Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba relaunched yesterday the project to complete the Zumurrud (Emerald) shopping mall and mixed-use project, part of the Tripoli Gate project, located on the Airport Road.
To be completed by August 2026
Aldabaiba stressed that the mall complex will be completed according to the set 17-month schedule (August 2026), emphasising the importance of completing it with high standards that enhance the commercial and administrative infrastructure in the country.
A total of 280,000 square metre of commercial, administrative and leasable space
The project extends over a total covered area of 280,000 m², distributed between the commercial complex with an area of 135,000 m² and the administrative complex with an area of 145,000 m², in addition to 85,000 m² of leasable space.
Shops, cinemas, bowling, aquarium, food court, entertainment
The mall includes 265 shops of various sizes, 11 modern cinemas, 24 bowling lanes, a giant aquarium basin, a food court area, entertainment areas for families and children, common spaces for businessmen, outdoor playgrounds, in addition to parking for 1,200 cars, including 200 covered parking spaces and 1,000 outdoor parking.
During the relaunch event, Aldabaiba toured the project site with the executing foreign company, where he was briefed on the details of implementation and the upcoming stages of work. He listened to those in charge of the project who confirmed that the completion of the mall will be in accordance with the investment framework, which contributes to supporting the local economy and providing new job opportunities.
Sales centre for the project opened
The launch of the completion of the mall was accompanied by the opening of a sales centre for the project, in order to provide services and facilities for those wishing to invest and benefit from the mall’s facilities.
Aldabaiba stressed that the government will follow up on the implementation of the project to ensure that it is completed on time according to the highest standards, praising the role of major investments in developing the country’s economic structure.
The Tripoli government reported that Zumurrud Mall won two international awards at the Cannes Festival in France as the best architectural and environmental design for a commercial complex.
Another relaunch of the project
It will be recalled that in March 2021 the then recently sworn in Aldabaiba had announced the restart of construction of the Zumurrud project.
It will also be recalled that the Tripoli Gate/Zumurrud projects are implemented by the Libyan Investment and Development Company (LIDCO), a company which Aldabaiba was General Manager and Chairman under the Qaddafi regime.
In September 2021, the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) signed an investment deal (The Peace Building Project deal) with LIDCO, whereby the LIA injects capital in LIDCO to enable it to part complete some of the Tripoli Gate projects, which include the Zumurrud project.
The Zumurrud project, touted at the time as one of the largest malls in Africa, was started in 2010 but, like all major Libyan projects, was brought to a halt by Libya’s February 2011 Revolution.
The concept architect is American 5+ Design, and the responsible architecture office is Yazgan Architecture from Turkey. The mixed-use project was originally implemented by the Turkish Renaissance company.
In 2010 the total investment amount of the project, which has an investment value of US$ 150 million and the investment value of the 5-star hotel project of $100 million, was expected to amount to about US$ 1 billion.
The shopping mall project had been envisioned to be completed in March 2011, the business centre in June 2011 and the hotel by the end of 2011.
After the 2011 revolution, the construction site had been used for some time as an internally displaced camp – Airport Road Camp – for Tawerghans.
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