Guides / Daily life / Scams & consumer rights
Sales, Black Friday and promotions in Qatar: your rights when you buy on discount
How sales, special offers and prize draws are licensed in Qatar, how to tell a real discount from a fake one, and what still applies on sale items: price labels, invoices, returns, warranties and reporting to MOCI.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Who regulates sales
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), under Consumer Protection Law No. 8 of 2008 and Decision No. 311 of 2018 on discounted sales
- Seasonal sale length
- Up to one month per licence; special event discounts are counted separately
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday 2026
- Friday 27 November / Monday 30 November (shop campaign dates vary)
- Report a fake or unlicensed offer
- MOCI call centre 16001, the MOCI app or website, or @MOCIQATAR on social media
Qatar has sales all year: mall mega sales, Ramadan and Eid offers, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November, and big year-end clearances in December. Unlike many countries, shops here cannot simply put up a 'sale' sign: discounts, special offers and prize draws need a licence from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), which sets rules on timing, advertising and price labels. This guide is for anyone who wants to shop the sales without being caught by fake discounts, hidden conditions or 'no return' surprises. Read it in order: know the normal price before the sale, check the label and the offer terms in the shop or app, check the return policy before you pay, keep the invoice, and report fake or unlicensed offers to MOCI. For the full complaint process and general refund and warranty rights, see the consumer complaints guide.
Before you start
- A short shopping list and a budget, so the sale does not decide for you
- Screenshots or photos of the normal price of the exact items you want, taken a week or two before the sale
- The shop's official website, app or social media account, so you only use real offer pages and codes
- Your phone camera ready to photograph price labels, offer posters and the receipt
- Your loyalty card or registered mobile number if the offer is for members only
- A card that offers purchase protection, if you plan to buy online
- Space in your phone or email for e-receipts, order confirmations and raffle coupons
- Your Qatar ID (QID) and a working Qatar mobile number in case you need to file a MOCI complaint
Step by step
Understand how sales are licensed in Qatar
In Qatar, a shop or online platform needs MOCI's approval before it advertises lower prices. MOCI issues separate licences for seasonal sales, special offers (such as new prices or 'buy one, get one free'), promotional offers, final clearance sales, loyalty programme discounts, festivals, prize draws and scratch-and-win games. Under Decision No. 311 of 2018, a seasonal (general) sale can run for up to one month, and a shop may only announce it from one day before the start date in its licence. Special discounts linked to events or loyal customers are counted separately. This matters to you because a licensed sale has rules MOCI can check, and in April 2026 MOCI fined a delivery platform QAR 10,000 for advertising discounts without approval.
Note the normal price before the sale starts
The easiest way to spot a fake discount is to know the real price beforehand. In the week or two before a big sale, photograph shelf labels or screenshot the product page for the exact model, size and colour you want, with the date visible. When the sale starts, compare the sale price with your record, not with the 'was' price on the new label. If the 'was' price has gone up just before the sale, the discount may be smaller than it looks, or not real at all. Waiting for a later sale day, such as Cyber Monday after Black Friday, does not guarantee a lower price, so buy when the price and terms suit you.
Check the price label in the shop
MOCI says you have the right to see the price before and after the discount, so a sale item should show both. Prices must be clear and in Arabic (other languages can be added), and one item must not carry two different prices. If the till charges more than the sale label, show the cashier a photo of the label and ask for the labelled price. Discount adverts must not be exaggerated or misleading, and under Decision 311 the lowest discount a shop advertises on its front must cover at least 20% of the goods on sale. So a big 'up to 80%' banner usually means only some items have that discount; check the label on the item you actually want.
Read the terms of the offer
Many promotions come with conditions: 'buy one, get one free' or 'second item at half price', bundles, minimum spend, members-only prices, offers limited to one branch or to the app, or discounts only with a certain bank card. Read the small print on the poster, the shelf or the offer page before you go to the till. Check the dates too, because a licensed offer has a fixed period and the shop must stop it when it ends. If a condition was not shown and the shop applies it at the till, ask to see the written terms; hidden conditions that change the advertised deal can be reported to MOCI.
