In preparation for the Eid al-Fitr celebration, Qatar’s local markets and shopping malls have witnessed unprecedented sales growth across various retail sectors, especially gifts, fashion and sweets.
Amid a continuous surge in the number of shoppers, malls across Doha extended their working hours to woo more customers. For these malls, the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr seasons present golden opportunities.
Perfumes, chocolates and flowers are among the most important basic sectors that were positively affected by the advent of Eid.
Economists expect that the demand for gifts will double and that recreation will increase during the 11-day Eid festivities.
Economist Fawaz al-Hajri said that Eid remains a season for the promotion and sale of commodities owing to the staggering demand. In the retail sector, gifts make exceptional sales that compensate for the recession in the summer season as a result of travelling abroad, said Mr al-Hajri.
Chairman of Qatar Consumers Complex Companies Ali Hassan al-Khalaf said that Qatar has become a focus of attention and a tourist and entertainment destination for all age groups thanks to its infrastructure, diversity of markets and shopping malls and Eid-themed festivities.
Regarding his expectations for the volume of demand and sales in the two sectors, Mr al-Khalaf said that Eid is a vital religious occasion for Qataris and residents to focus on personal adornment, exchange of gifts, feasts and family gatherings.
The local markets are usually active a week before Eid in preparation for the requirements of visits and banquets and the afternoon of the first day of Eid.
Businessman Hassan al-Hakim attributed the great momentum and prosperity in the entertainment and gifts sectors to the doubling of the volume of Eidiyah – money given to children as gifts instead of presents to mark the occasion – which exceeded QR2,000 this year.
These Eidiyahs collected from family and relatives significantly bolster purchasing power, which enhanced the performance of the two sectors, especially amid the powerful advertising campaigns attracting and winning more Qatari shoppers.
On another note, al-Hakim drew attention to the necessity of planning family budgets and avoiding spur-on-the-moment spending during the Eid holidays to avoid debts that burden families and put them in inessential financial hardships.
Businessman Mansour al-Mansour anticipated a 50 per cent increase in demand for the entertainment and gifts sectors during Eid al-Fitr compared to the rest of the year, expecting that the gift market will witness a recovery capitalising on the customs and kinship ties that characterise Qatari society at these times.
