The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has announced the first stage of the gradual lifting of restrictions on malls and shopping centres. As per this new directive, shopping centres in Qatar will be allowed to operate on weekdays from 8 am-8 pm at 30% capacity. 

In a statement the ministry said:

In line with the previous decisions and measures adopted by Qatar to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents, and to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the following has been decided.’

  • Allowing shoppers onto the premises only after checking the colour code identifying the individual’s health condition in the Ehteraz app. Only green code holders are allowed in.
  • Barring people not wearing a medical mask, and compelling visitors to wear masks throughout their time at the mall.
  • Measuring body temperature of workers and visitors at all entrances and preventing those with temperatures above 38° C from entering the mall.
  • Providing hand sanitisers across mall facilities.
  • Educating visitors to maintain a safe distance of no less than two metres from other individuals at all times.
  • Reducing the number of parking spaces available to visitors to 50%.
  • Operating at less than 30% of the mall’s regular capacity.
  • Barring smoking at mall entrances, and removing all containers designated for cigarette waste.
  • Preventing the gathering of visitors and limousine or taxi drivers at the entrance to malls.

Shops and retail outlets operating inside malls and shopping centres shall comply with the following measures:

  • Continuously measure the body temperature of the outlet’s staff, isolate employees who exhibit symptoms, and inform concerned authorities to take the necessary precautions and health measures in this regard
  • Abide by the decision to allow employees aged 60 and above, in addition to pregnant women and staff with chronic diseases, to work remotely.
  • Place safe distancing stickers on the store’s floor.
  • Allow customers to enter retail outlets only according to the store’s capacity. Only one individual is allowed per nine square metres.
  • Encourage customers to pay using credit cards rather than using cash
  • Continuously sterilise all of the outlet’s facilities, including administrative offices, warehouses, employee housing, and affiliated transportation facilities.

Follow our dedicated COVID-19 page for more updates.