Local developer Equinox has invited contractors to submit bids for a contract to build an estimated QR1.5bn ($412m) shopping mall in Doha.

Prequalified contractors have until the 15 March to submit bids for the main construction package on the Northgate Mall shopping development, which will cover a total area of 417,500 square metres.

The work will involve the construction of the shopping mall and office buildings. The project is expected to take 30 months to complete.

The shopping complex was designed by the US-based architecture firm Callison. The consultant for the project is the local office of Lebanon’s Associated Consulting Engineers (Ace).

The mall development will contain shopping units, supermarket, cinema, and food and beverage outlets.

There are plans to build several new shopping malls in Qatar’s capital city.

In September 2010, the UAE based Al-Futtaim Group, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) and the local Aqar Real Estate Investment Company signed a QR6bn ($1.6bn) joint venture agreement to build an entertainment and retail complex in Doha.

The multi-use development will be located on the northern highway, which will link Doha International Airport with the proposed Bahrain causeway. The development will include a retail centre, entertainment park and two hotels. The complex will cover a total area of 433,000 sq m (MEED 9:9:10).