Shop Qatar, the country’s nation-wide shopping festival, is set for its third edition, bigger and better than before. Kicking off this mid-December to bring flair to the season’s festivities, it brings a host of new features for residents and visitors to indulge and enjoy.
Shop Qatar is off to a strong start with the first edition of the National Day Trade Festival from 15 to 20 December, this is in addition to all the winter season’s most exciting events, including a variety of attractive retail offers at malls across the country as well as exciting fashion, lifestyle and entertainment events.
According to Mashal Shahbik of the National Tourism Council (NTC), Shop Qatar activities have been carefully curated to offer special offers for the bargain-hunter, the style-savvy and the fashion-forward. It also provide visitors and residents various opportunities to join in the celebrations of this special season.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners from both the public and private sectors for their continuous collaboration in building and growing the country’s festivals and tourism events year on year.’
Retail Offers for the Whole Family
Bargain hunters will enjoy discounts on international brands with a chance to win cash and car prizes worth QAR 3 million. Starting from 15 December, shoppers will enjoy discounts on a range of consumer goods including clothes, electronics, cosmetics and accessories for men, women and children – in addition to a host of exclusive in-mall entertainment and roaming mall shows for the whole family.
At least 14 retail partners will join this year’s edition of the festival.
To celebrate Qatar National Day – and in a move to bolster trade activities across the country – the first edition of the National Day Trade Festival is also being organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with NTC.
Special Hospitality Promotions
Over 50 hotels across Qatar will have special offers throughout Shop Qatar. The offers include discounted room nights, promotions at F&B outlets and health club services, as well as free airport transfers.
Shop and Win Prizes worth QAR3 million!
Shoppers who spend at least QAR200 at any of the 14 participating retailers can enter a weekly raffle draw for a chance to win cars and cash prizes worth up to QAR3 million. Draws will be held on the first three Thursdays of the festival (27 December, 3 and 10 January 2019), with two cars and seven cash prizes ranging from QAR10,000 to QAR100,000 to be won each week. The final draw will be held during the closing ceremony on 20 January 2019.
Design District at DECC
For the first time in Shop Qatar, a Design District will be set up as hub for the festival’s fashion-forward events and activations. This hub will be at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, and will bring a colourful showcase of pop-up shops, cafes, and over 20 fashion shows, workshops and masterclasses all under one roof, on 5 to 12 January 2019. In addition to international fashion shows, beauty masterclasses and workshops, the District will also host live entertainment.
Authentic Shopping Experience at Souq Waqif
For authentic shopping experiences, Shop Qatar has renewed its partnership with Embrace Doha to lead its shopping tours in Souq Waqif. Individuals interested to learn how to find their way through the traditional marketplace can join guided tours on Saturdays. The guided tours will be in groups and will pass through the different interesting offers inside the souq, stopping to sample and learn about spices, incense, traditional food, art and clothes.
Beyond the Malls
In addition to the fashion-focused events, the final week of Shop Qatar 2019 will see a host of live music concerts featuring renowned artists from Pakistan and India. More details will be revealed at a later date.
Parallel to Shop Qatar events and activities, there will be numerous other festivities in different areas around Qatar.
- Spring Festival (Souq Waqif / Souq Waqif Al Wakra)
- Torba Farmer’s Market (QF Ceremonial Court) Weekends
- Night Market (Duhail Sports Club) Daily, 4 pm to 1 am
- Tegahwa Coffee Event (Al Hazm) Daily, until 19 January
- Entertainment World Village
To find out more about Shop Qatar, visit shopqatar.qa. You can also follow their dedicated social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.