The new Qatar National Convention Centre has officially opened in Doha.

The venue – under the leadership of Qatar Foundation – is designed to add capacity for creativity and critical thinking through research in education and science as the Middle Eastern destination seeks to build a knowledge based economy.

With its state-of-the-art facilities, cutting edge technology and iconic design, the QNCC today is one of the most sophisticated convention and exhibition centres in the world.

With a 2,300 seat lyric theatre, three auditoria, a multipurpose conference hall for 4,000 guests, 40,000 square metres exhibition space and 52 meeting rooms, the Centre could accommodate 27,000 people in the venue at one time.

QNCC is the first of its kind built to the gold certification of the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED).

Following the opening, the QNCC will take centre stage as it welcomes the much-anticipated 20th World Petroleum Congress (WPC) and its 5,000 delegates from 4 to 8 December 2011.