Reinforcing its role as the first destination to bring global brands to Qatar, Doha Festival City has announced the first-to-market opening of Primark later in 2026, marking a major milestone in the country’s retail landscape.
Delivered in partnership with Alshaya Group, Primark’s Qatar debut underscores Doha Festival City’s long-standing role as Doha’s destination for coveted global trends, achieved through attracting internationally recognised brands and serving as the gateway of choice for retailers entering the Qatari market
The opening builds on Doha Festival City’s proven ability to convert brand demand into sustained footfall, loyalty and long-term value.
Primark will open its first and largest store in Qatar at Doha Festival City, spanning three levels, firmly positioning it as a key anchor within the mall’s fashion portfolio.
Founded in Ireland and operating hundreds of stores across Europe and the United States, Primark has recently expanded into the Middle East through its partnership with Alshaya Group, with Qatar marking a key next step in the brand’s regional growth.
Known globally for accessible, trend-driven fashion across women’s, men’s, kids’ and home departments, Primark is expected to attract families, youth and value-seeking shoppers, supporting longer dwell time and cross-shopping across the destination while meeting everyday wardrobe and family shopping needs.
Primark’s arrival aligns with Doha Festival City’s wider vision to scale experience-led retail, broaden accessible fashion and home offerings, and reinforce its leadership as Qatar’s most established retail and lifestyle destination. With shoppers visiting weekly and spending up to three hours per visit, Doha Festival City offers the scale and performance required for high-impact first-to-market launches of this significance.
Mohamed ElSharkawy, Associate Director – Malls Leasing at Doha Festival City, said:
“The introduction of Primark to Qatar through Doha Festival City reflects our long-term strategy to attract first-to-market global brands that add scale, relevance and sustained value to the retail landscape. Our partnership with Alshaya Group builds on a proven track record of delivering successful international entries, while reinforcing Doha Festival City’s position as the preferred destination for global retailers seeking confident, high-impact market entry into Qatar.”
Primark’s debut further demonstrates Doha Festival City’s ability to deliver complex, large-format international launches, supported by strong infrastructure, accessibility and proven trading dynamics. Beyond the immediate impact, the opening is expected to generate positive spillover across adjacent categories, strengthen the wider retail ecosystem and reinforce Doha Festival City’s appeal to international brands evaluating expansion into Qatar.
