Bawabat al-Shamal Real Estate Company (Basrec) announced yesterday that the construction of their super-regional retail and entertainment destination, Doha Festival City, has begun.Al-Futtaim Group, Qatar Islamic Bank and other investors formed a joint venture for this project which, according to its promoters, will become a leisure and entertainment destination in Qatar.The QR6bn-plus project is located north of downtown Doha on Al Shamal Road, which is connecting the city with Bahrain via the “Friendship Causeway”.With its strategic positioning, the complex would be ideally equipped to meet the retail and entertainment needs of not only Qatar, but also neighbouring GCC countries.Ikea, which is part of the Al-Futtaim Group, will be developed under the first phase of construction.The 32,000sq m store is due for completion in the last quarter of 2012. The remaining elements of Doha Festival City are due for delivery in the last quarter of 2014.Developed on land covering 433,847sq m with 260,000sq m of gross leasable area, Doha Festival City is designed by DP Architects with Arab Engineering Bureau appointed as project architects, Mace International as project manager and EC Harris as quantity surveyor and cost consultant.Further, the General Contractor package for Ikea has been awarded to the joint venture between Qatari Arabian Construction Company and Amana Qatar Contracting Company, with the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) package awarded to Hamad and Mohammed al-Futtaim Engineering.Ammico Contracting Company is undertaking the excavation and Redco International will be supplying the pre-cast concrete elements.Along with Ikea, other leading international and local brands are expressing interest in this development.Doha Festival City will also offer an entertainment and leisure complex, automotive showrooms and international hotels.The interior design of Doha Festival City is inspired by nature and the elements of wind, water, wood and earth.Within the retail loops there will be four distinct interior zones – Water Concourse, Garden Promenade, Rainforest Boardwalk and Fashion Galleria.Leading the team at the ground breaking ceremony were Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate development director Greg Douglas and Basrec senior executive manager Jihad Zarourt, signalling the formal start of construction work.Douglas said: “We are delighted that Doha Festival City has begun construction which celebrates the collaboration between our JV partners.”“Doha Festival City is an innovative concept, appealing to visitors and the local residents of Doha. “With the project’s easily accessible location and the extensive offerings, we believe Doha Festival City will be one of the most advanced entertainment, retail and hospitality complexes in the region,” he said.Zarkout said: “Doha Festival City is the fruit of our shareholders willingness to contribute in the promising future of Qatar and the unlimited support of the government and the enormous efforts by a dedicated team.”