Local developer Msheireb Properties has invited contractors to submit bids by 20 February for the phase 2 construction contract on its QR20bn ($5.5bn) Msheireb real estate development in Doha.

The second phase will comprise 10 mixed-use buildings, which will cover a total area of 144,888 square metres. This is scheduled to include 68,500 sq m of retail and 27,000 sq m of commercial office space, as well as 24,000 sq m of residential space and a 25,388 sq m hotel.

“The second phase is a continuation of the first phases, which include a number of residential and commercial buildings and a five-star hotel,” says a contractor in Qatar.

In June 2011, US-based Gensler was appointed as lead consultant for the second and third phases on the Msheireb scheme.

The developer recently invited contractors to submit bids for phase 1c of the mixed-use scheme. Contractors now have until 30 January to submit bids for the phase 1c deal. The package will include the construction of residential apartments, office buildings and a school.

The list of prequalified groups for phase 1c is the same as for phase 1b of the project, but will not include the joint venture of UK’s Carillion and the local Qatar Building Company (QBC). In December 2011, the Carillion-QBC partnership was awarded the QR2.37bn contract to build phase 1b of the development (MEED 9:12:11).

The joint venture will complete all of the substructure and superstructure works for phase 1b, which comprises 15 buildings, including a Mandarin Oriental Hotel containing 158 rooms and 91 serviced apartments, two office buildings with 52 retail units and 12 residential buildings providing a total of 180 apartments.

The 750,000 sq m Msheireb development is one of the largest real-estate schemes in the capital. It will be built behind the Emiri Diwan administrative centre on Doha corniche. The scheme will also include an interchange station for Doha’s proposed metro system.

The client for the project is Msheireb Properties. It was previously known as Dohaland and is part of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development.