By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter


The QR80mn Doha Outlet Mall, “a distinctive destination offering high-end brands at discounted prices”, is set for completion in the first quarter of 2015 at West End Park in the Mesaimeer area.
“A first of its kind in Qatar and the GCC region, Doha Outlet Mall will be officially announced today at Cityscape Qatar at the Qatar National Convention Centre,” Qatar Property Management (QPM) chairman Mana Ibrahim al-Mana told Gulf Times yesterday.
Described as “the country’s largest mall that will feature a wide range of merchandise available at rock bottom prices”, it has a ground floor measuring 20,470sqm and can accommodate 2,500 cars in its parking area.
“The mall will be strategically located so that it can be reached via Salwa Road, which is the main link between Qatar and Saudi Arabia,” al-Mana explained.
For its initial phase, the outlet mall will consist of 170 shopping stores for men’s, women’s and children’s fashion. Al-Mana emphasised that the mall will also showcase products such as jewellery, electronics, shoes, perfumes and a special section for sports. It will also feature a food court, gardens and external bazaars connected to the mall, he added.
Al-Mana stressed that Qatar is a major centre for providing and selling various quality brands for tourists arriving from major countries such as India, the US, Great Britain, Italy and the rest of the GCC states. This, he added, contributes to the increased demand for international brands, especially during shopping festivals.
He predicted that the market for luxury brands will witness “good growth” in Qatar during the coming months, when the expected annual growth percentage of the commercial sector will be at 8.5%.
Pedro Ribeiro, external outlet expert consultant of Doha Outlet Mall, said their price tags would reflect both the original and discounted prices, ranging from a minimum of 30% to an average of 50%.
During season sales, he said prices would be discounted up to 80%. Once fully operational, Ribeiro said a team will conduct daily inspections of stores to check if all items are available at the agreed discounted prices.
He explained that the formula followed by outlet malls, which are very popular in Europe, provides a venue for traditional malls to sell the remaining stocks or merchandise that were not sold during the first season or after a sale period.
Ribeiro added that while the mall is expected to be operational by next year, lease agreements signed with QPM are already at 75%. He stressed that major players in the retail market are interested, “which gives us the confidence to pursue the opening of the project on schedule”.
When asked to comment on the keen interest of major players in the shopping industry, al-Mana said: “This only shows that we are in a great state because we have a great concept that gives added value to Qatar’s growing shopping tourism.”