File photo used for representation only.
The gradual lifting of the COVID-19 restriction in Qatar and the government’s policy of allowing vaccinated people from the GCC region into the country without quarantine is a boon to Qatar’s retail and food and beverage sector.
The government announced reopening the country in four phases, with the first from May 28.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event, Emile Sarkis, Mall of Qatar’s General Manager said easing the quarantine procedure and Qatar’s vaccination programme would ensure a quick recovery for the sector.
According to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), fully vaccinated GCC citizens who received any COVID-19 vaccines recognised in Qatar with at least 14 days since the last dose and present an official vaccination card or certificate are exempted from quarantine.
Also, GCC citizens and residents who have recovered from COVID-19 during the last nine months and have received a single vaccine dose are exempted from quarantine 14 days after vaccination. They must have a negative pre-travel PCR test valid for 72 hours and provide the required documents.
The same exemption applies to those infected after receiving a single dose of vaccine, provided that 14 days have elapsed since the diagnosis.
“We have started seeing a lot of development and traffic in the malls. Normally in the mall business worldwide, not only in Qatar, if you don’t have entertainment or restaurants, the footfall will be minor because people will come to the mall and just shop and leave. But once the entertainment section is open, people can mingle, dine and spend more time which will improve the traffic and economic circulation in the country,” Sarkis said.
“Easing the restriction on travel to Qatar from the GCC has brought a very positive impact. We have witnessed it for us at the Mall of Qatar because we have the Al Rayyan Hotel, which is being patronised, and we have seen many people from other the GCC countries at the mall shopping and dining.
“For sure, we want to see more, and as long as the situation gets smoother, hopefully, we will have the tourism we used to see before the pandemic,” he added.
Sarkis also praised the authorities for implementing adequate preventive measures and ensuring the economy avoided a complete shutdown.
“All the ministries like the MoCI, MME and MoI, and the MoPH have been doing a great job monitoring all the measures, and we can feel it as mall management because we deal with them daily.
“Personally, it relaxes me and makes me feel safe. The vaccination campaign is moving at fast pace and they have now started with children, which will ensure everyone can go out. People must also show their Ehteraz status before entering any premises, making people feel safe and comfortable in a gathering.
“Qatar’s is so advanced, and the vaccination for all the population and the preventive measures have been well implemented. At the same time, other countries went for full lockdown, but Qatar’s strategy was brilliant, and we never went for full lockdown. Still, the cases have been very low.”
The GM also revealed that the mall, despite the pandemic, has been on a series of expansions. He stated that MoQ opened more than 30 new stores in the last four months.
“We opened restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, Mestooran, and there are projects in the mall and outside which we will open soon.”
