Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, Qatar, stands as one of the busiest and most modern airports in the Middle East. Known for its stunning architecture and world-class amenities, HIA offers a variety of facilities, including luxurious duty-free shopping, fine dining options, premium lounges, and much more.
Whether you’re waiting for your next flight or just passing through, the airport’s duty-free experience is one you shouldn’t miss. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about shopping at the duty-free stores in Doha.
Where to Find Duty-Free Stores
Hamad International Airport has a single terminal with five concourses: A, B, C, D, and E. You’ll find duty-free stores at the following locations:
- Duty-Free South Plaza
- Departures Concourse A, B, and C
- Duty-Free North and Garden Plaza
The terminal caters to both domestic and international flights, with three levels to accommodate all traveler needs.
Popular Duty-Free Stores
Here’s a list of some of the popular duty-free stores at HIA:
- Accessories Lab
- Qatar Duty-Free Beauty Essentials
- Beauty Store
- Big Value Store
- Core Duty-Free Store (Confectionery, Liquor & Tobacco)
- Qatar Duty-Free Perfumes & Cosmetics Store
- Qatar Duty-Free Sports Shop
- Women’s Fashion Store
These stores offer everything from high-end fashion to electronics, travel essentials, and souvenirs.
Products Available
You’ll find a wide array of products at Doha’s duty-free stores, including:
- Liquor Products
- Tobacco Products
- Perfumes, Cosmetics, and Skincare
- Confectioneries and Gourmet Food Items
- Electronics and Gadgets
- Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories
- Jewelry
- Travel Essentials and Souvenirs
- Toys
- Raffle Tickets
Store Timings
Most duty-free stores at Hamad International Airport operate 24 hours a day, ensuring that you can shop at any time, regardless of your flight schedule.
In-Flight Duty-Free Shopping on Qatar Airways
Here’s how it works:
- Once on board, request the duty-free catalogue from the cabin crew.
- Browse through a selection of products, including fragrances, watches, and cosmetics.
- Fill out the in-flight sales request coupon with your product choice, name, seat number, and payment details.
- Tear along the perforated line and hand the coupon to the cabin crew. Your selected products will be delivered to your seat, subject to availability.
Documents Required for Duty-Free Shopping
When shopping duty-free at HIA, ensure you have the following:
- A valid passport (or resident ID card)
- A valid international boarding pass
Payment Options
You can pay for your duty-free purchases using the following methods:
- Cash: Accepted currencies include all GCC currencies*, USD, GBP, EUR, and JPY.
- Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club are accepted.
Note: Debit cards and NAPS** are not accepted, and credit card payments will be charged in Qatari Riyal (QAR).
If you need to exchange currency, you’ll find plenty of foreign exchange counters throughout the terminal.
* GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
** NAPS: National ATM and Point of Sale Switch – a local electronic payment gateway.
Allowance Limits
When arriving at Doha, the duty-free allowances are as follows:
- Tobacco Products:
- 400 cigarettes OR
- 20 cigars OR
- 300g of pipe tobacco OR
- 500g of raw tobacco OR
- 2kg of shisha hookah tobacco
The total value of duty-free purchases must not exceed QAR 3,000 (USD 825).
Note: Alcoholic beverages cannot be imported under any condition.
If you need to recover confiscated items, you can visit the Customs office with the necessary documents.
For travelers departing from Doha, duty-free allowances vary by destination country. Make sure to check the customs regulations of your destination before shopping.
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