Mall of Qatar
A large shopping, dining, entertainment, and leisure destination in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Mall of Qatar is a major shopping and entertainment complex in the Rawdat Al Jahhaniya district of Al Rayyan, Qatar. It opened to the public on 10 December 2016 and was developed as a large-scale retail and leisure destination serving Qatar. The mall occupies approximately 464,515 square metres and extends across three floors. Its architectural centerpiece is a large central glass dome rising approximately eight floors, which forms the setting for the mall's public entertainment and gathering spaces. The project was constructed by UCC Holding, a subsidiary of Power International Holding. Development expanded substantially during the construction period. In December 2013, Drake & Scull Qatar received the contract for the mall's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works. The project's initially reported construction cost was approximately $660 million, but the planned investment rose to about $1.48 billion by October 2015 after additional hospitality and entertainment components were incorporated. These financial figures describe the project at particular points in its development rather than the mall's current financial performance. Mall of Qatar's commercial proposition combines conventional shopping with dining, cinema, family entertainment, and hospitality-related uses. Before opening, agreements were reported with Abu Issa Holding for luxury retail, M.H. Alshaya Co. for lifestyle and hospitality brands, IMAX for a cinema complex, and Majid Al Futtaim Group for a Carrefour hypermarket. On opening day, 220 stores were operating. The resulting tenant mix positioned the mall as a broad destination rather than a narrowly focused luxury center, with retail, food and beverage, entertainment, and everyday shopping offered within the same complex. The mall has also been integrated into Qatar's transport and major-event infrastructure. Al Riffa station on Doha Metro's Green Line opened in December 2019 with a pedestrian bridge linking the station to the mall. The site is also served by the M212 Metrolink bus route, taxis, bicycle parking, and a large car park. Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, one of the venues associated with the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is adjacent to the mall; the stadium was inaugurated in December 2020. These connections strengthened Mall of Qatar's role as a destination for both local visitors and event-related traffic. The development experienced two construction-site fires, one on 2 April 2016 and another on 30 October 2016. The first incident led to the evacuation of approximately 14,000 workers, who were reported to have been evacuated safely. The mall nevertheless opened later that year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mall tenants were exempted from rent for several months as a measure intended to help businesses cope with lockdown-related disruption. In 2017, Mall of Qatar received the RLI International Retail & Leisure Destination Global Award. In 2020, expansion plans were announced involving 1,000 luxury residential units, a Sherborne School, and a theme park. The available reference material does not establish whether all of those proposed components were completed. Mall of Qatar remains an active Qatari retail and leisure destination, with shopping, food, entertainment, transport access, and proximity to a major sports venue forming the core of its public identity.
History
Mall of Qatar was developed as a large integrated retail and leisure destination in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Its location in the Rawdat Al Jahhaniya district placed the project outside central Doha while giving it access to the wider metropolitan area. Construction was carried out by UCC Holding, a subsidiary of Power International Holding. A significant development milestone came in December 2013, when Drake & Scull Qatar was awarded the contract for the mall's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works. The project's scope later expanded beyond its original retail concept. Its construction cost was initially reported at approximately $660 million, but by October 2015 the reported figure had risen to about $1.48 billion after hospitality and entertainment projects were added. These amounts are historical project estimates and are not presented as current company financials. The developer built the tenant and experience proposition through a series of commercial agreements. Abu Issa Holding was associated with luxury retail, M.H. Alshaya Co. with lifestyle and hospitality brands, IMAX with the cinema offering, and Majid Al Futtaim Group with the Carrefour hypermarket. This combination gave the mall a mixed commercial profile, spanning luxury products, lifestyle shopping, everyday retail, food, and entertainment. The construction phase included two reported fires. On 2 April 2016, a fire at the site led to the evacuation of approximately 14,000 workers; the available reference reports that everyone was evacuated safely. A second fire occurred on 30 October 2016 while construction was still underway. No further details about the causes, damage, or legal consequences are established in the supplied material. Mall of Qatar opened on 10 December 2016. Around 220 stores were operating on the first day, and the opening was attended by Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. The completed complex covers about 464,515 square metres across three floors. Its most prominent architectural feature is a central glass dome that rises approximately eight floors and serves as a major internal visual and public-space element. The mall's later history has been closely connected with transport and sports infrastructure. In December 2019, Al Riffa Station on Doha Metro's Green Line opened, with a pedestrian bridge providing a direct connection to the mall. The site also has access to the M212 Metrolink route, taxis, bicycle parking, and car parking. Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, a venue associated with the 2022 FIFA World Cup, stands next to the mall and was inaugurated in December 2020. Recognition followed in 2017, when Mall of Qatar received the RLI International Retail & Leisure Destination Global Award. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mall tenants received several months of rent exemption to help mitigate the effects of lockdowns and reduced trading conditions. In 2020, the mall announced expansion plans involving 1,000 luxury residential units, a Sherborne School, and a theme park. The source material does not establish the final status of those proposals. The mall's documented role remains that of an active, large-scale Qatari destination combining shopping, dining, entertainment, transport access, and links to major sports and event infrastructure.
