Qatar-based Bawabat Al Shamal Real Estate Company (Basrec) has signed up Al Futtaim Group Real Estate as the manager and operator of its ambitious QR6.5-billion ($1.78 billion) Doha Festival City.

Set to open its doors in February next year, Doha Festival City celebrates the best in leisure, retail and hospitality.

With a gross building area the equivalent size of 94 football pitches, and a gross leasable area of 244,000 sq m, the mixed-use development will include the biggest mall in Qatar and one of the largest leisure and retail developments in the Gulf, said Basrec, the developer and owner of the project.

Basrec is a joint venture between UAE-based Al Futtaim Real Estate Services, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Aqar Real Estate Investment Company and a private Qatari investor.

With construction of the mall component due for imminent completion, the mall management has now commenced final preparations to take over the site - one of the largest leisure and retail developments in the Gulf - from contractors.  

Kareem Shamma, the chief executive of Basrec, said: "We are pleased to be on track for a timely delivery of this leisure, retail, hospitality and entertainment destination which reflects Qatar's exciting and vibrant future, and to have finalised the appointment of AFGRE for the management of this world-class asset, bringing together a team of talent from both the region and across the globe."

AFGRE, which owns and operates other Festival City malls in Dubai and Cairo has completed its senior mall management team hires for the Qatari project with the addition of the assistant general manager, Luis Valente, an industry veteran from Portugal, offering a proven track record in business development, retail asset and mall management.

Prior to joining the firm, Luis was the head of asset and mall management, managing a team responsible for 15 shopping centres at Klepierrre Portugal. He will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of an efficient and best in class customer experience, tenant relations and project management at Doha Festival City, said the statement from Basrec.

Luis joins Trevor Hill, the general manager, who was appointed in September last year.

Hill is responsible for the overall management and operational strategy, bringing with him a vast level of experience in retail property, FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) and the retail industry across a number of strategic management roles, it stated.

Most recently, he was the centre manager for Westfield Sydney, Scentre Group Australia, and will now be working closely with Valente on day-to-day operations.

The duo will be assisted by Andre Steyn, the senior facilities manager, May Marzooq, senior marketing manager, Jamal Al Shraih, the financial controller, Stylianos Fontrier, specialty leasing manager; Bahadir Gelgor, customer service manager and  Ahmed Farghaly, security manager, said the statement.

Hill is already overseeing the handover where he and his team are working on ensuring the customer experience at Festival City is world class.

"As we reach the final few months of preparation, and in line with the Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate vision of attracting and retaining top talent, we strongly feel we have the most experienced team to lead the way in making Doha Festival City a must-visit destination for visitors and residents of Qatar to enjoy," remarked Shamma.

"I am confident in the power of our combined expertise and together we will ensure visitors will be both surprised and delighted with a world-class leisure and retail experience," he added.-TradeArabia News Service