The local Lusail Real Estate Development Company has cancelled plans to tender a contract for its 550-metre-plus tower at the Doha Convention Centre development.

Contractors that submitted prequalification documents for the construction project have been informed that it has been cancelled due to a decision by higher authorities. The identity of the decision-making body was not disclosed.

Located on Corniche Street, opposite the Sheraton hotel, the 112-storey, mixed-use tower would have had a built-up area of 330,000 square metres with a hotel, offices and apartments.

There would also have been several specialist contracts awarded separately covering the fit-out works for the apartments, hotel, penthouse apartments, private club and restaurants, and a cigar club.

Lusail Real Estate Development Company could not be reached for comment.

High-rise schemes in Qatar have struggled to move forward in recent years. Local developer Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company had been planning to build a 400-metre-tall tower at the convention centre development.

The project was cancelled in early 2009. At the time, sources close to the developer said it was delayed for two key reasons. The first is that construction costs were expected to fall, making the tower cheaper to build if the start date for construction was postponed.

The second was the restriction on the height of developments close to Doha International airport’s flight path, a restriction that will will be lifted when Hamad International Airport (formerly New Doha International Airport (NDIA)) opens.

The exhibition hall and conference halls of the convention centre are close to being completed. A joint venture of the local Midmac Contracting and Belgium’s Six Construct was awarded the estimated $800m contract to build the convention centre at the development in 2009. The contract involves the construction of a convention centre with a total built-up area of 100,000 sq m.

The US’ Murphy Jahn prepared the concept designs for the convention centre.