The event will feature shopping promotions, cash prizes worth up to QAR4m and special offers on flights and hotel bookings

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has announced the launch of a new month-long shopping festival in the country, similar to the annual event held in Dubai.

The first edition of the festival, called Shop Qatar, will run from January 7 to February 7, 2017.

Held under the slogan ‘A Brand New Tradition’, the festival will feature discounts on popular brands, cash prizes worth up to QAR4m and special offers on flights and hotel bookings. The event will also host entertainment options including Cats the Broadway musical, live music concerts and 15 stand-up comedy acts.

Rashed Al Qurese, chief marketing and promotion officer at QTA said: “Based on the increases in visitor arrivals during the months that have coincided with other tourism festivals, we anticipate that a festival during the winter months has an even bigger chance of attracting visitors, due to the offering combined with Qatar’s great winter weather.

“Shop Qatar is also timed to fall within mid-year holidays for potential visitors in neighbouring countries, which are our largest source markets.”

Retail outlets around the country will provide discounts of up to 50 per cent on consumer goods including clothes, electronics, cosmetics and accessories for men, women and children.

Participating outlets include the recently-opened Mall of Qatar, Ezdan Mall, Hyatt Plaza, AlKhor Mall, Lagoona Mall, Gulf Mall, Landmark, Dar Al Salam Mall, The Gate and The Pearl-Qatar.

Shop Qatar will also feature local products designed by students of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar and other local designers, displayed in pop-up stores throughout the participating malls.

Make-up tutorials will also be offered throughout the festival and a fashion show will be held during the final week.

Ahmad Al Mulla, Mall of Qatar CEO said: “At Mall of Qatar, we are aligned with the efforts of Qatar Tourism Authority in bringing new streams of economic development and diversity to our country.”

Also read:Pictures: Qatar’s largest mall opens in Doha

For international visitors, QTA has partnered with Qatar Airways and hotel booking platforms Expedia.com and Booking.com to offer discounted air travel and tourist accommodation packages.

Any flights to Qatar from within the GCC region booked on Qatar Airways for the period between January 7 – February 7 will be available with a 25 percent discount.

In terms of cultural events, Cats, the longest-running show on Broadway, will run from February 1-4 at Qatar National Convention Centre, with ticket prices starting at QAR150.

Two concerts featuring Arab and Khaliji singers will be held on January 20 and 27 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, with tickets costing between QAR120 to QAR1,250.

Meanwhile, the Doha Comedy Festival will also run from February 2-4 at the Qatar National Convention Centre. Tickets will be priced between QAR120 and QAR1,000.

Participating retail partners will also host in-mall entertainment and roaming mall shows.

Shop Qatar has also partnered with Ezdan World to offer a fun fair to visitors at the Magical Festival Village, which will be held beside Katara Cultural Village. The Village houses over 400 shopping outlets and cafes and restaurants with public seating areas.

Shoppers who spend QAR200 at any of the participating retailers can enter a weekly raffle draw at Mall of Qatar to win cash prizes worth up to QAR4m. Draws will be held on the first three Fridays of the festival (January 13, 20 and 27), with 15 cash prizes ranging from QAR10,000 to QAR300,000 each week.

A mega-draw will be held on the final day of Shop Qatar (February 7) with a jackpot prize of QAR1,000,000 and 14 other cash prizes ranging from QAR20,000 to QAR120,000.