Msheireb Downtown Doha project makes rapid progress

Construction work on Phase 1 to 3 of the Msheireb Downtown Doha project is now 80% complete, a senior official has said.Speaking on the sidelines of a joint press conference with the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) on Monday, Msheireb Properties CEO Abdullah Hassan al-Mehshadi told Gulf Times that talks “are ongoing” with Qatar Rail for Phase 4 of the project.According to al-Mehshadi, the transport facilities located underground, including a full-scale public transport network, create a pedestrian and environmentally-friendly atmosphere. “The project will be served by the Msheireb station, which has been billed as the hub of the upcoming metro network, being the major interchange station for the rail lines,” he said.Citing QFC’s relocation to Msheireb, al-Mehshadi said the inclusion of a number of national entities and government buildings within Msheireb Downtown Doha “represents a significant step” towards the realisation of “deeper collaboration and economic integration.” Msheireb Downtown Doha, he said, will encompass five heritage quarters and multiple geographic phases. Tenants will include major government buildings, heritage quarters, four heritage houses within Msheireb Museums, a school, and the National Archive, as well as the recently opened mosque. “The result will be a lively urban neighbourhood, which, as well as hosting the Qatar Financial Centre and its licensed firms, will also offer leisure facilities and a number of residences, including townhouses, upscale apartments and hotels, all centred around a new public square, Barahat Msheireb,” al-Mehshadi said.He noted that Msheireb Downtown is distinguished by its high-tech infrastructure, and being a leader in smart city solutions, which consists of state-of-the-art technology that integrates multiple information and communications systems.The project, he also said, offers businesses and their occupants “a modern integrated working lifestyle.”“Msheireb Downtown Doha blends traditional Qatari heritage and aesthetics with modern technology, and has a strong focus on sustainability. With more than 100 buildings targeting LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) gold and platinum ratings, it will be home to the world’s highest concentration of LEED buildings in the world,” al-Mehshadi pointed out.He added that the other advantages that Msheireb Downtown Doha provides to its tenants include proximity to the Hamad International Airport, shopping malls, meetings halls, and health centres.