Qatar-based property developer, Msheireb Properties, is engaging residents and seeking their input to create a new retail experience in its flagship Msheireb Downtown Doha project.

It is launching an interactive social media competition which will give residents the chance to make it ‘Your Downtown Doha’ by sharing their favourite retail, dining and entertainment outlets from around the world which they would like to see in Doha.

The nominations will be assessed by Msheireb Properties for inclusion in the retail mix, said a statement.

The initiative is part of the company’s effort to engage with the local population and complement the Msheireb Downtown Doha project's uniqueness by seeking exclusive retail concepts that are new to the region and add further value to the development.

The project is a QR20 billion ($5.5 billion) multipurpose development which will comprise more than 100 buildings, including commercial, residential and retail properties as well as buildings devoted to culture and entertainment, the statement said.

Lifestyle and leisure facilities, including premium, innovative shopping destinations, are an integral part of its flagship development, which is regenerating and preserving the historical downtown of Qatar’s capital, Doha.

“What separates Msheireb Downtown from other retail projects in Qatar is our unique approach of integrating shopping with the overall community. We believe that the approach of combining international brands together with more established local retail outlets will allow us to provide residents and visitors alike with a genuine city centre destination that still maintains a unique Qatari flavour,” said Jawaher Al Khuzaei, manager-communications, Msheireb Properties.

“In today’s world of phone cameras, instant uploads and interactive online communities, it has never been easier to share good ideas. Seeing what people think are the best global shopping destinations will ensure we can draw on proven, successful ideas to provide a world-class shopping experience that meets the needs and aspiration of the local population,” he said.

Al Khuzaei said to ensure that the retail offerings are truly world class, shoppers are being asked to embrace the ‘Your Downtown Doha’ campaign by getting out their digital cameras and smart phones to ‘snap and share’ their favourite shops, F&B and entertainment outlets from around the world.

“This could be any well-designed shop, trendy restaurant, cool brand or out-of-the ordinary mall. They can then upload the pictures to Msheireb Properties’ Facebook page with a brief description of why this concept, brand or outlet idea is so suited to Msheireb Downtown Doha,” he added.

The top ten, as picked by a specialist panel at Msheireb, will then be opened up to the community for a public vote.

One of eight distinct precincts, the retail precinct will be the core of Msheireb Downtown’s retail offering and will feature an enclosed retail galleria, a department store, several international flagship stores, as well as a unique children’s area.

The Sikkat Al Wadi, a pedestrian shopping district running through the project from Souk Waqif to Kahraba Street, will form the heart of the lifestyle and leisure precinct, the statement said.

It will be a landmark destination within Doha, offering chic al fresco restaurants, live performance areas, and a mix of niche fashion and accessories boutiques, it said.

Serving high-end consumers, the luxury court precinct, will be home to a range of high-end boutiques, and offer a selection of the world’s most desirable brands. – TradeArabia News Service