Mr. Mowafaq Kharbat, Project Director of Urbacon Trading and Contracting, confirmed that work has resumed after an accidental fire broke out at around 2.30pm on April 2. Safety engineers were alerted immediately which prompted the safe evacuation of 14,000 workers and staff on site, and in adjacent buildings.

Official authorities were informed, which led to the civil defense team, traffic department, Al Fazaa road police and the Lekhwiya internal security forces to deploy their teams.The fire was successfully put out and there were no casualties. “We are thankful that no one was harmed and our priority right now is to continue construction work and carry on with retail fit outs within the mall. We would like to express our gratitude to the authorities for their immediate and professional support to ensure the safety of everyone on the site and to contain the fire,” Stated Mowafaq Kharbat. “UCC has a comprehensive operations risk plan that gets reviewed regularly and also implements stringent safety precautions on a daily basis, this was expertly put into action during this incident,” he added.

Pending an investigation by the related authorities and for the official outcome of their enquiries, the cause of the fire is still unknown at this stage. When complete, Mall of Qatar, will be the nation’s largest mall, with over 500 stores, including over 100 food and beverage outlets and fine dining options. It will offer visitors a wide selection of major international brands, a 5 star luxury hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, and an impressive array of unique family and mall-wide live entertainment and the first professional live theatre in a mall in the world with 360 degree acts and shows performed on the multi-lift rotating Festival Stage with theatrical sound and lighting.

As a partner of the International New York Times’ Luxury Conference 2016, Mall of Qatar established itself as a luxury and leisure destination that bridges the gap between East and West.

Held on April 5^th& 6^th at Waldorf Astoria-owned Hotel Trianon Palace in Versailles, France, the international conference “Luxury Beyond Product” brought together global luxury industry leaders that include MarcoBizzarri, CEO of Gucci, Maureen Chiquet, former global CEO of Chanel, Richard Mille founder of the luxury watchmaker brand Richard Mille, John Demsey, Executive Group President, The Estee Lauder Companies and Michael Kowalski, Chairman of the board, Tiffany & Co to name a few.

Rony Mourani, General Manager of Mall of Qatar, reported that today luxury experiences areas important as luxury products:“It is essential to share new ideas and fresh perspectives on emerging trends impacting the luxury industry, by partnering with luxury industry leaders Mall of Qatar validates the luxury and leisure experiences in the region.”

Further adding, “Mall of Qatar by design is luxurious and this filters through to each and every detail within the mall. After analysing that luxury shoppers maintained a strong association between shopping and leisure in a retail environment, our vision was to offer a luxurious entertainment destination that will host the world's first live entertainment resident troupe in a mall that will positively transform luxury and leisure experiences on offer in Qatar.” With extensive natural sky lighting across the vast space, Mall of Qatar will offer visitors a wide selection of major international brands, over 100 food and beverage outlets and fine dining options, a 5-star luxury hotel - part of the Curio Collection by Hilton - and an impressive array of unique entertainment experiences.

Now in its 15th year, this year’s conference was hosted and moderated by New York Times fashion director Vanessa Friedman. Attendees of the luxury conference were also delighted to visit the Chateau de Versailles, where a prestigious gala dinner was held at La Gallerie des Batailles hosted by the jeweller and watchmaker Chopard.

With its commitment to providing visitors and residents of Qatar an unparalleled shopping experience, the Mall of Qatar is bringing some of the world’s foremost food and beverage (F&B) brands under one roof. From cafes, fast to casual to fine dining, more than 100 F&B outlets will make their presence felt when Mall of Qatar opens its doors in the latter part of 2016. It will have the largest and most extensive food and beverage offers in a mall across the region. Representing 30% of the mall F&B outlets, the new entrants in the Qatar market will include Cheesecake Factory, Babel, Eataly, Greek Fresh, New York Fries, Sazeli, Texas Roadhouse, TWG Tea Salon & Boutique and Zafran.

A selection of fine dining restaurants and the world class food pavilion have strategically been located overlooking the Oasis that will feature live shows by the resident troupe. Visitors can experience a multi-sensory dining encounter while relaxing in front of the interactive dancing fountains and enjoying the entertainment with friends or families. The Oasis has a capacity to seat around 2,600 people in addition to over 4,500 people standing around the stage on both levels.

“At Mall of Qatar we actively thought about what Qatar needed and then designed and re-designed our space to excite, thrill, and engage; a place where people can find their own oasis. We thought about the choices our visitors would want and we believe we have catered to all tastes within the food pavilion" stated Rony Mourani, General Manager, Mall of Qatar. "Tapping into new eating and leisure trends, we decided early on that we wanted a gathering place to captivate our visitors. Our vision was to bring together a community of all nationalities, and to become the destination in Qatar," he added.

Mall of Qatar has also gone the extra mile to bring in the finest culinary sensations from the four corners of the globe. International flavours surround the Oasis on two levels that include La Casa Twenty Eight, Shake Shack, Debs w Reman, Carluccio's, Uno Chicago Grill, Dip N Dip, Royal Tandoor, Hasan Kolcuoglu and Si El Sayed Restaurant. Whether it is local, Continental, Mediterranean, Asian or a variety of international cuisine, Mall of Qatar will serve up the most diverse taste sensations to suit every unique visitor that arrives. Furthermore, globally acclaimed cafes like Godiva, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks, Café Bazza, Paul Café and Mokarabia will cater to the taste buds of all ages.

