Joanna James
If you are a shopaholic or are just looking for places to enjoy dining and family fun, the malls in Qatar have got you covered! Many of them can be found in and around Doha, the capital, each offering plenty to experience as well as buy for a trendy new wardrobe too.
Encompassing a whopping 600,000 square metres, Doha Festival City provides more than just shopping and is an ideal place to spend the day. One of the best family attractions in Qatar, the mall features more than 400 stores offering fashion, jewellery, sporting goods, homeware, gadgets and more. Harvey Nichols and a Monoprix hypermarket can be found here, along with brands like Giordano, Armani Exchange, Mango, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. Families at the mall will have a blast at Angry Birds World, Snow Dunes (snow-themed park), a cinema complex and the Virtuocity gaming space.
Spanning five storeys, Doha City Centre is one of the largest in the city and has a mix of international, regional and local brands. Located in the West Bay area, it is only around a 25-minute drive from Hamad International Airport in Doha. Hotels that offer easy access to the mall are ideal accommodation options for those looking to spend lots of time here; there are around 370 shops and stores to peruse with brands the likes of Nike, Calvin Klein, Mango, Quick Silver, Body Shop, Adidas and Debenhams. Apart from a variety of restaurants, the mall has a bowling alley, cinema complex and even an ice rink!
Those on a visit to the Villaggio Mall in Doha will be forgiven for thinking they have been magically transported to Venice! Within easy reach of properties such as Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, this mall has been designed with striking glass domes, marble floors and bridges and has an indoor canal complete with gondolas. Apart from taking in this charming setting, you can do some shopping too with more than 200 shops to visit including those with designer brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton. Also here is the Gondolania Theme Park which offers a rollercoaster ride, ice skating, 12-lane bowling, go-karting and more.
For more shopping in Doha, the Tawar Mall is worth heading to and has about 300 shops and restaurants providing retail therapy and dining delights alike. Apart from fashion for both men and women, you will find jewellery, home furnishing, electronics, footwear, sporting goods, toys and other items too. A unique element of this mall is its Old Souq area which gives one an idea of what a traditional market is like. Other highlights include BOUNCE which offers fun on trampolines, multiple cinemas and a dancing musical fountain.
Situated in the Al Rayyan area close to Doha city, the Mall of Qatar is home to more than 500 shops and stores and offers entertainment and leisure options too. Amongst its most striking features is the central space known as the Oasis which hosts various performances throughout the year. Brands like Mango, Max Mara, Monsoon, Elisabetta Franchi and L'Atelier are bound to draw fashion-conscious shoppers, while there are over 100 food outlets to choose from when hunger strikes. There's a cinema complex with 19 screens (including an IMAX cinema) and families can also have fun with 8-pin bowling and at attractions like Kidzmondo and Xtremeland.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
