Visitors at the Ramadan Market at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. Picture by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha: An array of food and household items related to Ramadan are being showcased at ‘Ramadan Market’ having over 150 shops from 25 different countries including Oman, Kuwait, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, China and Serbia at Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC).
The market offers traditional clothing fabric, jewellery, spices, Iranian pure saffron, organic beauty products, utensils, carpets, perfumes among many more. Ramadan Market which opens from 2pm to 1am will conclude on May 30. A short break for Iftar is taken from 5:30pm to 7pm.
“The market has a dedicated play area for children offering largest bounce castle which is extremely popular among the kids and skill games where the winners get gifts,” Qazi Yousri, Media Manager of Qsports told The Peninsula.
Ramadan Market is being organised by QSports in collaboration with United Expo WLL. Yousri said that a wide range of items which are very popular among local community including perfumes, luxuries, carpets, art pieces, decoration pieces are being sold at the market. “The food court of the market is serving delicious food and beverages,” said Yousri adding that the market under single roof is fulfilling the need of all members of the family.
Speaking about the targeted customers, he said that the market targets all residents including citizens and expatriates as it offers beautiful Arabic dresses like ‘Abaya’ unstitched traditional cloths from different countries, Arabic sweets, perfumes, Bukhor Oud, carpets, shoes. “The most selling items are unstitched clothes for ladies and sweets as Eid Al Fitr is approaching,” said Yousri adding that over 25 shops are selling clothing fabric from Pakistan, India, Kuwait, Iran and Bangladesh. Rovie Paver, a saleswoman at a cosmetic shop at the market said: “We offer skin care products from Korea which are organic, free from any type of chemicals.”
She said that the products are made by famous Korean brand which are not available in Qatari market. Another vendor from Iran said that he was offering Iranian products including pure Zafaran (saffron) and sweets. “We are offering two types of Zafaran; the pure Zafaran ‘Naqi Al Safi’ has the highest demand,” said the vendor.
A customer, Nadim Maher, an Indian expatriate, said that the good aspect of Ramadan Market is that it showcases many things related to holy Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr at one place which saved time and efforts of customers.
“My children bought some clothes and shoes for Eid Al Fitr. Now we are going to buy some more items,” said Maher.
A wide-variety of products and brands from over 150 exhibitors from around 20 countries are on display at the market. Top restaurants and cafes are also there to dish out mouth-watering light cuisine while kids can enjoy in a purpose-built kids area featuring the world’s largest bounce castle.
“It has been a great journey for Ramadan Market which has the potential to grow even bigger next season,” said Aya Kassab, Business Development Manager, QSports. She said that Ramadan Market is more than just a shopping extravaganza; it is an opportunity to simply relax, eat some good food, get an adrenaline rush while playing exciting games and basically spend some good family time.
“The market has been designed to offer a complete family package and a fun night-out entertainment,” said Kassab.
