Msheireb awards Arabtec Dhs2.32b project

Msheireb Properties, Qatar’s leading sustainable real estate developer, announced on Tuesday that it has appointed a consortium of Arabtec Construction UAE and Arabtec Construction Qatar as the main contractor for Phase 2 of Msheireb Downtown Doha, the QR20 billion (Dhs20.17 billion) regeneration of the historical commercial centre of the Qatari capital. The QR2.3 billion (Dhs2.32 billion) contract involves the construction of a built-up area of approximately 370,000 square metres comprising 10 buildings between 2 and 19 storeys high as well as 4-5 basement levels. “The pace of construction at Msheireb Downtown Doha continues to accelerate and the involvement of Arabtec further asserts our commitment to the highest standards of quality, reliability and sustainability,” said Mohammad Al Marri, Chief Officer for Design and Delivery at Msheireb Properties. The portfolio of Arabtec includes office towers, hotels, residences and villa projects, universities and airports in the Gulf and countries outside the region. Hasan Ismaik, Managing Director of Arabtec Holding said: “It is an honour for us to be involved in a project of such stature and significance. We would like to thank Msheireb Properties for giving us this exciting opportunity and putting their trust in Arabtec.” The mixed-use Msheireb Downtown Doha Phase 2 will have an estimated 99 residential units, 3,102 parking spaces, as well as commercial, retail, hotel, hospitality and community-based facilities. The MGallery hotel will be the first in the GCC region and its design will be inspired by Qatari heritage. The phase also includes a purpose-built mall covering around 42,000 square metres over four levels. The mall will account for almost 45 per cent of the total retail space within the Msheireb Downtown Doha project. Besides 100 stores, the destination will include an anchor supermarket chain, a food court catering to more than 500 diners, a cinema and a major department store. Described as the world’s first sustainable regeneration of a downtown area in a modern city, Msheireb Downtown Doha combines traditional local building practices and design influences with the latest technologies in energy efficiency and environmental management. Inspired by an original architectural language devised by leading architects, academics, designers and engineering consultants from Qatar and abroad, it will be the world’s largest sustainable community on completion, with at least 100 buildings certified as LEED Gold. The buildings will be targeting as minimum a Gold certificate for sustainability based on the US Green Building Council’s LEED rating system. From Gulf Today