The construction of the QR7bn Barwa Commercial Avenue (BCA), a mixed-use development that stretches over an 8.5kms, is well on track to become Doha’s ultimate retail and residential destination, its top official confirmed.
Comprising five distinct yet interconnected zones – Jeera, Safwa, Joud Mall, Arkan and Sayer, BCA offers 908,000sqm of facilities, a mix of residential, commercial, and retail offerings, and an advanced infrastructure network.
The project facilities include 640 retail stores, a medical centre, entertainment venues, food and beverage outlets, 730 offices, 540 residential units, and 12,000 parking spaces.
“BCA is closely aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and is a direct response to the future needs of the Qatari market”, said Saad al-Dosari, chairman of BCA.
The project is progressing as planned and leasing agreements have been increasing steadily due to the variety on offer, the high quality retail outlets and accommodation, facilities and competitive prices, according to him.
Located close to Doha’s Industrial Area in Ain Khalid district, BCA provides tenants and visitors alike with easy access to a superior highway system, and the proposed Doha Metro rail transit system.
The development has already radically transformed the area into what will become a mix of modern commercial complexes, showrooms and high-standard apartments.
The Sayer zone which is dedicated to general trading outlets was launched at the end of 2011 and will include the key anchor tenant Dragon Mart; construction of the Arkan zone, an area dedicated to medium and large-scale home improvement retail stores is also now complete; Joud Mall, an area featuring 118 retail units is now 95% complete, it said.
Other zones such as Jeera, which is designed to serve as a community hub, and Safwa, a zone dedicated to furniture and home décor retail outlets are also in the final stages of construction.
BCA has already secured leasing agreements with a number of major local, regional and global businesses, such as, Dragon Mart, Qatar’s first Chinese product market; International Islamic, 30 high quality furniture outlets, automotive groups, such as, Al Muftah, and almost 25 building materials suppliers.
Additionally, almost 50 memoranda of understanding have been signed with a number of leading companies, it said, adding “there is a growing demand for retail and residential space on the project and negotiations are well under way to include a number of additional well-known names to the retail mix.”