While most things can be bought and sold in Qatar, the market is still relatively small and there are occasions when the whole country runs out of a particular product, if you can’t find something in particular you may want to look at what’s on offer further afield. The variety and convenience of online shopping makes it an appealing venture for many and, if you are craving particular items from back home, searching on the web is often your best bet. There are very few stores with an online presence in the country, but you may find some international stores offer delivery to Qatar. For books, DVDs and electronics, the popular online site www.amazon.com is a great resource. It delivers to Qatar, but you should bear in mind that it can be hard to calculate when your items will arrive – which could mean you have a long wait for your purchases.
UK fashion retailer ASOS (www.asos.com) also delivers to the region, and its affordable translations of clothing seen on the stars (for men and women) make it a great option for adding some funky pieces to your wardrobe. You can also purchase more high-end fashion from designers like Stella McCartney and Oscar De La Renta at Net-A-Porter.com.
Local online store www.dohasouq.com (established in mid 2008) offers a very limited range of items for home delivery, including flowers, sweets, electrical appliances, car hire, games and cakes. Orders can be placed online domestically, or from abroad, for delivery in Qatar. For second-hand items, check postings on www.qatarliving.com where many residents advertise their unwanted items.
You’ll also find that online facilities for Qatar-based banks are in their infancy. The first to dip its toe in the water is Doha Bank (www.dohabank.com.qa).
The Green Box (4411 7911, www.the-box.me) is a great new site that has started operating in Qatar. The site offers a weekly delivery of fruit and vegetables to your home, with a range of products sourced from Europe. You can buy a 5kg or 10kg mixed box of organic or non-organic stock (prices start from QR 155) and the company has recently started to sell poultry.
Many people who are hankering for items from their home countries often choose to use shipping companies Aramex and Borderlinx ,which offer services where you can establish personal mailing addresses in the US and UK so that internet purchases can be forwarded on to you.