In a bid to address “enormous untapped demand” for a more integrated shopping experience here, UrbaCon General Contracting has announced plans to build the $824 million (QR3 billion) Mall of Qatar.

The three-story mall is slated to open in September 2015 and will be located at the intersection of Al Rayyan Highway and Celebration Road, close to Education City. The mall is expected to have its own Metro station and parking for 7,000 cars. 

Construction on the project began last year, with the demolishing of existing buildings on the site.

‘Fulfilling demand’

Developers say they expect the facility to include a major hypermarket, multiplex, five department stores and at least 20 restaurants, although none of the space has been rented yet. 

However, a scale model of the mall and a leasing campaign will kick off next week at Cityscape Qatar.

Size-wise, it will be a third larger than Villaggio, but significantly smaller than rival Doha Festival City, which is due to be completed in 2016.

In terms of breadth of retail offerings, it sounds similar in scope to Villaggio, with a dedicated luxury retail wing and cafes and restaurants making use of what the designers call “an indoor streetscape.” A luxury hotel is also expected to be built onsite.

For those thinking that Qatar, which just saw the opening of Ezdan Mall in Gharafa, already has enough shopping malls, UCC officials say:

“We are launching the Mall of Qatar at a time when there is clearly enormous untapped demand for quality integrated shopping, dining and entertainment facilities in the country,” Shem Krey, Deputy Managing Director, Mall of Qatar, told journalists at a launch event yesterday. 

“Our research has shown there is a significant amount of capacity that has to be met in the retail area and our Mall will be a major step in fulfilling demand.” 

Thoughts?

Credit: Image courtesy of UCC website