Tailoring shops around the country have started receiving orders from Qataris to make new thobes, the local men's dress, as part of preparations for the upcoming Eid al-Adha.
According to local Arabic daily Arrayah, the shops are making all necessary arrangements to provide their customers with various types of fabrics for the purpose, mostly imported from Japan, China, Thailand and Indonesia. In particular, shops at Souq Al Ali are getting a lot of requests for new dresses for Eid al-Adha.
The focus is on giving customers different types of quality dresses at various price levels, thereby appealing to wide-ranging tastes, it is found.
Speaking to the daily, some tailors said their thobe-making rates are "mostly fixed and stable", starting at QR35 for children and QR50 for adults. However, further charges could be added depending on special requests by customers who sometimes look for enhancements such as decorative collars, chest pocket or others. 
As for the fabric, which is mostly white in colour, the price per square metre starts from QR70 and goes up to QR150. They may sometimes be lower than this or even higher, according to the origin and quality of the fabric. 
The tailors stressed that most Qatari customers preferred Japanese-made fabric due to its high quality, comfort and look.
As the Eid al-Adha holidays will be followed shortly by the back-to-school season, tailors said they also usually receive orders to make around 4-8 thobes for children, so as to be ready for the new academic year.
Tailors around the country are heading for a busy season due to the double factor: Eid al-Adha and preparations for the back-to-school season, the report states.
Besides preparations by retail and commercial outlets, various other organisations have also started announcing plans and campaigns for the special occasion.
Recently, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) announced the launch of its initiative of selling subsidised sheep to Qataris ahead of Eid al-Adha.
The process of selling such sheep will start on August 14 and continue until August 23, coinciding with the third day of Eid al-Adha, the MEC has said. Live sheep will be sold to adult Qataris through Widam Food Company outlets at the Central Market, Madinat Al Shamal, Umm Slal Central Market and the Al Khor slaughterhouse. 
Meanwhile, Qatar Charity launched the ‘Offer an Udhiyah, Share the Happiness’ campaign, marking the start of the Eid al-Adha season. 
The campaign aims to provide around 40,000 sacrificial cattle, which include cows and sheep, within Qatar and 28 other countries throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. It will benefit around 900,000 people and also provide Eid clothes for children in dire need, QC said in a press statement.
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