Phase 4 of the Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) mixed-use project is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, according to an official of Qatar’s sustainable properties developer, Msheireb Properties.
“The remaining work of the project is Phase 4, which included the redesign work to accommodate the Doha Metro rail station underneath; we are targeting to finish Phase 4 by the end of this year,” Mohamed Essa al-Boainain, acting chief officer - Design and Delivery, told Gulf Times on the sidelines of a recently-held signing ceremony.
“Overall, the development in Msheireb is mixed-use, which comprises residential units, commercial offices, retail, hotels and serviced apartments, and a small mall, among others,” al-Boainain continued.
Explaining the four phases of the MDD mixed-use project, al-Boainain said Phase 1 was divided into three sub-phases; Phase 1A, which was completed in 2014, consists of the Emiri Diwan Quarter (Diwan Annex, Emiri Guard, and National Archive), four ‘Heritage Houses,’ mosque, district cooling plant, substations, and service corridors.
“Phase 1B and Phase 1C were already completed three months ago and consist of residential units, commercial offices, hotel, and retail, among others. Phases 2 and 3 are also finished and completed; Phase 2 has Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery, while Phase 3 has Park Hyatt Doha and Phase 1b has the Mandarin Oriental, Doha,” al-Boainain noted.
He also said some retail outlets inside MDD have been opened and that some families are already occupying units in the residential building. “We have around 80 families living in Msheireb,” he pointed out.
Once completed, al-Boainain said the residential area is expected to accommodate around 2,000 to 2,500 people, while the workers would be around 12,000; Msheireb is expected to accommodate 50,000 visitors per day, he continued.
“For workers, Msheireb has 17 towers with a gross floor area of 240,000sq m for rent. Underneath Msheireb is a spacious parking area that is expected to accommodate 10,000 vehicles,” al-Boainain said.
He emphasised that people “can live and work at Msheireb at the same time,” adding that not only is the area a smart city but also LEED-certified. With “around 100 buildings” inside MDD, al-Boainain said “at least 20 buildings are LEED Platinum certified, while the remaining buildings are certified as LEED Gold.”
Asked about the plan of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) to relocate to Msheireb, al-Boainain said “the building was already identified and is ready to be occupied.”