- 2020
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium inaugurated next to the mall
[1]The adjacent Ahmad bin Ali Stadium was inaugurated in December, strengthening the mall's connection to Qatar's sports and event infrastructure.
- 2020
Expansion concept announced
[1]An expansion plan was announced with proposed luxury residences, a Sherborne School, and a theme park.
- 2019
Al Riffa Doha Metro station opens
[1]The Green Line station serving Mall of Qatar opened with a pedestrian bridge connecting it to the mall.
- 2017
RLI International Retail & Leisure Destination Global Award
[1]Mall of Qatar received the RLI International Retail & Leisure Destination Global Award.
- 2016
Mall of Qatar opens
[1]The mall opened on 10 December with approximately 220 stores operating.
- 2015
Reported project cost increases after scope expansion
[1]The reported construction cost rose from approximately $660 million to about $1.48 billion after additional hospitality and entertainment projects were added.
- 2013
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contract awarded
[1]Drake & Scull Qatar was awarded the contract for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works for the development.
Products and positioning
A destination shopping and entertainment center combining broad retail coverage, luxury and lifestyle brands, dining, cinema, family leisure, transport connectivity, and proximity to Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Retail · 2016
Retail and lifestyle stores
The mall provides a broad retail environment covering fashion, lifestyle, luxury goods, and everyday shopping. Its tenant strategy included agreements with Abu Issa Holding for luxury retail and M.H. Alshaya Co. for lifestyle and hospitality brands. The available source does not provide a complete current tenant directory, so individual brands beyond the specifically referenced operators are not listed here.
Hypermarket · 2016
Carrefour hypermarket
A Carrefour hypermarket was planned for the mall through an agreement with Majid Al Futtaim Group. It forms the everyday-shopping component of the destination's broader mix, complementing fashion, luxury, dining, and entertainment uses.
Entertainment · 2016
IMAX cinema complex
Mall of Qatar includes an IMAX-linked cinema offering as part of its entertainment proposition. The cinema was secured through a commercial agreement during the development phase and helped extend the mall's role beyond conventional retail.
Food and beverage · 2016
Dining and hospitality offering
Restaurants, food and beverage venues, and hospitality-related uses form part of the mall's destination model. The available reference identifies hospitality and entertainment as additions to the original development scope but does not provide a complete list of venues.
Brand decisions
2020
Proposed mixed-use expansionStrategyBackground
Mall of Qatar announced expansion plans during a period when large destination developments were being integrated with residential, educational, and leisure uses.
Action taken
The proposal included 1,000 luxury residential units, a Sherborne School, and a theme park.
Aftermath
The supplied reference does not confirm whether every proposed component was completed.
2020
Temporary rent exemption for tenants during COVID-19OtherBackground
Lockdowns and pandemic restrictions created severe operating pressure for shopping-mall tenants.
Action taken
Tenants were exempted from paying rent for several months.
Aftermath
The measure was intended to help tenant businesses cope with the disruption caused by lockdown conditions.
2016
Public opening of Mall of QatarProduct launchBackground
After a multi-year construction program and the addition of hospitality and entertainment elements, the mall was prepared for public operation.
Action taken
Mall of Qatar opened on 10 December 2016 with approximately 220 stores operating.
Aftermath
The opening established the complex as a large retail and leisure destination in Al Rayyan.
2015
Expansion of development scopeStrategyBackground
The project was initially described primarily as a major shopping development, but additional hospitality and entertainment components were incorporated during construction.
Action taken
The development scope was expanded, with the reported project cost increasing from approximately $660 million to about $1.48 billion by October 2015.
Aftermath
The completed destination incorporated retail, dining, cinema, entertainment, and other leisure-oriented functions rather than operating solely as a shopping center.
Reported construction cost. $660 million → $1.48 billion (Initial estimate compared with October 2015 report)
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/mall-of-qatar · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled