By Raynald C Rivera
DOHA: Shops selling National Day merchandise have seen brisk sales as the day of celebration nears.
The dozens of shops lining up Souq Al Ali, most of which are specialised in tailoring, are working overtime to meet the demand for National Day dresses.
Very much in demand are National Day thobes with price ranging from QR80 to QR200 depending on the design and size. Also on sale are military uniforms for children, priced between QR180 and QR300 as well as National Day dresses for girls designed in white and maroon of the national flag.
The tailoring shops also produce Qatar National flags which have been most in demand in the last couple of weeks. The flags come in various sizes — the smallest of which costs QR5. There are bigger sizes — a 1.5m by 3m being sold for QR40 and a 1.8m by 5m for QR80, which are generally used to deck up the foyers of houses and company buildings.
Some companies adorn their buildings with enormous flags to show how much they value the celebrations and pay tribute to the country and its leaders. These massive flags are customised and can cost hundreds of riyals, according to tailoring shops.
Other must-have National Day merchandise and memorabilia available in retail shops in the souq include scarves, which come in various designs and fabrics, caps and visors, umbrellas, wristbands, chokers, stickers, bags, bracelets and buttons.
Such merchandise is sold in bulk in souqs and supermarkets all over the country such as in Souq Waqif, which is frequented by tourists and
visitors. Sales of National Day merchandise, retailers say, are set to increase on the eve of the celebration as in the previous years. Citizens and residents alike like buying these products.
The Peninsula