Expected to receive a footfall of 20 million customers annually, the Mall of Qatar includes 7,000 underground and surface car parking spaces, 500 shops including over 100 F&B restaurants and a 19 screen Cineplex including a superior 3D IMAX screen, and a 5-star 200 bedroom luxury and fashion hotel operated by Curio Collection from Hilton.

Mall of Qatar has signed an agreement with Doha-based Abu Issa Holding, a leading business conglomerate. Under the deal, Abu Issa Holding will feature luxury fashion, watches, jewellery, perfumes, cosmetics, home fashion, home décor and travel gear.

A mix of more than 15 global brands that include Godiva Cafe, Yves Delorme, Hartmann, Samsonite, VoulezVous and Bugatti, among others. Not to mention Pari Gallery, which will feature over 450 international brands across cosmetics, watches, jewellery and fashion accessories including leather goods, ladies’ shoes, and eyewear. Further, Karisma Cosmetics will bring forth a hip trendy concept targeting a younger audience of girls and women from 15 to 25 displaying designer cosmetics, fragrances, and accessories.

Travel department store Mosafer will feature a full selection of luggage and travel accessories brands catered to jet-setters, business travellers and families. The Abu Issa own-concept is the first of Qatari retail businesses to open a flagship most recently in New York City, with Mall of Qatar a milestone in its continued expansion, and Turkey and South Africa scheduled by the end of 2016. Speaking on the occasion, RonyMourani, General Manager of Mall of Qatar, stated, “In line with our promise to house top brands that will add real value to Mall of Qatar and will offer a unique experience to shoppers, we have signed an agreement with Abu Issa Holding, that will feature retail luxury goods and fashion brands across their outlets."

Nabil Abu Issa, Vice Chairman, Abu Issa Holding, said: “Mall of Qatar is aspiring to create the finest customer experience in the country, and we are glad to have formed an association with them with this agreement. Once ready, Mall of Qatar will boast of one of the world’s best infrastructures and road networks. The mall will also provide the most user-friendly access and the best parking experience in Qatar, as well as being directly linked to the Doha Metro and adjacent to Al Rayyan metro station. This will ensure a high frequency client base and a lifestyle brand of the future, representative of the citizens of Qatar.”

“Also, the layout of the mall is exceptionally well designed. The typical race track bodes well for all store locations in terms of customer circulation and ease of shopping for all patrons.  In addition, the management of the mall and ongoing events planned will position and sustain its development as one of the best malls in the region,” added Mr. Nabil Abu Issa. Expected to receive a footfall of 20 million customers annually, the Mall of Qatar includes 7,000 underground and surface car parking spaces, 500 shops including over 100 F&B restaurants and 19 screen Cineplex including a superior 3D IMAX screen, and Al Rayyan 5-star 200 bedroom luxury and fashion hotel operated by Curio, a Collection by Hilton.

Mall of Qatar (MOQ), the soon-to-be-opened premier shopping destination in Doha, organised on May 31^sta welcome aboard event for all major anchor retailers and future tenants. Besides setting a new standard in both mall design and entertainment, this milestone event showcased MOQ at an advanced stage of completion with a site tour that detailed the readiness to the retailers. In fact, it marked the beginning of the countdown with over 100 retailers already shop fitting, with over 200 more expected to start fit out in the coming few weeks.

At the outset, Mr. Ahmed Al Mulla, CEO of Mall of Qatar extended a warm welcome to the gathering and talked about the uniqueness of the mall that is all set to transform the consumer experience: “The nation’s mall will be a jewel in Qatar’s National Vision 2030, a super-regional mall that will be placed on the world tourism map. The Mall of Qatar management is committed to this vision and to build and maintain strong leadership in order to meet our partners and customers’ expectations.”

Standing on stage Naomi Sargeant, Marketing Director of Mall of Qatar, stated: “Today marks the beginning of our journey to share with you the vision, mission, brand story, and messages we’ve created that will be our promise to deliver to the consumers’ needs and hopes. This is just the beginning of our journey… hereafter, we will endeavour to ensure that we keep raising the bar and bring you the trendiest, most enjoyable and exhilarating experiences in Qatar, here at MOQ.”

Rony Mourani, General Manager of Mall of Qatar, added: “We are gathered here because we all have one thing in common: an absolute mission to build together a great new retail and leisure destination in Qatar. Without you, the retailers, we stand alone in a building. Our job now is to bring these walls to life, to create a great experience that our customers will tell each other about. Consumers will not connect with us unless we can fulfill that promise and give them what they need and aspire for.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shem Krey, Managing Director of Mall of Qatar said: “The business of being a mall operator is about bringing the retailer and the consumer together.Our vision is to become a landmark within Qatar and the region… to become a destination and an attraction that draws visitors over and over again.” “We promised to deliver more than just a mall to our retailers, and to date we have achieved this, now we hand over the mall to our partners and open our doors to join them to our journey, to speed up the fit out stage, and to ensure our opening date of October 29^th is achieved together.” he concluded.

To further emphasise this point, MOQ featured several entertainment shows. Guests were transported into another dimension, as MOQ depicted a new level ofcompletion.They were drawn to six different freestanding doors which were a direct referral to each coloured jewel found in the MOQ logo, lit throughout the room, each accompanied by individual actors themed as the ambassadors of MOQ - styled and characterised to a new level of fashion, marrying local touches with international flair.

