Opinions

I don't believe we need to open new shopping malls and (malls) where the names of the offers change and the products offered are similar, nor do I know what we can see that is new in any new mall that differs from the other shopping malls that are currently struggling with sales, marketing, and purchasing power, which could make them continue or cover the rent and salaries of the employees in the shops, which may not be visited by anyone for a month, perhaps only once, and sometimes no one enters them. Is the overabundance of shopping malls not a response to the decline in purchasing power in the country? And what can differ each time a new mall is opened, differing from the others, while all the malls are similar in attracting well-known brands in makeup, fashion, clothing, bags, and everything related to men's and women's clothing, as well as cosmetics, skincare, and perfumes, in all their varieties and brands, or in diversifying the content of the shops between selling clothes, shoes, furniture, home furnishings, and accessories for adults and children, as well as fragrances and decorations? And strangely, in the face of all this, and despite the plans to create and open new malls, there is a lack of diversity in the commercial streets in the residential areas, as is the case with the commercial street in the Northern Khalifa City and Southern Khalifa City and Al-Luqta and the surrounding areas, which has turned into a small industrial area with no diversity, whether in restaurants or different shops, as is the case with other commercial streets such as Al-Shafi Street, Meedher, and Umm Al-Dom, and other commercial streets that have been designated to serve the residents of their areas, and to reduce the pressure on the main shops in Doha. Most of the street consists of car repair shops, tire sales and fitting, car detailing, computer and electrical repair, engine modifications, and car bodywork, as well as shops for window tinting and installation. You rarely find a restaurant in this area (the industrial zone), and you won't find another shop that offers anything other than what I've mentioned, except perhaps a very rare one. So, where is the balance between opening a commercial complex with a similar range of businesses to those already available, and the lack of diversity in a traditional commercial street, which should offer a variety of shops and goods?

We must acknowledge that our purchasing power is somewhat weak compared to the offerings available, not because we don't care about buying as citizens and residents, but because the similarity of the offerings makes us prefer those we are accustomed to purchasing from, and it is difficult for us to switch to a similar alternative that may also face abandonment and loss, which would discourage its owner from continuing to operate it. This is a reality that we have experienced, where small businesses have suffered catastrophic losses from opening projects that did not yield results. This could be due to poor management, lack of promotion, or a lack of experience in studying their feasibility. In all cases, there is a significant loss that these businesses have incurred, having taken out large loans for decoration, rent, labor, and materials. In the end, all of this has become worthless, as we have seen. Many of these businesses relied on the success of their trade and project during the World Cup, believing that things would improve. This also applies to those who wanted to enter the professional trade, but many were unable to withstand this competitive environment, due to a lack of experience or the failure of their project before it even began. As we say in colloquial Arabic, the shops are "empty," indicating that they are only occupied by the air that passes through the door, emitting a sound that indicates that no one is inside. Who should bear the consequences of all this? I mean, numerous shopping malls, fluctuating and weak purchasing power, the losses of young and inexperienced entrepreneurs, and a lack of diversity in the distribution of shops in commercial streets and neighborhoods. I believe that we should pay attention to all of these issues before launching a new shopping mall that will suffer the same fate as its predecessors.