Local developer Dohaland has awarded a QR1.6bn ($428m) contract to the joint venture of South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company and the local HBK Contracting Company to build phase 1a of its Musheireb development in Doha.

Phase 1a is the first of five phases in the QR20bn Musheireb project.

The initial phase involves the construction of the Diwan Amiri Quarter, which includes the Diwan Annex, Amiri Guard and the National Archive, plus a heritage quarter, that includes the Eid prayer ground and four heritage houses.

The total built-up area of the buildings is about 144,000 square metres.

Last month, Cat International Qatar, part of Lebanon’s Contracting & Trading (Cat) was awarded an estimated QR530m ($146m) infrastructure deal for phase 1a.

Germany’s Bauer is working on the enabling works package for phase 1a.

Formerly known as the Heart of Doha, the 750,000 sq m Musheireb 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 masterplan is divided into several districts, including a residential and mixed-use quarter, a retail quarter, a heritage quarter, and a commercial area called the Headquarters Gateway.

It will also include an interchange for Doha’s proposed metro system, a shopping mall, hotels and a commercial district.

The project manager is US-based Turner Construction International.

Dohaland is part of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development (MEED 8:3:10).