For ‘The Opening Act’, guests were treated to a new ecosystem of entertainment and experiences in an atmosphere that utilised the dynamics of acrobatics - dance - and vocalists. The finale, ‘Pulse’ a sneak peak of one of the MOQ Live shows with the sound of drum beats, rhythm, acrobatic duo straps, dance and incredible vocal pieces, left the guests with a sense of awe and excitement. Later in the evening, Ahmed Al Mulla, Shem Krey, Rony Mourani along with Moutaz Al Khayyat, Chairman of the Board and President of UCCHolding, and Ramez Al Khayyat, CEO and Group Vice President of UCC Holding, presented the ‘Welcome Aboard’ trophies to all brand operators who posed on stage for the MOQ Family photo.

Opening October 29^th 2016, Mall of Qatar, spread over 5.4 million square feet with over 500 retail shops, is setting new super regional mall standards.  Mall of Qatar will be an entertainment destination premiering the world’s first resident troupe, performing mall wide entertainment and custom developed live shows on a 360 degree multi-lift rotating festival stage with theatrical sound and lighting and animated water features.

Situated next to the award winning Al Rayyan FIFA 2022 stadium, Mall of Qatar will be offering visitors 500 outlets including over 100 food and beverage outlets as well as a 5 star luxury hotel, part of Curio, a Collection by Hilton. The Mall’s 19-screen Cineplex will include the largest IMAX Laser 3D projection system in the world, 7 VIP screens on 3 levels, a 8 lane bowling alley and in-theatre gourmet food service.Within the 16,500 sq. mFamily Entertainment Complex, Kidzmondo and Xtremeland will provide multilevel entertainment for all.

Education has come a long way, evolving over the years. From the Development of Roman Schools, the era of Aristotle and Plato, the Age of Pericles and Socrates….And finally to the first known schools in the 21st Century, which marked the beginning of a new era of learning combined with technology, modernization and extra-curricular activities. KidzMondo pre-empted what lies ahead and wanted to prepare children for what the future holds. This thought process helped discover a new way of learning through play…Edutainment!

The concept of edutainment can be associated with education that dates back hundreds of years ago. The encouragement by Roman schools to study every subject including music, the primary age group of kids who began learning fell between 4-14 years and the early teachings that imparted knowledge through education and physical activities to stimulate brain and skill development, are some of the key parallels that can be drawn between the original education system and KidzMondo’s way of learning.

KidzMondo – the international edutainment indoor park for children, has kept its promise of arriving to Doha during the fourth quarter of this year, at the upcoming Mall of Qatar. The ground-breaking edutainment concept is a project driven by pedagogical fascination, focusing on academic benefits for children, while providing them with a mental and physical voyage of investigation, exploration, and adults’ role play. Through its upcoming indoor theme park at the Mall of Qatar, KidzMondo Doha will give children a chance to enact dream roles in the kid-sized city’s myriad establishments ranging from a barbershop, gas station and car wash, to an aircraft, driving institute, oil & gas refinery, and every other aspect of a real city.

The edutainment city is designed as an exact replica of the real world, complete with its own currency (Kidlar), constitution, economy, functioning infrastructure, and curricula that have been locally adapted to holistically educate children by developing their cognitive, emotional, psychomotor and social abilities. Mr. Nabil R. Barakat, General Manager, KidzMondo Doha said, “We are proud that the learning experiences at our facility have been meticulously designed to dovetail with Qatar National Vision 2030. It is an exciting time for us as we are inching closer to the grand opening”.

Through a different lens, the country’s national tourism strategy aims to place Qatar on the world tourism map and promote it as a quality destination for family entertainment, education and culture, where inventive and revolutionary concepts like KidzMondo Doha are also primed to play a leading role in enriching the peninsula’s tourism offering and adding to its appeal as a destination of choice. While family tourists usually explore its traditional souqs’ alleyways, state-of-the-art museums, and luxury retail outlets, parents visiting Qatar will soon have the opportunity to take their children on a fully immersive experience that unlocks their imagination, stimulates their senses and instills life-long lessons in their young minds, as they discover and appreciate the country’s rich culture, distinguished heritage and amazing potential.

KidzMondo Doha will span across a built up area of about 8000 m2, that will host more than 60 unique establishments and over 80 activities, realistically developed in partnership with leading brands in various fields and disciplines. The Mall of Qatar and thereby KidzMondo Doha will be connected to the future GCC Inter-rail system that will help drive footprints to the facility from Qatar as well as neighbouring countries. The indoor edutainment park aims to be one of the most visited family attractions in Qatar, with a vision to unlock children’s imagination and empower them with knowledge and life-lessons that help them become well-versed individuals, who can collectively imagine, define, and work towards creating a better future for themselves and their communities. 

Qatar’s economic diversification strategy continues to create foreign investment opportunities across its burgeoning retail market, despite the sustained low oil prices, according to Links Group, Qatar’s leading provider of commercial facilitation and advisory services.

According to Alpen Capital, the Qatari retail market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8 percent reaching $284.5 billion in 2018, the fastest in the GCC region. The government has ambitious plans to develop its retail landscape to meet the rising demand of the growing population’s high level of personal consumption. Key projects already underway include the Mall of Qatar, Doha Festival City and Place Vendome.

“The continued low oil price means the Qatari Government is seeing its state revenues decline. As such, the country is actively seeking foreign and private sector investment. The development of the retail sector will help to shore up its economy and presents excellent opportunities for foreign investors. In 2015, the country was ranked as the fourth most attractive retail market according to the Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), placing it first in the Middle East,” said John Martin St.Valery, Founding Partner, Links Group.

According to Links Group, recent government initiatives have already helped to pique investment interest among foreign companies. Plans to pass a law to in introduce the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) by the end of 2016 is believed to be a positive move which will likely attract further foreign investment.

