The Mall of Arabia package is expected to be issued for tender in December with on-site work starting in February 2006 and project completion scheduled for February 2008. The package will involve the construction of a low-rise 530,000-square-metre mall on four levels comprising two levels of car parking and two levels of retail. It will also house a 400-room four-star hotel and a three-star hotel, of similar size. In addition, a 12-storey five-star hotel with a gross floor area of 60,000 square metres, will be built next to the mall. The main external feature will be the mall's roof structure, which will be designed to reflect Arab culture. The mall's interior will be themed in a variety of different styles.

The other two main construction packages on the City of Arabia development cover: the restless planet dinosaur theme park, which will house a 90-metre-high translucent dome with a built-up area of 42,000 square metres; and phase 1 of the Wadi Walk development, which will see construction of low-rise retail and residential buildings with a built-up area of 338,000 square metres. Expressions of interest have been released for both packages.

Hong Kong-based P&T Architects & Engineersis the lead consultant; the US' Hill Internationalis the project manager (MEED 9:9:05).