RIYADH, 24 July — Downtown Batha, one of the oldest districts of Riyadh, got a major facelift yesterday with the opening of the first phase of a prestigious SR550 million commercial center which will have the Mideast’s largest dome clinging on to it without any support columns. The dome will have a 31-meter radius.
“The total build-up area of the project is 130,000 square meters with 319 commercial units,” said Abdulaziz S. Al-Jehaiman, general manager of Ibn Sulaiman Commercial Center. He said this modern complex would have a spacious “food court” featuring many local and international fast food chains. It will have a designated sitting area for families and a separate area for singles.
He said laser lights synchronizing to the ceiling and the floors were on display at the complex, whose walls are decorated with the best granites available in Saudi Arabia. “This huge project will also serve to anchor the market in downtown, from where some businesses had been gradually moving away,” he said.
Al-Jehaiman pointed out that the center would have 12 main entrance gates besides several secondary entrances from every direction. Besides, there are elevators originating directly from the streets to the second floor of the center to facilitate people’s movement.
Referring to other facilities at the mall, Al-Jehaiman said there was an underground parking area to accommodate some 750 cars at a time. Additional parking space for nearly 1,900 cars will be available with the completion of the second phase of the project, when the three integrated towers will be ready for use.
The center will have an 11-storied family tower occupying an area of 12,800 square meters, a prestigious 11-floor executive suite tower occupying an area of 13,900 square meters and a seven-floor office tower with an area of 27,000 square meters. The executive tower will be a fully furnished building with each unit having reception room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and other facilities.
All three towers will be ready for possession in 18 months and potential tenants are being enlisted. The project is being executed by a group of prominent Saudi investors led by Sheikh Ibn Sulaiman and Dr. Abdul Mohsen Al-Rowaisid.