“PPPs are seen as a feasible alternative to more traditional procurement models and will allow private investors to take stakes in projects along with the government, bearing part of the risk and sharing profits. Foreign companies must make sure they position themselves correctly via the most suitable means of incorporation to both capitalise on these opportunities, and safeguard their beneficial ownership interests,” added Martin St.Valery.

Commenting on the future of the retail sector in Qatar, Martin St.Valery added: “Qatar’s rapidly growing population, coupled with its strong purchasing power per capita are strong fundamentals driving the growth of the retail sector. The country’s affinity for luxury goods has already triggered entry plans by high-end retailers, and we expect more brands will follow suit given an additional  one million square metres of retail space is scheduled to come online in Doha in the coming years. Foreign investors definitely stand to gain from Qatar’s burgeoning retail market.” 

With the aim of underlining the importance of children safety and stimulating their aptitude for scientific discovery, KidzMondo Doha, Qatar’s one-of-a-kind miniature edutainment city, has partnered with Boecker®, the largest Public Health Company in the Middle East, to orient the indoor theme park visitors into the Pest Management world of Science.

KidzMondo’s latest partnership with Boecker® in Doha is consistent with the kid-sized city’s mission to contribute to children’s academic development, while providing them with a mental and physical voyage of investigation, exploration, and adults’ role play. Boecker® the exclusive public health provider of KidzMondo Doha safeguards the park from all kind of pests and microorganisms hazards, making it a protected environment for children to play safely. In addition, Boecker is making sure all food outlets at kidzmondo are following the local and international standards of Food Safety by providing Food Safety trainings to all food handlers and periodical audits through its QPA platinum award certificate assured by the CIEH- UK.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Nabil R. Barakat, General Manager of KidzMondo Doha said: “The introduction of Boecker® to Kidizens (visitors of KidzMondo) not only contributes to growing the number and scope of educational activities that they will be exposed to at KidzMondo Doha, but also helps children expand their horizon, while being actively involved in a unique pest management activity. We are really excited to have our young visitors develop their full spectrum of skills and abilities through our partnership with Boecker® and the plethora of other edutainment activities and establishments we’ve been developing with our trusted partners.”

On the occasion, Ms.Carla Ghaleb, Country Manager at Boecker® Qatar, said: “Our partnership with KidzMondo Doha is a strategic decision  as we actively collaborate in assuring  children’s safety and wellbeing in the park,providing  a protected environment free from all kind of  pests and disease causing germs through our certified services in pest management, food safety and biosecurity.

This important task is completed with Boecker® pavilion that we have meticulously crafted in a way that transports children into a world of scientific discovery in the world of entomology with Boecker® lab. The overall activity “injects” into children a clear sense of responsibility and team work as they give a hand in saving KidzMondo Doha from pests and germs hazards. Our children are our responsibility and we do take great pride in raising their awareness and hope that the Boecker®-KidzMondo experience will make a difference in their adulthood life.”

Thanks to its partnership with KidzMondo Doha, Boecker® will introduce the edutainment city’s patrons to the company’s methodologies and expertise in Pest Management, Food Safety and Biosecurity, as well as provide them with information about different types of insects, while training them on the most effective methods of treatment. Kids will also get a chance to visit specific designated areas in the theme park to help keep insects away from the city. 

Through its upcoming indoor theme park at the Mall of Qatar, KidzMondo Doha will give children a chance to act out dream roles in the kid-sized city’s myriad establishments ranging from a barbershop, gas station and car wash, to an aircraft, driving institute, oil & gas refinery, and everything in between. The edutainment city is designed as an exact replica of the real world, complete with its own currency (kidlar), constitution, economy, and functioning infrastructure, with curricula that have been locally adapted to educate children and enrich their experience by developing their cognitive, emotional, psychomotor and social abilities

Mall of Qatar and Landmark Group have signed an agreement that will see the leading retail and hospitality conglomerate introduce some of the world’s most beloved brands to Qatar, under one roof.

Landmark Group said its brand store fit-out processes are under way in preparation for the October 29 soft launch. The brands will enhance the mall as a shopping destination by offering trendy fashion apparel, sporting gear, footwear, beauty products and accessories for men, women and children. “We are delighted to announce that the Group stores will be ready to welcome visitors once we open and we look forward to hosting its brands at Mall of Qatar,” said Rony Mourani, General Manager of the mall. “Our aim is to create a super-regional shopping mall that will find its place in the league of the superlative shopping malls of the region.”

Santosh Pai, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group Qatar, said, “The mall will be a significant addition to the country’s retail landscape and we are delighted to be one of its anchor tenants. We are certain that tourists and residents will delight in the concepts we will introduce from October 29.” The Group will showcase 19 of its core brands, including Centrepoint, Max Fashion, Iconic, Reiss, New Look, Koton, Steve Madden, Carpisa, Ecco, Kurt Geiger, Pablosky, Emax, Candelite, Shoexpress, the group’s newest home-grown brand, SportsOne, as well as a new fashion brand in Qatar Lipsy. It will also introduce fresh new offerings in casual and fast casual dining, with award-winning brands such as Zafran, Carluccios and GRK- Fresh Greek.

The mall will capture the imagination of the nation as it opens the doors to its 500,000sqm innovative shopping concept with top-notch recreation and leisure options. The destination will premiere the world’s first resident troupe — offering mall-wide entertainment with 52 weeks of spectacular headline shows on a 360-degree custom developed revolving stage, as well as a multilevel Family Entertainment Complex integrating an international edutainment concept with advanced gaming machines and enthralling rides.

