The 52,000-square-foot flagship marks Primark’s 21st international market, with a second Qatar store planned for 2027 as the retailer accelerates its GCC expansion through Alshaya Group.
Primark has opened its first store in Qatar at Doha Festival City, entering its fourth Middle Eastern market through its franchise partnership with Alshaya Group. The opening on October 21, 2026, marks the retailer’s 21st international market and follows its entry into Kuwait in October 2025 and subsequent launches in the UAE and Bahrain in 2026.
The new flagship spans more than 52,000 square feet across three floors and has brought more than 400 colleagues into the business. The store offers Primark’s range of fashion, everyday essentials and lifestyle products, with opening-day celebrations featuring entertainment, giveaways and customer activities.
Eoin Tonge, CEO of Primark, said: “It’s been a significant first year for Primark in the region, and we’ve been excited by the response from customers as we’ve grown our presence. Today’s opening in Qatar builds on that momentum and marks the milestone of our 21st market globally. Together with Alshaya Group, we’re continuing to bring Primark to new places and new customers, with a second store in Qatar to follow early next year.”
The retailer plans to open its second Qatar store at Villaggio Mall in early 2027, extending its presence beyond Doha Festival City. The opening forms part of a wider regional expansion strategy that uses Alshaya’s established retail operations to introduce Primark to new markets across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
John Hadden, CEO of Alshaya Group, said: “As we continue our partnership with Primark to bring the much-loved brand to the region, we are really proud to open our sixth store in our fourth country in the region, in just a year. The response to the first Qatar store has been amazing, thank you to all our customers who joined us at the opening, and to our partners at Al Futtaim, as we continue our exciting journey with Primark.”
The Qatar launch follows Primark’s regional debut at The Avenues in Kuwait in October 2025. The retailer subsequently opened three stores in Dubai before entering Bahrain in September 2026. Its expansion pipeline includes a second Kuwait store at Aventura Mall in early 2027 and its first Saudi Arabian store, scheduled to open in March 2027.
Commenting on the opening, Mohamed ElSharkawy, Associate Director- Malls Leasing at Doha Festival City, said: “As a key retail partner of Al-Futtaim, Alshaya Group plays an important role in strengthening our retail offering, and we are pleased to welcome Primark to Doha Festival City. Primark’s arrival reflects our position as Qatar’s leading retail, lifestyle and leisure destination, bringing together global brands, exceptional experiences and a vibrant community offering. Our focus remains on delivering lasting value for our guests and partners while driving the continued evolution of retail in Qatar.”
