The government’s annual initiative to control the price of essential household items during Ramadan came into force yesterday, with a record 400 items being sold for set discounted prices in shops across the country.
The price list, which is designed to protect consumers from price rises due to high demand, has almost quadrupled in size since it was introduced in 2009, when it listed just 114 commodities.
This year, the extensive list covers items such as rice, tea, sugar, oil, eggs, dates, soup, milk, butter and frozen chicken, as well as detergent, tissues and soap.
The regulations apply to all outlets, including small neighborhood convenience stores. More details of specific brands and prices can be found here, and the government has also issued a hotline number, 8005000, for queries about the contents of the list.
The discounts run from June 22nd until the end of July.
Additionally, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has set aside QR12mn for meat and sheep subsidies during the holy month. On production of an ID card, for example, Qatari nationals will be able to buy two sheep a season for a special price. Syrian sheep will apparently cost QR950, and Jordanian sheep QR800 each.
Meanwhile, Widam – the Qatar Meat and Livestock Co. – has also fixed the price of porters at abattoirs during Ramadan. Families will be charged a set rate of QR34 per porter, the Peninsula reports.
Truck restrictions
The government has also announced its annual restriction on the movement of trucks in the city during Ramadan.
The Traffic Department rules state that they won’t be allowed into Doha during peak hours, which is has set as 8am – 10am, 1pm – 3pm and 5.30pm – midnight.
Thoughts?
Ah, it’s the time for egg shortages. Time to stock up.
Is Syrian Sheep a breed or do they actually come from Syria? It would seem strange if they came from Syria to be given at subsidised prices to Qataris when Syrians are starving back home.
It’s a breed, most are bred in Saudi Arabia.
That’s good to know, not an expert on sheep like the Kiwis.
Is there anywhere online that has the complete list of subsidized items, and their selling prices?
I found this on the Gulf Times website:
This year’s price list includes:
India Gate Basmati Rice 20kg (QR247.75),
Tilda Pure Basmati Rice 10kg (QR129),
Cleopatra Egyptian Rice 5kg (QR27.75),
Punjab Garden Basmati Rice (QR37),
Quaker White Oats 500gm(QR6.75),
Safa Corn Flour 400gm (QR2.5),
Maggi Cream of Mushroom Soup 68gm (QR3),
Kraft Mayonnaise 473ml (QR10.5),
Heinz Mayonnaise 450ml (QR7.25),
Knorr Mayonnaise 500ml (QR7.25),
Heinz Tomato Ketchup 340gm (QR4.5),
Lipton Y/L Tea Bag 100packets (QR14.75),
Brook Bond Red Label Tea 800gm (QR22.25),
Brook Red Label Tea 400gm (QR11.75),
Rabea Express Loose Tea 400gm (QR11),
Al Osra Sugar 5kg (QR16.5),
KDD Tomato Paste 135g 8pieces (QR9),
Beef Kebabs (Al Arabia) 280gm (QR6),
Chicken Kebabs (Al Arabia) 280gm (QR6),
Breaded Chicken Fillet 360gm (QR11.5),
Breaded Chicken Burger 530gm (QR10.75),
Qatar eggs medium 30 eggs (QR13.5),
Al Youm Fresh Chicken 1200gm (QR23.25),
Al Youm Fresh Chicken 1100gm (QR21.25),
Al Islami Frozen Chicken 1200gm (QR14.75),
Al Islami Frozen Chicken 1000gm (QR13.25),
Doux Frozen Whole Chicken 1000gm (QR11),
Watania Frozen Chicken 1200gm (QR16.50),
Watania Frozen Chicken 1000gm (QR13.75),
Sadia Frozen Chicken 1200gm (QR16.25),
Sadia Frozen Chicken 1000gm (QR13.5),
Nafco Doha Dates Khalas 1kg (QR9.25),
Nafco Doha Dates Khalas 500gm (QR4.75),
Nadec Orange Drink1.75ltr (QR7.25),
Vimto Fruit 710ml (QR7.5),
Sunquick Mixed Fruit 840ml (QR13.75),
Tang Instant Drink Orange 750gm (QR11.5),
QFM Flour No1 5kg (QR16),
QFM Flour No2 5kg (QR16),
QFM Flour No3 5kg (QR19),
QT Olive Oil Extra 500ml (QR17.75),
Olite Sunflower Oil 1.5ltr (QR14.5),
Noor Sunflower Oil 1.8ltr (QR17.5),
Mazola Sunflower Oil 1.8ltr (QR17.5),
Afia Sunflower Oil 1.8ltr (QR18.25),
Afia Corn Oil 1.8ltr (QR20.25),
Mazola Corn Oil 1.8ltr (QR19.5),
Ola Sun Flower Oil 2ltr (QR16.5),
Al Marai Fresh Laban F/F 2ltr (QR10),
Al Marai Fresh Laban L/F 2ltr (QR10),
Nadec Laban F/F 1.75ltr (QR8.5),
Al Marai Fresh Milk F/F 2ltr (QR10),
Nada Fresh Milk Full Cream 2ltr (QR10),
Nada Fresh Milk LF 2ltr (QR10),
Nadec Fresh Milk FF 1.75ltr (QR8.25),
Nadec Long Life Milk FF 1ltr 4 (QR13),
Al Safi Fresh Milk FF 2ltr (QR10),
Powder Nido Milk 2.5kg (QR66),
Rainbow Powder Milk 2.5kg (QR56),
Kraft Cheddar Cheese 200gm (QR6.5),
Lurpark Butter Salted 400gm (QR11.25),
Anchor Butter Unsalted 454gm (QR13),
Diamond Pineapple Jam 454gm (QR6.5).
Pineapple Jam?
No peanut butter on the list? I’m outraged!
No QDC items either…can you believe it….sigh…head shake…
lol, it’s a good point, the Quakers managed to sneak an item on the list (white oats), shouldn’t other groups be represented?
Joking apart it is quite telling that there are no fresh fruit or vegetables on the list.
Yes very telling. Also I am boycotting oats, why are quakers looked after when alcos aren’t?
Wonder if my neighbour will get one of our security fellows to slaughter a sheep in the back terrace of his villa this year….my wife nearly had a breakdown…me being an Aussie country boy didn’t see the issue, but wifey nearly needed an Ambulance….I don’t think she gets that lamb doesn’t come from a factory in plastic wrap…
Oh my gosh did that actually happen? I would be horrified!!
I will admit that I am a meat-eating, steak-loving girl from Texas; but that doesn’t mean I’d want to see a poor animal be slaughtered in my neighbor’s backyard!!
I don’t want to sound ignorant here… but don’t they mandate a very specific way the animal needs to be slaughtered in order to be halal? Is your poor little security fellow qualified to perform such a sacred ritual?? 🙂
Yep sure happened…. don’t know my security man’s quality. he tells me he us an electrician in Egypt, does that count?
I won’t claim to be an expert on such matters, but my gut instinct tells me probably not!! Wow electrician, security man, and halal slaughterer; he is a modern day Renaissance Man!
He’s pretty good, even changes tyres, and most important of all always smiles!
I tell you what (and there is no sarcasm here at all) there are so many fantastic men and women working in this country, and I am blown away by the ones who are always smiling, they make me so happy! Their sincere smiles are just amazing. Your sweet smiling security guy deserves a raise; if only we could make it so. Guys like him have my ultimate respect 🙂