The mall’s experience completes with a 19-screen Cineplex inclusive of IMAX’s revolutionary laser projection and 12 channel immersive sound system on the region’s largest screen. The cinema will feature the latest 4D projection technology screen, seven VIP screens, an eight-lane bowling alley and in-theatre gourmet food services.

source: The Peninsula

ELAN Media, the media arm of ELAN Group is proud to announce that they entered a multi-year strategic partnership that makes them the exclusive media representative for Mall of Qatar (MOQ).

Under this new partnership agreement, ELAN Media will manage and drive the full range of Mall of Qatar’s media portfolio whilst delivering a wealth of tailored creative advertising strategies that have become synonymous with ELAN Media and made it the market leader in media innovation and advertising solutions.

As a part of their strategy, ELAN Media will be expanding its portfolio of high value and high impact advertising assets and will be introducing cutting edge digital advertising technology. They will also unveil two new iconic sites. ELAN media will create a personalized media mix across a spectrum of Mall of Qatar’s media channels. The idea behind this creative approach is to leverage the mall’s advertising with the optimal reach and positioning that will resonate with visitors. ELAN Media will build upon the Mall of Qatar’s commitment to providing a retail experience that has never been seen in Doha by offering world-class shopping and hospitality that is second to none.

Commenting on this new alliance, Mr. Rony Mourani, the General Manager for Mall of Qatar said: “This initiative with ELAN Media will not only elevate the advertising impact for our portfolio of clients and tenants, it will further enhance the shopping and entertainment experience for our visitors and provide a rich media landscape for a wide array of businesses to showcase their products and services. We are confident that the MOQ alliance with ELAN Media will help drive our mandate of being not just another shopping mall in Doha.  We aim to offer a dramatically different shopping experience in Qatar, while transforming the way visitors engage with malls. Through our partnership with ELAN Media, we are one step closer to realizing this mission.”

Mr. Jamie Ball, Chief Operating Officer at ELAN Media said: “Mall of Qatar will be an iconic shopping destination in the region and provide some of the best advertising opportunities for brands in Qatar. This agreement with Mall of Qatar underscores the solid reputation and the trust that ELAN Media has earned in the media and advertising industry by continuously delivering an excellent service to our clients and partners.”

He added: “We worked closely with Mall of Qatar for several months to identify the best locations for the advertising assets in and around the mall. Then, we spent time optimizing those assets to deliver the highest reach and impact to brands whilst contributing to create a memorable shopping experience for visitors. In particular, the super-sized 72sqm Iconic digital screens, and the 9sqm digital pillars in the food court area will offer a spectacular creative experience. It is an exciting opportunity and we are looking forward to seeing the first advertisements running in the Mall.”

ELAN Media is a regional leader in media and entertainment services and brings more than a decade of regional experience and global expertise to Qatar. Once launched, Mall of Qatar promises to be one of the foremost retail establishments and family entertainment centers in the country and the region with over 400 brand name shops, more than 100 restaurants and eateries and a 19-screen multiplex cinema.

For all enquiries about advertising in the Mall of Qatar, please email digitalsales@elan.qa.

International retail franchise operator M.H. Alshaya Co. is preparing to open 32 brands at the prestigious new Mall of Qatar – including eight brands that will be making their debut appearance in Qatar. The Mall, a major new retail, leisure and entertainment venue in Al Rayyan, opens for trading in the coming weeks.

The brands opening for the first time in Qatar include The Cheesecake Factory, Victoria’s Secret, Texas Roadhouse, Le Pain Quotidien, Bridgewater Chocolate, Phase Eight, Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids. They will join a stellar line-up of some of the world’s best-loved brands at the Mall, including Starbucks, H&M, Mothercare, Debenhams, The Body Shop and Boots.

“Alshaya’s strong presence at Mall of Qatar is a strong signal of our commitment to the Qatar market, which forms an important part of our ongoing growth plans across the Middle East,” said Alshaya’s Senior Vice-President for Property Development, John Hadden. “We’re continually looking for opportunities to introduce our portfolio of well-loved international brands to our customers in our core markets, and the scale and vision of the Mall of Qatar gives us a great opportunity to extend the shopping and dining choices available to discerning, brand-savvy consumers in Qatar."

Alshaya already operates more than 100 stores in Qatar, across retail sectors that include fashion & footwear, food, health & beauty, pharmacy, optics and home furnishings. The opening of 32 brands at Mall of Qatar represents Alshaya’s single biggest opening in the country.

The complete list of brands being opened by Alshaya at Mall of Qatar is:

The Public Works Authority of Qatar ‘Ashghal’ has today announced the completion of approximately 95% of the Dukhan Highway Central project. The project, which forms part of Ashghal’s Expressway Programme, is expected to be complete in Q1 2017 and will establish a 15 kilometre strategic link from the west of Doha to Al Sheehaniya and other key future public venues and residential areas.

Ashghal achieved this significant construction milestone through the completion of a 1.5 kilometre tunnel, a 2.2 kilometre extension of Al Rufaa Street and other flyovers and local link roads. The tunnel, flyovers and local link roads will be open to traffic on Friday 9 December 2016. The tunnel will provide an underground route that extends from the Mall of Qatar to the Dukhan Highway, facilitating a free-flowing one way route underneath the Al Jahhaniya Interchange that will enable local and recreational road users to seamlessly reconnect with traffic heading towards Doha.

