breaking; its driving whilst using a mobile phone; its weaving between traffic; its driving on the bumper of the person in front; its not indicating whilst going round the roundabout for the 17th time; its over-taking on a blind bridge. I have seen all these things multiple times since Saturday. You’ll probably say that that happens all over Doha. Yes, but that doesn’t make it right, and it’s particularly frustrating when it happens in a residential and retail area where the layout encourages pedestrians to walk (it’s not like driving to a mall and then being safe from traffic once inside).
Now I’m not saying it’s not better than it has been, but these are still real issues and these are not lies.
Funny, I live on the Pearl. You are more than welcome to come and sit on my balcony to witness the ‘madness’ yourself.
Sorry, I never experienced it when I was there
Progress is great, but perhaps UDC needs to address the essentials first: access and safety. The joyriders are not only a nuisance to residents but also pose great danger to residents and visitors. This issue could easily be resolved by introducing speed pumps at regular intervals. I worry that something will only be done when (God forbid) some disaster occurs!
As for the atrocious traffic exiting The Pearl, that’s only going to get worse making it an unattractive prospect for guests and residents alike.
If I had to pick a hotel to stay in, the new Kempinski would be my last choice simply because I might miss my flight out, caught in The Pearl’s gridlock.
If the time limit you set a safety factor is less than 30min, then you’re the problem, not the PREDICTABLE congestion.
Troll!!
30 minutes – which way do you go ? I get in the Land cruiser, run a few red lights, flashy flashy, left side overtake, take a few photos of those painful ex-pats doing the speed limit, and before I have read a few e-mails, bingo, at the airport on 20 minutes !
Deleting for being racist. We all know bad drivers here come in all nationalities.
No mention of race in this comment !
Regards
Dominic
Judging by it’s facilities Megapolis was obviously modelled on Blackpool.
I use be missing something. I live on the Pearl, have done for a year. We had a few months when exiting the island was a bit of a drag at around 5pm…mostly busses full of workers going home after their day on the construction sites….. But they have put in temporary measures and it’s much improved…. QQ to tornado tower…. 8-12 minutes…. 15 tops. We walk around locally…. To the shops or just for a wander. See lots of nice cars, but never really seen any “boy racers”…. Again, a problem once, but the speed cameras and other measures have made a big difference. We love it here…. And it is getting better all the time. I am starting to think some of TPQ’s critics on here have not been here for a very long time.
Don’t bother telling it how it is,
People here like to twist reality and even
when it has no relevancy to the actual article bring in other issues and whine
about how miserable it is in their little lives.
Yes it is possible to do all of those things, but it is equally true that at ‘peak periods’ it can take over 30 minutes to get off the Pearl and there are photos of ‘gridlock’ with nothing moving.
Some areas of the Pearl do not experience traffic issues (QQ had major problems with jet skiers though) but for residents of Porto Arabia it is a major issue. The Pearl can be a great place to live, we have been here for over 2 years, but the traffic issues are real and the noise can be unbelievable. Check out the S.A.N.D. Facebook page for plenty of examples if you don’t believe me.
Way to go….can’t wait to visit that….
I would really have liked to see a gym available on the pearl by now – i keep hearing musings, but nothing materialized yet. With so many eateries already established, it would have been nice if this one could have opened alongside the additional 5 eateries in March.
Having said that, i am looking forward to the entertainment facilities at Megapolis.
can UDC please create a fenced dog park at the pearl…perhaps in viva bahriya area…. many of the tenants in the pearl have dogs and it would help us greatly!!! as many parks in Doha do not allow dogs…. pretty plz! lol
I love living on the Pearl,and don’t know about people racing each other, but the noise of the motorbikes revving up (even though they are banned ) and cars screeching around especially at the weekend, makes it extremely intimidating, and scary., and dangerous, i also can not go to bed due to the noise until after 12. I complain and nothing ever happens, it would be interesting if Doha News did a article about this.
Pearl is over priced, boring and really hard to access unless you spend an hour in traffic on Katara round about. I still don’t see what the point was to build that area when Qatar has so much empty area lol. If it was as cheap as Dubai Marina or JBR then may be people would go there often. There’s a huge population of middle class people in Qatar and a very small population of rich people here because of horrible pay grades, double standards and racism in most companies not many people could afford to go to places like Megapolis often if it was over priced too.
The idea of Megapolis is really amazing but similar places have opened and shut down before in Doha like QDs in City Center, Shark in Muntaza, Palm tree island, Silver Cafe at Al Sadd stadium, The entertainment place in The Center (Currently Samsung), Aladin’s Kingdom, Falcon Club… and many more (Yes 90s and 00s were actually more fun than now lol). All of them shut down eventually, the licenses got taken away or they never maintained the place. Hopefully there will be more places and affordable ones like Megapolis in Doha.
500QR per hour I bet.