The third edition of Shop Qatar officially opened last week at Msheireb Museums Company House featuring a fashion show and live music performances, a glimpse of what is to come over the next month.
This year’s edition of the festival is bigger and running longer to include all of the winter season’s most exciting events and festivities. Shop Qatar kicked off with the first National Day Trade Festival on 15 to 20 December, and will extend with special retail, hospitality and entertainment across Qatar until 20 January 2019.
Rashid Al Qurese from National Tourism Council (NTC) said that for this year, Shop Qatar is taking place during a very special season for visitors and residents alike. He said that the festival’s offerings are reviewed and renewed annually to ensure that audience segments are getting curated experiences that are authentic and respond to their different needs.
We thank our partners, across the public and private sectors, for their continuing support in making this festival a success and hope to see it grow even bigger in the years to come.’
Ali Al Kuwari, Acting CEO at Msheireb Properties said they are honoured to collaborate with NTC on this very special occasion.
We share important common values in promoting Qatar, its culture, history and heritage. We are very happy to host the Gala Dinner for Shop Qatar. Such events complement our efforts in reviving the old city centre of Msheireb Downtown to make it once again the social and commercial hotspot that it once was.’
Special Curated Experiences
Shop Qatar offers residents and visitors special curated experiences as it bundles retail and entertainment offerings as well as unbeatable deals at over 55 participating hotels across the country, timed around winter break, during QND and other festivals, for residents and visitors to fully enjoy the season’s festivities.
Mashal Shahbik from NTC said they are always keen to provide exciting platforms for local entrepreneurs and home-grown talent to meet and grow their audiences.
In addition to offering shoppers a chance to win cash and car prizes worth QAR3 million, the annual festival will feature the Shop Qatar Design District for the first time this year. The District will be hosted at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre on 5 to 12 January and will be a global hub for fashion-forward events and live entertainment. Festival organisers also launched a free Shop Qatar mobile application to bring all the festival events and activities straight to everyone’s fingertips.
Shop and Win Special Offers
From 20 December until 20 January, bargain hunters will enjoy discounts on international brands including clothes, electronics, cosmetics and accessories for men, women and children, with a chance to win cash and car prizes worth QAR3 million. There will be exclusive in-mall entertainment and roaming shows, and fun for the whole family throughout the month.
Shoppers who spend QAR200 at any of the 14 participating retailers can enter the weekly draws that will be held on the first three Thursdays of the festival (on 27 December 2018, 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 take place at the closing ceremony on 20 January 2019.
The 14 participating retail partners include Al Mirqab Mall, Al Khor Mall, City Centre, Dar Al Salam Mall, Doha Festival City, Gulf Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Lagoona Mall, Landmark Mall, Mall of Qatar, Royal Plaza, Tawar Mall, The Gate Mall and The Pearl-Qatar.
More than 55 hotels across Qatar will also 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.
Authentic Experiences, Concerts and More
Shop Qatar has renewed its partnership with Embrace Doha to lead shopping tours at Souq Waqif. Individuals interested in learning how to find their way through the traditional marketplace can join a two-hour long tours starting at 4 pm on 22 and 29 December and on 5 January, guiding groups through the Souq. Tour prices are QAR200 per individual (100 for children above 10). Register by calling 6672 5272.
In addition to the fashion-focused events, the final week of Shop Qatar 2019 will also see a host of live music concerts featuring Indian singer Arjit Singh, Pakistani band Strings and singers Ali Sethi and Quratulain Baloch. Tickets range from QAR100 to QAR250 and are already on sale through QTickets.
Parallel to Shop Qatar events and activities, there will also be numerous other festivities which will be held around Qatar such as the: Souq Waqif Spring Festival and the Souq Waqif Al Wakra Spring Festival; Torba Farmer’s Market at Qatar Foundation Ceremonial Court on weekends; Night Market at Duhail Sports Club, daily, from 4 pm to 1 am; and the Tegahwa coffee event at Al Hazm, daily, until 19 January 2019. Entertainment World Village will reopen its doors to the public and local Arabic play Compars will take to the stage of Qatar National Theatre on 5 January 2019.
To find out more, visit shopqatar.qa and follow the dedicated Shop Qatar social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
