Fresh off opening 10 stores in 2015, a rapidly growing state-backed grocery chain said it has inked QR238.7mn in agreements to build another six new locations. The new Al Meera stores will be in Al Khor, Saileya, Rawdat Aba El Heran, Azghawa, Leabaib and Umm Qarn, the company said in a statement.

While it did not give a timeline for those projects, it said separately that new stores in Sailiya North (Al Miarad), Leabaib, Al Wakrah west, Umm Slal Ali and Bu Sidra would be completed within three months. The Qatar government owns 26 percent of Al Meera, which posted a profit of QR162.34 million last year. There are 41 stores currently in Qatar, which is expected to grow to 55 branches within the next two years.