The tunnel is comprised of 34 structural units, with sophisticated mechanical and electrical equipment, including a central control room which will monitor the operation of the roadway on a 24 hour basis, ensuring the safety and protection of road users. The Public Works Authority has also constructed parallel internal corridors to provide an emergency passage for pedestrians, and powerful ventilation systems to ensure that the tunnel has sufficient air levels at all times. Ashghal began excavating land for the 1.5 kilometre tunnel in 2014, moving over 450,000 cubic metres of material to enable the construction of the tunnel itself. Approximately 125,000 cubic metres of concrete and close to 10,000 tonnes of asphalt were utilised to build the efficient new transport route.

The completion of the tunnel is one of several milestones achieved on the Dukhan Highway Central project in the past month, with the project team completing a 2.2 kilometre extension of Al Rufaa Street and multiple link roads and flyovers connecting to and from the Dukhan Highway. The extension of Al Rufaa Street will create direct access points for road users to and from North Road to Doha, providing two lanes in each direction and enhancing mobility to key public venues, including the Al Rufaa Celebration Hall Complex. The project is being constructed by a joint venture contractor Consolidated Contractors Group and Teyseer, with WS Atkins & Partners Overseas serving as the supervision consultant.

Mall of Qatar, brand new shopping concept with 500,000 sq. m of innovative shopping, top-notch recreation and remarkable leisure options, has officially opened its doors to the public. On December 10, 2016, Mall of Qatar welcomed a slew of visitors who came to experience its offerings during the soft opening. 

Media personnel were among the first to be welcomed by Mall management, who held a special breakfast for them at AlRayyan Hotel, before embarking on a tour of the premises and its anchor tenants including beauty, fashion, department stores, homeware, and restaurants. Speaking about the first official day at Mall of Qatar, Ahmed Al Mulla, CEO, said: “After working towards a goal for many years, seeing it come to life is one of the most incredible experiences – and I am grateful to the entire team responsible for this momentous occasion. Mall of Qatar marks a new era of shopping in Qatar- merging shopping and entertainment at our regional super mall.”

“We are pleased to announce that the Mall is 99% leased- and 92% are currently in the fit-out phase. We are opening over 220 stores on our first day, which is 60% of the gross leasable area,” Al Mulla Added At Mall of Qatar, MOQ Live, a free entertainment program will take visitors on an incredible adventure on the world’s first 360-degree in mall revolving stage. The stage is located at MOQ`s dazzling Oasis, a 5,000 sq. m lush, green, landscaped entertainment arena featuring dancing interactive fountains and waterfalls and hosting all year long shows.

Al Mulla concluded : “Mall culture plays a large role in Middle Eastern, and especially GCC society. We are pushing the boundaries and elevating the Mall experience with our brand new, and innovative offering. Today, we are setting super-regional standards for shopping malls, and bringing the concept of retailtainment to life.” The media expressed their delight at the Mall offerings during their tour of the retail outlets culminating in a delightful experience at NOVO Cinema, Xtremeland and a lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.

Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, announced the introduction of a lifestyle hypermarket by Carrefour Qatar, a first-of-its-kind concept for the brand in the Middle East. The hypermarket located at Mall of Qatar is now open for shoppers.

This new lifestyle concept, which has been built to resemble a village market, and features a complete redesign of the traditional hypermarkets for Carrefour, is in line with Carrefour Qatar’s continuing diversification of its offering for both long-term and new customers alike. Laurent Hausknecht, Country Head for Carrefour Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, at Majid Al Futtaim Retail said: “Carrefour Qatar has established a strong foothold in Qatar since entering the market 16 years ago. We are excited about the launch of the new hypermarket, which will bring a standout lifestyle concept to the Qatari market while introducing an innovative hypermarket layout at the new Mall of Qatar location.

“The opening of this new hypermarket marks a significant development in the evolution of the Carrefour brand in the region, as we have placed a greater emphasis on the working environment, aesthetics and technology that has been used. As always, Carrefour looks forward to providing the people of Qatar with great moments at its stores through best services, finest products and produce, all in one hypermarket,” continued Laurent Hausknecht. Carrefour Qatar has multiple concepts under its umbrella including hypermarkets and supermarkets in addition to its unique lifestyle concept at Mall of Qatar. The brand currently operates three hypermarkets at Villaggio, Landmark Mall and City Center Doha Mall, as well as three supermarkets that are conveniently located at Dar Al Salam Mall, Lagoona Mall and Ezdan Mall.

Carrefour will continue to offer a vast array of over 50,000 products and brands at both its hypermarkets and supermarkets, rightfully cementing its place as the most vibrant and sophisticated commercial chain in Qatar and the region. Carrefour Qatar has had a successful 2016 following its 16th anniversary celebrations during which it launched a number of special offers, promotions and awards, and in-store activities to mark this momentous occasion and reward its returning customers as well as new ones with attractive offers and discounts across selected items. 

Following the success of its outlets in UAE and Kuwait, the award-winning contemporary Indian restaurant Zafran is now open at the exciting new retail destination Mall of Qatar in Doha.

This highly-acclaimed bistro specializes in North-west Indian cuisine and has established very strong credentials in the region. From its smooth and inviting ambience and friendly and engaging service to a menu created using the finest ingredients, all these elements combine to make for an unforgettable experience. Led by a team of highly skilled and experienced chefs, Zafran’s menu celebrates the subtle and complex flavors of the region, yet remains light on the stomach.

