Primark has opened its first store in Qatar at Doha Festival City, in partnership with Alshaya Group, taking the retailer into its 21st market globally. The opening comes as Primark marks one year in the Middle East.
The store offers more than 52,000 sq ft of shopping space across three floors, with Primark‘s mix of style, value and everyday essentials. More than 400 colleagues have joined the business with the opening.
Qatar is Primark’s fourth country in the Middle East, following its entry into Kuwait in October 2025 and openings this year in the UAE and in Bahrain, where the retailer opened at City Centre Bahrain. As in those markets, the Doha store has been opened with Alshaya Group, the international retail franchise operator.
“It’s been a significant first year for Primark in the region, and we’ve been excited by the response from customers as we’ve grown our presence. Today’s opening in Qatar builds on that momentum and marks the milestone of our 21st market globally. Together with Alshaya Group, we’re continuing to bring Primark to new places and new customers, with a second store in Qatar to follow early next year.”
Eoin Tonge, CEO, Primark
Opening day celebrations included entertainment, giveaways and activations for customers experiencing Primark in Qatar for the first time.
A second store in Qatar is due to open at Villaggio Mall early next year.
“As we continue our partnership with Primark to bring the much-loved brand to the region, we are really proud to open our sixth store in our fourth country in the region – in just a year. The response to the first Qatar store has been amazing – thank you to all our customers who joined us at the opening, and to our partners at Al Futtaim, as we continue our exciting journey with Primark.”
John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group
Doha Festival City is part of the Al-Futtaim portfolio, and Alshaya Group is one of the group’s key retail partners.
“As a key retail partner of Al-Futtaim, Alshaya Group plays an important role in strengthening our retail offering, and we are pleased to welcome Primark to Doha Festival City. Primark’s arrival reflects our position as Qatar’s leading retail, lifestyle and leisure destination, bringing together global brands, exceptional experiences and a vibrant community offering. We continue to shape the country’s retail landscape by setting high standards in guest experience, curating a distinctive retail mix and creating a destination where shopping, leisure and community engagement come together. Our focus remains on delivering lasting value for our guests and partners while driving the continued evolution of retail in Qatar.”
Mohamed ElSharkawy, Associate Director – Malls Leasing, Doha Festival City
Primark’s expansion across the GCC is set to continue early next year with a second store in Kuwait, at Aventura Mall.
The retailer’s first store in Saudi Arabia is scheduled to open in March 2027, extending its presence across the region.
Terry Clark is the Publisher and Content Director of 365 Retail, with more than a decade of experience covering retail design, technology innovations, store openings and the wider retail industry. He also works closely with leading retailers, suppliers, agencies, events and industry awards across the UK.
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