Mall of Qatar, which will be the largest shopping mall in the country when it opens in the last quarter of 2015, has announced a partnership with Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour that will create a 13,700 sq m flagship hypermarket as a key anchor store of the new mall.

The hypermarket is set to introduce a new “market place” concept for the first time in the Middle East as the mall continues to attract innovative new retail concepts that will make it a retail destination of choice for shoppers from Qatar and across the GCC.

Mall of Qatar and Carrefour management announced the milestone agreement on the sidelines of Cityscape Qatar.

It was among a number of significant announcements made by the mall management during the event demonstrating that construction is well underway and on schedule with the high profile project attracting increasing numbers of world class retailers and entertainment companies to lease space at the Mall.

The management team at the Mall of Qatar is delighted to have secured the new agreement with Carrefour that will make the store the most innovative and contemporary hypermarket that Majid Al Futtaim Retail has in the Middle East region, said a senior official.

It will be one of the largest Carrefour hypermarkets in the region and introduce a new “market place” concept that will give the hypermarket an innovative and new atmosphere for shoppers.

Commenting on the plans for Cityscape, Shem Krey, the deputy managing director, Mall of Qatar, said: "We are delighted to have secured this agreement with MAF Carrefour, the world’s leading hypermarket company, to become our first high profile anchor store at the Mall of Qatar."
 
“The Carrefour brand is recognised around the world for the provision of a fantastic variety of quality food produce, electronics, clothing and other products creating a shopping destination in its own right. Mall of Qatar is also very proud that Carrefour has chosen our mall to introduce their new ‘market place’ flagship concept into the Middle East for the first time, remarked Krey.

Senior Carrefour officials were at Cityscape to formally announce the partnership. Younis Al Mulla, the senior VP Majid Al Futtaim Retail said: "We have seen significant growth and opportunity in the retail sector in Qatar and are delighted to be opening our 4th store in Doha at the Mall of Qatar."
 
"We were impressed with The Mall of Qatar’s vision of creating a retail environment that encourages families to shop, dine and play within a state-of-the-art development that will become a destination in its own right. We believe that the Carrefour brand combines perfectly with this vision by providing a family shopping environment that encompasses value and quality with products for every household need and family member," he added.

Henri Changeaux, the executive regional director of MAF Carrefour (UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain) said: "We have grown the Carrefour brand throughout the GCC by consistently offering the highest quality most diverse range of products available, at the most competitive prices."

"This ethos of unbeatable value and choice has seen Carrefour become the number one shopping destination for families in the region. The Mall of Qatar is set to be a landmark retail development for the country and we are very proud to be the first large scale tenant and anchor store for the mall," he noted.

The Mall of Qatar is just a short 20 minute drive from the centre of the city and in the heart of a major new development area that will see 10,000 new villas being built, alongside new Metro and regional rail links and improved highway connections to the centre of Doha.

It will be a “A Super Regional Mall” offering over 400 shops, 3 major anchors, a luxury 5 star hotel, a unique Family Entertainment Centre, world class daily live entertainment concept  and an array of 82 international restaurants, cafes and specialty food shops.

This is in addition to the recently announced news that Mall of Qatar has selected Cinemacity to create the largest cineplex in Qatar, with an IMAX theatre featuring its next-generation digital laser projection system that will be one of 19 screens at the complex.

Cinemacity, a subsidiary of World Media Holding, has partnered with IMAX to create a theatre that will feature the first IMAX digital laser system in the Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service