Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has urged consumers to be aware of their rights when shopping during promotional campaigns, emphasising the importance of transparency and fair commercial practices as retailers continue to offer discounts and special deals.
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance consumer awareness and protect shoppers, the Ministry outlined several key rights that consumers should keep in mind before making purchases during promotional offers. These measures are aimed at ensuring that discounts are genuine and that customers are provided with accurate information to make informed buying decisions.
In a post on its X platform the Ministry noted “As a consumer, you have the right to know the price before and after the discount, review the exchange and return policy, receive a clear invoice, and ensure that the offer is genuine and clearly advertised.”
Consumers have the right to know both the original price of a product and its discounted price before completing a purchase. Displaying the price before and after a discount enables shoppers to verify the authenticity of promotional offers and assess the actual value of the savings being advertised.
The Ministry also stressed that consumers are entitled to receive a clear and detailed invoice for every purchase. A proper invoice serves as proof of the transaction and is essential in the event of an exchange, return, or complaint. Consumers are encouraged to retain their invoices after making purchases, particularly during promotional periods.
In the first quarter of 2026, as for the consumer affairs sector, 1,897 type licenses were issued. The sector also received 6,895 complaints during the same period, an increase of 323 percent compared to the first quarter of 2025.
These were distributed between 5,640 complaints for consumer protection, 631 complaints for type licenses, 622 complaints for supply, and two complaints related to competition. The complaints were dealt with according to specific time periods, as consumer protection complaints were closed within 8 days, supply complaints within one day, and type license complaints were closed within two working days.
Meanwhile 74,766 inspection visits were carried out during the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 89 percent compared to the first quarter of 2025, while the percentage of violations reached 9 percent, within the framework of strengthening market control and consumer protection.
