Katara Plaza, a new open-air shopping mall concept in the cultural district of Katara, located at the heart of Qatar’s capital, Doha, and operated by Ali Bin Ali Group brings a new experience that combines retail, hospitality, entertainment with art and culture. Katara Plaza aims to be the preferred destination to families and visitor alike and is home to the world's first outdoor AC system. With outdoor temperatures that can reach 50 degrees in the heat of summer, residents of the Gulf definitely need to think twice before heading out, if only for a quick Frappuccino. But luckily for residents of Doha, Qatar has the world’s first outdoor air-conditioned plaza to defeat the unforgiving temperatures.
Developers put significant effort into building ground cooling technology to keep Qatar residents comfortable, whether they’ll be doing some outdoor retail therapy, taking a quick bite on the sidewalk or perhaps watching sports games.
The world’s first outdoor air-conditioned plaza is operational in the new Katara Cultural Village.
With such an asset, the commercial development, which is managed by Ali Bin Ali Group, has already set itself apart from the glut of commercial centers that will be opening in Qatar over the next few years.
The 38,000 square meters climate-controlled open-air Katara Plaza also features a dedicated children’s mall designed to look like a wrapped present, as well as the Middle East’s first Evian spa and a Galleries Lafayette department store.
Nabeel Ali Bin Ali, vice-chairman of the Ali Bin Ali Group, told Doha News : “We expect that Katara Plaza (will) unlock a unique world-class shopping experience offering the Qatari market many first-of-its-kind experiences.”
Dina Hamadah, a long-term Gulf resident, thinks that outdoor cooling-systems are what the Gulf region needs for it to be an ideal place to live: “I love the amenities, conveniences and quality of life you get here in the Gulf, if not for the horrific heat during spring and summer months. Outdoor air-conditioning seems very exciting. I am looking forward to that.”
The World Cup 2022, which will take place in Qatar, was initially scheduled for June through July, which are the country's hottest months of the year - to comply with the European League. As prep work, ground-cooling technology was exhibited during public screenings of the 2014 World Cup at the Cultural Village. Many spectators actually said that they were cold while in the cooling areas.
However, the FIFA executive committee has moved the new dates of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to November/December.
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