Transforming the centre of the capital city, Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) is the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project that is reviving the old commercial district with a new architectural language that is modern, yet inspired by traditional Qatari heritage and architecture – its proportion, simplicity, space, light, layering, ornament and response to climate. 

Comprising more than 100 buildings, MDD is becoming a new social and civic hub in the city centre – a place where it is enjoyable to live, work, shop, visit, and spend time with family and friends. Utilising the latest in sustainable technologies, MDD adheres to the highest standards in green building. The strategic objective of MDD is to reverse the pattern of development in Doha, which has tended towards isolated land use, reliance on car transportation and energy hungry structures. 

An emerging leader in sustainable development, Msheireb Properties is a real estate development company and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation (QF). MDD is its signature project, employing a new approach to urban planning by combining traditional methods and modern technology aimed at preserving the environment as well as the cultural identity of Qatar. The company was established in 2010 as a commercial venture to support QF’s aims, as well as the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.

A premier art gallery based in Doha founded in 2008, AlHosh Gallery is a pop-up art gallery, enriching the Qatari art scene and bringing something new to the market. It hosts art exhibitions by local artists such as Ahmed Al Maadeed, Ali Hassan, Al Johara (AJ) Al Thani, Dimitrije Bugarski, Othman Khunji, Bachir Mohamad, Mohammed Faraj Al Suwaidi, Nasser Al Kubaisi, Rashid Al Kuwari, Shua’a Ali and more. alhoshgallery.com

Doha Design District aims to enhance MDD’s position as a district of art and creativity, and serve as a centre for local designers. Doha Design District will be home to galleries, showrooms, creative services, stores, and even eateries and cafes. Some of the most exciting names, classics, and trendsetters can be found in the district. Centred around innovation and creativity, Doha Design District aims to be a world-class creative landmark in Qatar and the region, and attract local and regional designers to interact with their global peers. 4000 4000, dohadesigndistrict.com

Established by Qatar Museums (QM) in November 2021, M7 is an epicentre for design, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the heart of Msheireb. It is dedicated to empowering Qatari designers to explore, collaborate, and grow into successful entrepreneurs. M7 provides Qatar-based designers with all the necessary tools and expertise to enable them to take their ideas from concept to market. It houses incubator Scale 7, design concept store Studio 7, co-working space Workinton, fashion production studio The Cutting Studio, showroom and design platform for luxury furniture design Fromm., and spaces for exhibitions, workshops and talks like the learning space and sky theatre. Alongside M7 is connecting the community to experts from the field with training, workshops, and other offerings to cater to the needs of creative community. 4402 8779, m7.org.qa

Established by QM in 2022, Liwan, Design Studios and Labs offers creatives a multifunctional co-working space and learning environment to experiment, collaborate and network. It also includes the Liwan Library, which is an archive of vintage children’s books dating back to the 1950s that once belonged to the first all-girls school in Qatar. liwan.org.qa

 

Msheireb Museums celebrate the history of four historic heritage houses in the heart of MDD. Located within the oldest part of the capital, they form an important part of Qatar’s national history. They reveal unique aspects of Qatar’s cultural and social development in inspiring to create trusted environments in which the people of Qatar will engage, converse and exchange thoughts about both their past and their future. Msheireb Museums are an integral aspect of the inner city’s regeneration of the old commercial centre with its traditional community-based lifestyle. The restoration of the four heritage houses, Bin Jelmood House, Company House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House and Radwani House, into world-class museums forms a vital part of MDD. 

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 9 am – 5 pm; Friday 3 pm – 9 pm; Saturday 9 am – 5 pm; closed on Sunday Contact: 4006 5555,  msheirebmuseums.com

Msheireb Galleria is the epitome of shopping, dining, leisure and art, customised to meet the needs of the local community and visitors. Galleria offers a new shopping experience with 30 pop-up stores spread across the ground floor of the mall. It’s expected to have more than 100 stores spread across four levels of shopping, dining, leisure and entertainment, including a luxury cinema and a children’s edutainment centre. In addition, Galleria’s west wing offers residences and offices above the shops. Novo Cinemas recently opened a cinema at Msheireb Galleria. msheirebgalleria.com

Monoprix Msheireb is the first Monoprix in Qatar with the SMART Retail Solution and the first in the region with one of the most advanced retail software solutions for an enhanced customer service. In addition, the store provides the Concierge and Shop & Go concepts. Monoprix Msheireb offers an extensive organic range of 12,000 items sourced internationally. 

Operating hours: Retail: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm; Thursday 10 am – 11 pm; Friday 10 am – 11:30 am/1 pm – 11 pm.
Cafés: Saturday to Thursday 9 am – midnight; Friday 9 am – 11:30 am/1 pm – midnight.
Smart Msheireb Monoprix: Saturday to Thursday 9 am – midnight; Friday 9 am – 11:30 am/12:30 pm – midnight.

And more…

MDD is becoming a gastronomic destination with a range of dining choices such as A’Selham (Moroccan), BAO (Asian fusion), Nourlaya (Sri Lankan), Ramen (Korean/Japanese), Reberu (Japanese), Trapani (Italian) and more. Cafés and dessert shops include % Arabica (Japanese), Café Kitsuné (Japanese), Cloud & Co (Italian), EL&N London (British), Gelato (Italian), Santa Nata (Portuguese) and more.

MDD is also a hospitality destination, home to some of Qatar’s leading five-star hotels, including Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery alwadihoteldoha.com, Mandarin Oriental, Doha mandarinoriental.com/doha/msheireb/luxury-hotel, and Park Hyatt Doha parkhyattdoha.com

Make sure to walk the almost 7,000 sq m piazza-style square, Barahat Msheireb, which is the largest open-air covered square in the Middle East, featuring the biggest retractable roof in the region. In addition to housing iconic cafes and restaurants such as Harrods Tearoom (British), Saasna (Qatari), Sumosan (Japanese), Fiko (Turkish), Hoppers (Sri Lankan) and more, it is designed to host lively events in collaboration with private and public organisations. 

The Msheireb Metro Station (Red/Gold/Green Line) is the largest station in Qatar and is situated at the corner of MDD where Wadi Msheireb and Al Diwan Streets meet.

With nine stations, the self-powered environmentally friendly Msheireb Tram interconnects all of MDD, making it easier for visitors to move from one spot to the other. Visitors, residents, and tenants can find a tram car on the loop every six minutes with a 400-m hop-on/hop-off zone along the single 2 km, closed-loop track system. Fare: Free. Operating hours: Saturday to Thursday 9 am – noon/4 pm – 9 pm; Friday 4 pm – 9 pm


800 DOHA (800 3642) or 4000 4000, msheireb.com
The Msheireb and Msheireb Museums apps are available on iOS and Android