Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a clarification statement on Friday stating that all stores except those selling food products and medical supplies inside commercial complexes are to be closed. This means that all stores within Al Meera or Lulu complexes are to be closed but Al Meera and Lulu themselves may remain open. As a reminder, pharmacies, supermarkets, and restaurants can stay open (although restaurants can only provide take away and delivery).

This directive, however, does not apply to stores located outside the commercial complexes, including those in commercial streets such as Souq Waqif and Al Furjan markets.

This statement came after confusion over the ministry's earlier decision which had stated that 'retail stores and bank branches' in commercial complexes will be closed for the prevention of coronavirus.

In Friday’s clarification statement, the ministry said the decision only applied to retail stores that are located INSIDE "major commercial malls such as Qatar Mall, Villaggio, Ezdan Mall, Al Salam Mall, City Center, Qmall, B Square Laguna Mall and others.

Hypermarkets and supermarkets (because they sell food items), ice-cream parlours, confectionary shops, pharmacies and medical centres are excluded from the closure. The same applies to restaurants and cafes as long as the food is not served in their dining rooms.

Source: MOCI

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar

Sumaica Asad

Start a discussion