Dignitaries viewing a model of the Katara Plaza project yesterday. Katara Plaza, Qatar’s first “open-air, air-conditioned” commercial plaza, will open in September next year across a 38,000sqm area in Katara, the Cultural Village. Promised to offer a “unique world-class shopping experience”, Katara Plaza is to be operated by Ali Bin Ali Group which has signed an agreement with Katara. Katara Plaza will have the French department store Galeries Lafayette as anchor tenant, Middle East’s first evian Spa and a dedicated children’s mall. The project will “offer a relaxed atmosphere and designated spaces for shoppers, featuring some of the most famous brands in the world, along with recreational experiences, in line with culture and entertainment”. Katara Plaza is to have a “pioneering”, air-conditioned and open space that provides year-round comfort utilising a state-of-the-art system that uses the latest ground cooling technology, thereby presenting a perfect blend of artistic architecture, innovation and maximum comfort. PICTURE: Najeer Feroke.