Check the return and exchange policy before you pay
Shops often have a different, shorter return or exchange policy for sale items, so ask before you pay rather than after. MOCI requires shops to display their return and exchange policy clearly at the front of the shop, in Arabic, and to print it on the back of the invoice. A change-of-mind return or exchange of a sale item depends largely on that stated policy. A faulty item, or one that is not what you were told, is different: Qatar's consumer law has no exception for discounted goods, so you can still ask for a refund, replacement or repair. The consumer complaints guide explains these rights in full.
Read guide: Consumer rights in Qatar: refunds, exchanges, warranties and complaining to MOCI →Get an invoice that shows the sale price
Ask for a dated invoice in Arabic for every sale purchase, including small ones. It should show the item and the price you actually paid after the discount. The invoice is your proof if you need to exchange or return the item, claim the warranty, or complain that the till price did not match the label. For electronics, appliances and furniture, check that the warranty card is filled in and that the sale did not remove it: a sale price does not reduce the manufacturer's or agent's warranty. Photograph thermal receipts the same day, because they fade.
Read guide: Consumer rights in Qatar: refunds, exchanges, warranties and complaining to MOCI →Shop Black Friday and online deals carefully
For Black Friday, Cyber Monday and app-only flash sales, start from the shop's official Qatar website or app, not from a link in a message or advert. Compare the final total at checkout, including delivery fees, not just the discount percentage, and check whether the item ships from abroad, which can add customs duty and slow down returns. Screenshot the product page, the price and the return policy before you pay. Since March 2026, businesses selling online in Qatar need a MOCI e-commerce licence and must show their commercial registration and return policy, which is a good first check. The online shopping guide covers delivery, customs and returns in detail.
Read guide: Online shopping in Qatar: Amazon, international stores, delivery apps and customs →Avoid fake deal sites and 'too good to be true' offers
Big sale days bring copycat websites and social media adverts that copy a well-known brand's logo and offer huge discounts. Warning signs are a web address that is slightly misspelled, prices far below everywhere else, payment only by bank transfer or a payment link sent on WhatsApp, and countdown timers pushing you to pay now. Only use coupon codes from the shop's official channels. If you entered your card details or a one-time password (OTP) on a site you now doubt, call your bank immediately. The SMS scams guide explains how to report scam links and messages.
Read guide: Common scams in Qatar: fake fine messages, delivery texts, job and rental fraud →Take part in prize draws the safe way
Raffles, prize draws and scratch-and-win games linked to shopping also need a MOCI licence, and shops usually give you a paper or electronic coupon for each set amount you spend. Keep your coupons and receipts until the draw is over, and check that your name and mobile number are correct when you register. Licensed draws are typically held in public or announced on the organiser's official channels, often with MOCI officials attending. You should never have to pay a fee, give your card details or send an OTP to collect a prize; messages asking for that are scams.
Use MOCI's Ramadan discounted goods list
Before Ramadan each year, MOCI publishes a list of essential goods that major retailers must sell at reduced, fixed prices. In 2026 the list covered more than 1,000 items, was sent to large retail outlets and posted on MOCI's website and social media, and shops had to keep to the set prices until the end of Ramadan. Check the list before you shop, compare the shelf price, and report any shop that charges more. Similar MOCI price lists or initiatives are sometimes announced for other seasons, so watch MOCI's official channels.
Read guide: Ramadan in Qatar: what changes for residents →Report fake, misleading or unlicensed offers
If a discount looks fake, the label and till do not match, an advertised offer is refused, or a shop refuses a valid return, first raise it politely with the manager and keep your evidence. If that fails, report it to MOCI by calling 16001, through the MOCI app or website, or by messaging @MOCIQATAR. Give the shop's name and branch (or the website or app), the date, what was advertised and what happened, and attach photos of the label or poster, screenshots and the invoice. MOCI can fine businesses, cancel their discount licence for the rest of the sale period and even close them for a time. The consumer complaints guide walks you through filing and following a complaint.
