For many residents, a shopping mall toilet is one of those facilities people notice most when something goes wrong: there is no soap, the floor is wet, there is an unpleasant smell, or a cubicle has not been cleaned properly.
In Qatar, however, visitors to many major shopping malls have become accustomed to regularly cleaned washrooms, attendants on duty, hand-washing facilities and modern fixtures that reduce contact and water use.
The impression of cleanliness is not based solely on appearance.
Qatar’s leading malls are increasingly being assessed against formal health and safety standards, with three major shopping destinations achieving the highest classification under a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) initiative to promote healthier shopping environments.
Al Hazm Mall, Doha Festival City and Mall of Qatar achieved the “Diamond Level”, the highest classification under the GCC Health-Promoting Shopping Centre and Mall initiative, following assessments based on approved GCC criteria.
The assessments covered hygiene and the environment, safety and security, community services, health awareness and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
The recognition was not based simply on whether a mall looked clean.
In 2025, 18 field assessments were carried out across the six GCC countries by specialised teams that included accredited evaluators from member states’ health ministries.
For residents, the difference is particularly noticeable in washrooms.
“It’s a good experience to use toilets at these major malls in Doha; it’s like I’m in a five-star hotel. Super clean restrooms,” Doha resident Arnel told *Gulf Times when describing what he likes about living in Qatar.
His comments were part of a longer list that included Qatar’s safety, architecture, healthcare and shopping facilities.
Another resident, Joan, said the availability of clean, air-conditioned facilities, including washrooms, is one reason malls remain popular places to spend time, particularly during the hot summer months.
“Apart from sensor-operated taps and automatic flushing, there is abundant tissue and liquid soap, and the toilets are well-maintained,” said Filipino expatriate Nard, who spends more time in malls not just to shop but also to dine, meet friends, bring his family, walk, and escape the heat.
He stressed the importance of clean, well-maintained washrooms to make their overall experience at shopping malls more comfortable.
However, the experience is not the same everywhere, with standards varying between malls and even between individual washrooms.
A 2024 peer-reviewed study of public restrooms in 10 Doha shopping malls provides some of the clearest scientific evidence on the issue.
Researchers collected samples from restrooms in five higher-end and five lower-end malls, testing surfaces such as toilet seats, water sprayers, taps, and door handles.
They found bacterial contamination, including potentially harmful organisms and multidrug-resistant bacteria.
The study also found that restrooms in higher-end malls generally had lower levels of bacterial contamination than those in lower-end malls.
The findings do not mean that Qatar’s mall toilets are unhygienic.
Rather, they show why appearance alone cannot determine cleanliness.
Cleaning frequency, disinfection methods, ventilation, water quality and user behaviour all play a role.
Mall operators have increasingly focused on these areas.
Doha Festival City, for example, has previously outlined cleaning and sanitisation measures, including regular disinfection and frequent cleaning of high-touch areas.
During the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, it installed 127 hand-sanitising stations across the mall, including in and around washrooms.
Mall of Qatar has also publicised regular cleaning and sanitisation measures, along with hand-sanitising stations throughout the mall.
“The moment a person leaves the washroom, we clean it immediately to prevent any unpleasant smell,” said a cleaner at a major mall.
The development of mall washrooms also goes beyond cleanliness.
Many modern facilities now use sensor-operated taps, automatic flushing systems, hand dryers and other touchless technology.
These features reduce the number of surfaces visitors need to touch and can also help conserve water.
This is particularly relevant in Qatar, where water is a limited and valuable resource.
A previous *Gulf Times report on measures to reduce water and energy use in Qatar’s malls highlighted the use of sensors and specialised nozzles in toilet faucets to improve water efficiency.
Some malls also provide dedicated accessible toilets, although assessments by Accessible Qatar have identified areas for improvement, including signage, emergency alarms, and the placement of washing and drying equipment.