The weekly community bazaar at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is helping bring additional income to many families. A number of women see the bazaar as a venue to earn an income to fulfil their simple needs that they could not accomplish otherwise due to financial constraints.
An Asian girl said that she saved enough from her sales at the bazaar to take up driving classes and obtained a driving licence. She is now saving money to buy a car.
MIA Park Bazaar has around 150 stalls showcasing handicrafts, accessories, paintings, garments, food, ornaments, photographs and arts. The major crowd puller at the bazaar is the food court. Food outlets have varieties of fresh homemade food items on sale at prices compared to those in other local markets. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and other Arab, African and Asian cuisines can be enjoyed to the full.
“Light meals like burgers, sandwiches, shakes and juices are the most selling items at food court”, a woman running a food outlet at MIA bazaar told The Peninsula.
“I prepared three kilo biryani to sell at the bazaar. A plate is sold at QR10 and there is much demand. I was able to make QR 1,500 today selling food item which cost me some QR400," the woman said.
Some outlets have ladies garments of the latest design and traditional ornaments imported by shopkeepers from their home countries especially India and Pakistan to attract their fellow citizens in Qatar.
“I bought a set of bead bangles for QR70. They are very beautiful and made in the traditional market of Hyderabad, India. If I buy the same stuff in shops here, I would have to pay at least QR100," said a woman visitor.
An outlet was showcasing quality head gears and Islamic clothing, imported from Malaysia.
"My father has special privilege to sponsor family in Qatar despite a low salary. We are a big family. We cannot depend on the salary of our father to meet all our needs," said an Indian girl sharing an outlet with her classmates from Africa.