From Tandoori kebabs and wholesome curries to regional favorites such as Laal Maas and Rogan Josh, fragrant biryanis and signature dishes like Aloo tikkia and Butter chicken, each dish is distinctive and perfectly complimented with homemade pickles and preserves and a range of signature drinks and desserts with their own distinctive Zafran flair. Highlighting the restaurant’s unique approach Rakshak Puri, General Manager – Asian Dining at Foodmark says, “The founding principal of Zafran is ‘Big heart- Light touch’ and every aspect of the restaurant stays true to this promise. Our menu delights but doesn’t overwhelm and the engaging table service and personalized attention warms your heart and leaves you wanting more.”

Added entertainment is provided by the ‘wow’ kitchen, a signature element of the restaurant allowing guests to really experience a true taste of Zafran as they witness chefs engaging in the preparation of their food. “With Qatar increasingly on the regional and global map and going all out in the run up to hosting the 2022 Football World Cup, it seemed the right time to make our presence felt and be integral to the preparations for such a big event, not to mention continue our ambitious expansion in the region,” said Richard Barclay, COO Foodmark.

“An edge in quality and price is what sets us apart from the competition in Qatar not to mention a wealth of experience in what the discerning diner is looking for when it comes to Indian cuisine. Be it authenticity, exceptional value or outstanding customer service, we are truly setting the benchmark,” he added. The restaurant is open to guests for lunch as well as dinner from 11 am – 11 pm on weekdays and 11am – 12 am on weekends. To make a reservation please call 50248181.

For added convenience Zafran offers a take-out service with the delivery option coming soon.

Qatar is set to launch a new shopping festival in January, targeting regional visitors from the UAE, which forms the second largest source market for the country.

Under the slogan A Brand New Tradition, the first edition of Shop Qatar will start on January 7 with discounts on popular brands, cash prizes worth up to QR4 million, a schedule of entertainment featuring Cats the Broadway musical, live music concerts and 15 stand-up comedy acts. The festival, which will run until February 7, was announced by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and festival partners including Mall of Qatar, Qatar Airways and Ezdan World. Substantial growth was evident in the number of Emirati visitors to Qatar in the first three quarters of 2016, up 17 percent compared to the same period of 2016. Up to the end of November, Qatar received 109,983 visitors who are UAE nationals.

A statement said that retail outlets around the country will be providing discounts of up to 50 percent on a range of consumer goods including clothes, electronics, cosmetics and accessories for men, women and children. In addition to Mall of Qatar, which opened last week to become the largest shopping and entertainment hub in the nation, participating malls include Ezdan Mall, Hyatt Plaza, AlKhor Mall, Lagoona Mall, Gulf Mall, Landmark, Dar Al Salam Mall, The Gate and The Pearl-Qatar. Rashed Al Qurese, chief marketing and promotion officer at QTA, said: “Shop Qatar will shed light on this rich offering and celebrate it with Qatar’s residents and visitors.

“Based on the increases in visitor arrivals during the months that have coincided with other tourism festivals, we anticipate that a festival during the winter months has an even bigger chance of attracting visitors, due to the offering combined with Qatar’s great winter weather. "Shop Qatar is also timed to fall within mid-year holidays for potential visitors in neighbouring countries, which are our largest source markets.” Organisers also confirmed that Shop Qatar will offer an array of entertainment including Cats, the longest-running show on Broadway, which will run from February 1-4 at Qatar National Convention Centre. The Doha Comedy Festival will be returning with a line up of Khaliji, Arab, and international comedians.

source: Arabian Business

Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia today announced the opening of Carrefour hypermarket as a key anchor store in Mall of Qatar. The store spans a total covered area of 14,000 square metres and will be the largest Carrefour store in Qatar.

The opening ceremony was attended by Majid Al Futtaim Retail’s regional management team, including Younis Al Mulla, Senior Vice President - Development and Government Affairs at Carrefour; Herve Majidier, Executive Regional Director - Qatar, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait at Carrefour; and Laurent Hausknecht , Country Head for Carrefour Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait at Majid Al Futtaim.

Commenting on the new store, Hausknecht said: “Carrefour Qatar has established a strong foothold in Qatar since entering the market 16 years ago. The opening of this new hypermarket marks a significant development in the evolution of the Carrefour brand in the region. The new store, which is the largest at Mall of Qatar, will offer Qatari shoppers unbeatable value for money and an unparalleled array of products, creating a unique shopping experience. “The Carrefour brand has grown significantly in this region thanks to consistently offering the highest quality, most diverse range of products, at the most competitive prices. We are committed to growing our footprint in Qatar and delighted to have chosen Mall of Qatar as the location to open our fourth hypermarket store in Doha. The store will offer a distinctive retail environment that encourages families to shop for every household need, dine and play within a state-of-the-art development,” Hausknecht added.

The new Carrefour outlet has a traditional Arabian-style souk theme, with specialised sections offering specific types of product, each housed in indoor alleys. The store also has indoor trees, traditional tiled flooring, colourful shelters and stone linings on walls. Mall of Qatar is set to be a landmark retail development for the country, located in the heart of a major new development area 20 minutes from the centre of Doha city. The area will see 10,000 new villas being built, alongside the new Metro line as well as regional rail links and improved highway connections to the centre of Doha.

Carrefour Qatar has multiple stores under its umbrella including three hypermarkets at Villaggio, Landmark Mall and City Center Doha Mall. It also operates three supermarkets that are conveniently located at Dar Al Salam Mall, Lagoona Mall and Ezdan Mall. Carrefour offers a vast array of over 50,000 products and brands at both its hypermarkets and supermarkets, cementing its place as the most vibrant and sophisticated commercial chain in Qatar and the region. 

