Sidra Medicine

Shopping in Qatar

Going to shopping malls, souqs or other shopping destinations is the most popular pastime in Qatar. People enjoy going to shopping destinations to shop, eat, watch movies or just walk. No VAT or Sales Tax in Qatar ensures prices are competitive with other shopping destinations. However, the General Tax Authority (GTA) implemented the Excise Tax Law (No 25 of 2018) on 1 January 2019 on 'health-damaging' goods, with a 100% tax on tobacco and alcohol products, energy drinks and special purpose goods, and a 50% tax on carbonated drinks. Note: A 2015 government directive mandates all shops are required to close for 90 minutes for prayer around midday on Friday. Usually from 11:30 am – 1 pm.

Malls

Qatar continuously witnesses the opening of new malls. Early this year, Qatar saw the opening of the massive and luxurious Place Vendôme. In 2021, Msheireb Galleria opened in Msheireb Downtown Doha. The first shopping and entertainment mall to open in Qatar was The Mall, which opened in 1997. Prior to The Mall, residents shopped at The Centre since the 1970s. Malls vary in size, but all provide an opportunity for shopping, entertainment and dining. Many banks in the malls are open outside normal banking hours. Shopping festivals occur throughout the year offering great discounts, special offers and prizes.

Hypermarkets/Supermarkets

There are many local and international hypermarkets and supermarkets in Qatar both in and outside malls. Popular international hypermarkets include Carrefour carrefourqatar.com, Family Food Centre (FFC) family.com.qa, Lulu Hypermarket and Lulu Express qatar.luluhypermarket.com, Mega Mart, Monoprix monoprix.qa, and Spar Hypermarket spar-qa.com. Other hypermarkets and supermarkets include Safari Hypermarket safarihypermarket.com, Shoprite, Marza Hypermarke marzahypermarket.com, and Saudia Hypermarket saudiagroup.com. Al Meera Consumer Goods Co is one of Qatar’s leading retailers with the largest network of branches, consisting of at least 50 stores, almeera.com.qa Retailers link up with partners to give shoppers the opportunity to earn points and rewards: • Air Miles shopping rewards scheme. airmilesme.com • Aura Rewards, formerly known as Alshaya Card, is a loyalty programme where you can earn and redeem points when you shop or dine at brands operated by Alshaya Group. alshaya.com • Blue is a loyalty programme by Al Futtaim Retail

Group that lets you shop at their group brands

across the GCC and Egypt while earning rewards every time. mybluerewards.com • Family Club is a loyalty card by FFC, which allows its cardholder to earn points and redeem them at all FFC outlets. familyclub.qa • Festival Rewards is a customer loyalty mobile app by Doha Festival City, which gives you access to exclusive offers, special sale events, freebies and discounts. The free app can be downloaded on all iOS and Android devices. dohafestivalcity.com • Lulu app makes you a LuLu Loyalty member where you can earn points and redeem them at all Lulu outlets. luluhypermarket.com • Meera Rewards is Al Meera's loyalty programme and mobile application. almeera.com.qa • MyClub app from Carrefour Qatar. Valet Trolley service provides free home-delivery to MyClub cardholders for purchases of QAR250+ when shopping in-store. carrefourqatar.com • Nojoom from Ooredoo. ooredoo.qa • Shukran loyalty programme from Landmark Retail

Ltd which includes Centrepoint. shukranrewards.com Banks have also teamed up with retailers to make similar offers. Doha Bank and LuLu Hypermarket entice customers with the LuLu-Doha Bank shopping credit card providing customers with 5% savings on purchases at their stores throughout Qatar. QNB LIFE Rewards loyalty programme offers its debit and credit customers rewards at three levels of membership, dependent upon salary. QIC Advantage Club and QGrabs offer a different shopping concept – members can take advantage of great deals when shopping, dining, or using health and beauty facilities: qicadvantageclub.com and qgrabs.com. The Entertainer and Urban Point are money-saving 2-for-1 and discount app with thousands of offers that renew every month: theentertainerme.com and urbanpoint.com