The centrepiece of the 68-month project will be the tower, which will be at least 400 metres high and have a built-up area of 180,000 square metres. It will contain a hotel, apartments and retail units. The built-up area of the convention centre will be 100,000 square metres. In addition, the development will have parking spaces for 4,000 cars.

Under Qatari Diar's schedule, the balance of the consultancy contracts will be awarded in the coming months, with enabling works starting in July/August and construction beginning in 2007.

Speaking at the MEED Major Non-Energy Project Opportunities in Qatar conference on 27 March, Qatari Diar development director Rowen Colman confirmed that on the estimated $5,000 million Lusail development, China's Sinohydro had begun mobilising for the $433 million marine, earthworks and site preparation package, while a team made up of the UK's Halcrow, Denmark's COWI and Hyder Consulting, also of the UK, had been appointed to provide pre- and post-consultancy and quantity surveying services at a cost of $67 million. (MEED 24:03:06)Colman said tendering would accelerate in late 2006/early 2007 on a host of other contracts on the Lusail development. They will include sewerage, water, irrigation, electrical, and stormwater drainage networks.