The project calls for the construction of four towers ranging in height from 24-35 storeys and an extensive podium, offering a total built-up area of about 185,000 square metres. The development will house some retail units and four hotels, for which management agreements have already been signed by Sheikh Faisal subsidiary Al-Rayan Tourism Investment Company.

Hong-Kong's Shangri-La Hotels & Resortswill operate a 250-room, five-star hotel, while US-based Marriott Internationalhas signed up for three hotels: a 250-room Renaissance hotel; a 200-room Courtyard hotel; and a 120-unit executive apartments hotel. All four hotels will have a direct link to the existing mall, which is one of the biggest in the Gulf.

The fast-track project is due to be completed in the summer of 2006, in advance of the Doha Asian Games scheduled for the following December.

Canada's Cansultis the project manager on the city centre expansion. US-based HOKdrew up the masterplan and is the architectural consultant. The electro-mechanical and structural consultant is Bahrain's MSCEB.