Qatari Authorities Grant Approval for Mixed-Use Megaproject Near Doha's CBD

Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has given the green light to Lusail Central Ventures-a sprawling mixed-use development just two kilometers north of Doha’s central business district. The project, slated for an 18-month preparatory phase beginning August 2026, is due to transform the area straddling Al Markhiya Street and the C-Ring Road into a cluster of offices, flats, shops and public spaces.

Why the Approval Resonates Now

Demand for modern commercial and residential space has surged in Doha as the city’s population edges towards 2.9 million, according to figures updated last month by the Planning and Statistics Authority. With vacancy rates tightening across West Bay and the Corniche for both Grade A office space and newer residential units, developers and city planners have scrambled to keep up. The new development’s proximity to the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center and the Qatar National Library signals a move to densify and refresh the city’s urban core.

Located adjacent to the upmarket Diplomatic Area and a short drive from City Center Mall, Lusail Central Ventures aims to alleviate pressure on the surrounding neighborhoods. The project will include more than 700,000 sqm of office towers, 300,000 sqm of apartments, and over 200 retail units, according to a site plan from co-developer Al Fardan Group reviewed by The Daily Doha. The first construction contracts are expected to be issued in December, with the initial office handovers targeted for late 2028.

Development Details: Scope and Numbers

City officials confirmed that the approved blueprint features four high-rise towers, public plazas, and a landscaped retail avenue designed to connect directly to the Lusail tram system at Katara Cultural Village Station. Parking for more than 4,400 vehicles and a new health clinic operated by Qatar Health Services are also in the plans. Rents for office floors are projected to launch at roughly QAR 250 per square meter per month-up from this year’s CBD average of QAR 210, according to Cushman & Wakefield Qatar’s mid-year report. The residential component targets young professionals, with introductory leases for studio flats expected to start at QAR 7,500 monthly.

Officials at the Ministry of Municipality expect construction work to generate more than 2,800 direct jobs during the peak building phase, with Al Fardan Group estimating 6,500 permanent roles in hospitality, facilities management, and retail after completion. The scheme will also contribute some QAR 1.8 billion in direct investment to local suppliers and service companies by 2029.

Detailed infrastructure works-including the diversion of a section of Al Bidda Street and a solar network for half the complex-are set to begin this September. Ministry staff advise drivers to monitor the "Doha Roads" notifications for upcoming closures and diversions as works ramp up.

For would-be tenants and investors, pre-leasing opportunities are expected to launch in early 2027, with show apartments opening in January. Local real estate agents recommend registering interest early, particularly for retail and office footprints under 500 sqm, which have already drawn dozens of advance inquiries since the approval announcement. For now, all eyes turn to cranes and bulldozers as central Doha gears up for its most ambitious urban expansion in a decade.