Read guide: Consumer rights in Qatar: refunds, exchanges, warranties and complaining to MOCI →
What it costs
| Fine MOCI imposed on a delivery platform for advertising discounts without approval (April 2026) | QAR 10,000 |
| Fines a business can face for breaking the Consumer Protection Law | QAR 3,000 to QAR 1,000,000, plus possible closure |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Trusting the 'was' price on the sale label instead of checking what the item cost before the sale
- Assuming 'up to 70% off' applies to everything in the shop
- Asking about the return policy only after paying, when sale items often have different terms
- Not keeping the invoice for sale items because they were cheap
- Clicking sale links sent by SMS or WhatsApp, or using coupon codes from unofficial pages
- Comparing discount percentages instead of the final price including delivery, customs and card conditions
- Paying a fee or sharing an OTP to 'claim' a prize you were told you won
- Buying things you do not need because the deal ends soon
Questions people ask
When is Black Friday in Qatar in 2026, and is it called White Friday here?
Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November 2026 and Cyber Monday on Monday 30 November. Some retailers in the region call it 'White Friday', and many stretch their campaigns over several days or the whole week, so check each shop's official dates. Year-end clearance sales from mid-December are often as big as Black Friday.
Can a shop refuse to exchange or refund an item I bought on sale?
For change-of-mind returns, the shop's displayed policy usually decides, and many shops set stricter terms for sale items, so ask before paying. MOCI requires the policy to be displayed in Arabic and printed on the invoice. If the item is faulty or not as described, the sale does not take away your right to a refund, replacement or repair; complain to MOCI if the shop refuses.
The 'before' price on the sale tag is higher than what the item cost last month. Is that allowed?
No. MOCI says offers must be genuine and clearly advertised, and discount adverts must not be misleading. If you have a dated photo or screenshot of the earlier price, report it to MOCI on 16001 or through its app with that evidence and a photo of the sale label.
Does the warranty still apply to something I bought at a discount?
Yes. Qatar's consumer law makes no exception for discounted goods, so the normal warranty applies to sale electronics, appliances and furniture. Check that you received the warranty card or that the warranty is recorded on the invoice, and keep both.
How can I tell if a shop's sale is licensed?
There is no public search tool we could confirm for checking a single shop's discount licence. Watch for the warning signs MOCI acts on: no 'before' and 'after' prices, labels that do not match the till, offers advertised before their dates or continuing after them, and exaggerated claims. If in doubt, call MOCI on 16001 and ask, or report the offer.
Are mall and supermarket raffle draws real? Do I need to be present to win?
Licensed draws are real and need MOCI approval; they are often held with MOCI officials attending. Whether you must be present depends on the organiser's terms, so read the coupon or the campaign rules. A genuine organiser will never ask you to pay a fee or share card details or an OTP to receive a prize.
Can online shops and delivery apps run discounts without approval?
No. In April 2026 MOCI fined an electronic delivery platform QAR 10,000 for advertising discounts without prior approval under Decision No. 311 of 2018. Online sellers in Qatar also need an e-commerce licence since March 2026. You can report unlicensed or misleading online offers on 16001 or to @MOCIQATAR.
Are gold 'zero making charge' offers a real saving?
They can be, but the gold rate per gram still applies and follows the market, so compare the full price (weight, rate per gram and making charge) across shops on the same day. Get an invoice showing all three. The buying gold guide explains how gold pricing works.
Official sources
- The Peninsula (Jul 2026): MOCI highlights consumer rights during promotional campaigns ↗
- Gulf Times (Oct 2018): Decision No. 311 of 2018 on discounted sales ↗
- MOCI (Apr 2026): delivery company fined for advertising discounts without a permit ↗
- Marhaba (Feb 2026): MOCI launches e-services for offer, sale and prize draw licences ↗
- Gulf Times (May 2016): return and exchange policy rules for shops ↗
- QNA (Feb 2026): MOCI Ramadan discounted goods initiative ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.