Samsung has opened its first brand shop in Qatar at the newly opened Mall of Qatar, the largest mall in the country. In collaboration with local partner Techno Blue, the brand shop that spans 345 sq. m offers Samsung’s extensive product portfolio including smartphones, tablets, accessories, wearables, smart TVs, home appliances, printers and monitors and also after sales services.

The store will also have a dedicated virtual reality (VR) zone with 4D motion chairs where customers can enjoy a variety of content that showcases the abilities of the Gear VR. The Gear VR is part of Samsung’s growing mobile ecosystem, currently centered around the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.

The latest range of consumer electronics, including SUHD TVs featuring Quantum Dot technology, Twin Cooling Plus refrigerators and AddWash washing machines will also be on display at the store. Ismail Yoon, President at Samsung Gulf Electronics commented, “Qatar is very important to us due to its buzzing consumer electronics and smartphone market. Our customer base here has also been among the most loyal. They are particularly keen to equip themselves with the latest technology innovations. Catering to their growing needs, with several dedicated spaces for product demonstrations, our new brand store will set a new benchmark in retail experience.”

Nabil A.R. Abu Issa, Chairman, Techno Blue added, “Our long term partnership with Samsung has gone from strength to strength. We are delighted to be part of delivering the highest quality brand experience to consumers in Qatar in the specially created environment that the new brand store represents.” Samsung has as many as 27 brand shops in the Gulf region. The Mall of Qatar that houses Qatar’s first Samsung brand store is a project worth over QAR 5.4 billion, situated near the Al Rayyan FIFA 2022 stadium, with over 500 varied retail, dining and café options, and a five-star hotel.

The Azadea Group, one of the leading lifestyle retailer operators in the region, has opened the first ever Eataly in Qatar, within the new Mall of Qatar development. The opening, one of several planned for the brand in the Middle East, comes after three incredibly successful years for Eataly in the UAE, and a recent expansion into KSA.

Azadea Group CEO Said G. Daher said: “We are extremely excited about introducing our very first Eataly in Qatar; its unique concept will offer a whole new lifestyle experience to guests within a fully-fledged Italian atmosphere”. Daher also added: “Overall, we strongly believe that this new launch will only bring forth great outcomes and strengthen our positioning in Qatar, especially through the Mall of Qatar.”

Eataly was first introduced in the Middle East through Azadea Group which brings over 55 brands and international concepts from around the world to the Middle East and Africa. Qatar’s growing F&B scene, with international and home-grown brands opening across the capital, made Doha and Mall of Qatar a logical next step for Eataly’s expanding portfolio. Commenting on the opening, Luca Baffigo Filangieri, Eataly CEO said: “The new outlet will be our fourth location in the Middle East and we have been delighted with the success of the brand in the region to date. Eataly, with its unique approach to celebrating and educating consumers about Italian food, is the ideal fit for the Qatari market and its consumers, who are becoming ever-more sophisticated and nuanced with their food choices.”

Filangieri explained: “Eataly’s emphasis on providing consumers with the true taste of Italy, has resulted in worldwide success and recognition. Since its inception in 2007 in Torino Italy, the brand is now a global powerhouse, with outlets in major cities across four continents, including New York, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Dubai and Munich.” Just like other Eataly locations across Europe and the US, the new Mall of Qatar store is designed to encourage consumers to explore and discover new dishes and tastes. Eight stand-alone food stations are manned by expert chefs in their fields, each of whom are well versed in the traditional methods of creating authentic Italian fare.

Setting it apart from competitors is Eataly’s unique in-restaurant market, where customers can purchase signature products from across every region of Italy such as Afeltra pasta, Antonella tomato sauce, pesto from Niasca Portofino, gluten-free pasta and an exceptional assortment of sweets, biscuits, torrone and chocolate.

Eataly is located in Mall of Qatar – Entertainment arena, Ground Floor

Bridgewater Chocolate, the award-winning American chocolate brand, has made its debut in Qatar with the opening of its store at The Mall of Qatar in Doha. The store is Bridgewater Chocolate’s second in the Middle East, following the opening of its first store in Kuwait last year.

Established in 1995 in in the town of Bridgewater, Connecticut, by Swedish chef Erik Landegren, Bridgewater Chocolate creates exquisite chocolates made with the finest ingredients. The company’s operations are managed by Andrew Blauner, who joined the company in 1999 to oversee its growth. “Customers in Qatar share our passion for taste and quality. We take great pride in handcrafting each and every item, which results in a unique and delicious chocolate. We’re extremely excited to introduce our brand and product range to this, and we look forward to our customers in Qatar falling in love with Bridgewater Chocolate,” said Mr. Landegren.

Hand-crafted, hand-drizzled, and hand-packed, each chocolate is a creation of American-style, European quality and fresh ingredients, where no two chocolates are the same. The Bridgewater Chocolate range includes a variety of delicious treats, including chewy caramels wrapped around a selection of nuts, a mix of milk and dark chocolates, buttery toffees and fruit-based products to pleasure those with tropical taste buds. With a range of sizes from small tins, cubes, chocolate bars, and gift favors to an extra-large assortment box made up of 108 hand-decorated and individually packed pieces, Bridgewater Chocolate is perfect for every occasion. Bridgewater Chocolate can also provide customized messages with printed inserts to add a special touch to corporate gifts, and cherished occasions like weddings, birthdays and baby showers.

To find out more about Bridgewater Chocolate and to stay up-to-date with the latest products and news, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @BridgewaterChocolateME. For enquiries, call (+974) 4452 9039.