Doha Festival City includes over 550 retail units, five-star hotel and an outdoor running trail

Al-Futtaim’s Doha Festival City, a $1.8 billion leisure, entertainment, and retail development, opens its doors for business today.

The mall postponed its opening date several times in recent months and was originally due to open last year.

The flagship development includes over 550 retail units, with a gross building area of 433,000 sq m, and includes some of the leading international and local brands, including Qatar’s first IKEA store (opened in March 2013), the first Harvey Nichols in Doha, a full-sized Monoprix hypermarket, and a range of entertainment options including a snow park, Angry Birds and Virtuocity theme parks. The at 165,000 square metre development also includes an 18-screen VOX 4D cinema complex.

The new development, located in the north of Doha with direct access from Al Shamal and Lusail Roads, also includes a five-star hotel and convention centre.

Last month, Doha Festival City revealed its plans for a 3km outdoor leisure trail, which includes a running and walking path, as well as an adjacent cycling lane with technical trail features specifically designed for mountain bikes. The running track also has exercise stations along the route, allowing both casual and more serious runners to exercise and enjoy the green spaces being created as part of the project.