Katara announces impressive expansion plans including new, high-tech planetarium

Katara Cultural Village has made a name for itself as Qatar’s iconic hub for arts, culture and entertainment.

While the facility already boasts of an impressive array of entertainment options, it is all set to get bigger in the coming days.

The Katara Cultural Village has announced that it will add more attractions — including a high-tech planetarium, luxury shopping mall, exclusive shopping facility for children and green hills — in the coming days, reported Gulf Times.

The Southern Expansion Project at Katara, which is set to be completed by the last quarter of this year, consists of 12 diverse buildings and a unique parking area overlooking the sea, reported The Peninsula.

The buildings will house restaurants and cafes, libraries, an exhibition hall, cinema and several cultural centres.

The planetarium and Astronomical Observatory, spread over a 2,240SqMt area, is expected to become one of the main attractions at Katara. It will offer a rare experience to visitors, blending education and entertainment, especially to students, families and astronomy enthusiasts, according to Qatar Tribune.

The planetarium hall will have a seating capacity for 200 people, with four seats reserved for disabled people and another four for the elderly. It will feature a huge 22M screen, equipped with state-of-the-art digital projectors. A vast terrace overlooking the sea will serve as a platform for events and activities.

The Marina District is currently finalising work on a maritime restaurant, comprising a main eatery and eight exclusive marine chalets.

Katara Plaza is a luxury shopping complex being built on an area of more than 38,000SqMt, in partnership with Ali Bin Ali Group. It will host the first Evian Spa in the Middle East and the second of its kind in the world, in exclusive partnership with water giant Evian. 

Katara Plaza will also have a children's mall, a unique and pioneering experience in the region and an example of innovation and architectural genius. Katara Plaza is expected to offer people a rare experience, with its landscapes and sandstone buildings, paved passages, arches and breezy walkways.

Katara Hills, a distinctive landmark and an eye-catching tourist destination, features gardens and green meadows divided into Northern and Southern Hills. They are unique in design and boast of many recreational facilities. The gardens occupy an area of 361,500SqMt and are designed in innovative and aesthetic style. The Hills will have around 3,300 trees from different continents.