Shopping in Qatar is easy, fun and offers great
value. With no purchase (or value-added) tax, and
because the Qatari market is very competitive,
prices are more attractive than in many other
parts of the world, and usually as low as — and,
in some cases, lower than — those in duty-free
facilities in the region.
Qatar offers gleaming, modern shopping malls
and traditional souqs (markets) that recall the
olden-day Arab bazaars. The shopping malls
are air-conditioned, spacious, and have large,
free parking areas. Products and prices vary,
and quality is good. In general, the souqs offer
cheaper goods. Whereas mall shops tend to
have fixed prices, bargaining is expected in the
souqs. Read the ‘Doha’s Souqs’ feature for more
information.
Doha has several shopping ‘districts’, rather than
one ‘town centre’, so no matter which part of
the city you are in, you can be sure there will be
stores nearby.
Most shopping malls feature a large
supermarket as an anchor store, but there are
also freestanding hypermarkets. Malls contain
boutiques, pharmacies, restaurants and coffee
shops; often, there is also a food court. Some
shopping centres have multi-screen cinemas as
well as entertainment facilities that range from
skating rinks and water parks to children’s play
areas and bowling alleys.
All shopping malls have security patrols and
first-aid facilities. They also have separate
prayer rooms for men and women and full toilet
facilities.
For those interested in seeing the hustle and
bustle of market life, Doha’s central markets,
just off Salwa Road, include a large fruit and
vegetable market with local and imported
products, a fish market and a meat market.
The adjacent Omani Souq sells, as the name
implies, goods from Oman such as dried fish,
frankincense and spices. It also has a wide
