Qatar may be a small nation, but what it can offer to visitors makes it at par with some of the biggest nations in the Arabian Gulf. Visiting the country is one adventure you’ll surely remember, so get ready because you’re in for a treat.

One of the many reasons why people love visiting Qatar is the great weather. It’s sunny and amiable for most of the year. Apart from the weather, people love to learn about the tradition practiced in this Middle Eastern independent state. And the state is proud of its numerous attractions such as museums, dunes, and of course, a wide range of Shopping options. 

Go shopping in Qatar with these 12 helpful tips to get the most out of your experience:

1. Set a budget. You may enter a shop with gold jewelry carefully placed from the floor up to the ceiling, which means your options are endless. If you don’t set your budget, you’ll spend more than what you intended. And there isn’t just one shop to visit, there are numerous. So be wise about setting your budget, and stick to it.
2. Create a list. When you have a list on hand, it’s easier to go shopping because you won’t get distracted by everything that you see, and you won’t do impulse buying. Your list will be your guide to what you should be buying and only stick to that list to make sure you don’t overspend.
3. Focus on what you need. People tend to go overboard when shopping. They think they need everything they see, when in fact, they only want it but don’t need it. So when you visit shops in Qatar, keep in mind what you need as a keepsake from your trip. Don’t buy everything you see thinking you need it as a souvenir.
4. Know the best locations. If you want to get the most out of your shopping experience, you should know where the best places to buy are. So you should take note of what items you need to buy, and then find out where the best place to buy them is. It could be the market for local produce or the mall for luxurious items.
5. Go for one-stop shops. If you’re keen to save on transportation, choosing a one-stop shop is the ideal thing to do. There are many places like this in Qatar, such as the Ansar Gallery, Al Rawnaq, Al Saeed Trading Center, Daiso, Deal Center, Dollar Plus, Ramez Qatar, and Saving Square. These are places where you can buy everything, from home essentials to clothing, to accessories and even special occasion items.
6. Buy from local artists. If you want to remember your visit to Qatar, one of the best things you can do is shop for items that are made by their local artists. These can be pieces of jewelry, handicrafts, footwear, traditional clothing, etc. The best place to visit is the street markets.
7. Bargain and haggle in the souks. Don’t simply pay for the first price you’re told. You’ll never know how much lower the price can’t get if you don’t haggle. It’s quite common in the souks. You simply ask for the price, and then haggle, even up to 50 percent, until you and the seller reach an acceptable price.
8. Hit the malls for luxurious brands. If your sole purpose for shopping is to add items to your luxurious collection, then don’t go anywhere else but the mall. Lafayette Galleries is home to 400 international brands, such as Berluti, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and the like. It’s a haven for shopaholics coming from all around the world.
9. Familiarize yourself with the shopping hours. It’s not the same for all shops. Some operate from 10 am to 10 pm, while others open as late as 2 pm. Some don’t open on weekends while others start operating on Fridays. In the souqs, noon breaks are commonly observed. So make sure you familiarize yourself with these times before heading out.
10. Don’t miss out on saving. You can do this by checking out the sale dates for the shops you want to visit. You can do this online. Check out which shops offer sales in Qatar. There are usually seasonal promos, Black Friday sales, three-day sales, etc. Get promo codes and discounts as much as you can.
11. Dress appropriately. When you’re visiting the souks of Qatar, make sure you’re dressed moderately. Don’t show too much skin as you may offend some locals. Choose lightweight clothing since it’s normally hot, but carry a jacket too, because malls can be colder.
12. Set aside enough time for shopping. Enjoy the experience by setting enough time to look around. You don’t want to go rushing from one store to another just because you didn’t plan your shopping well enough. You want to enjoy the experience and visit as many shops as you can, so be wise about planning your visit.

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