Qatar Rail is offering retail opportunities at various Doha Metro stations, from the Red Line to the Green and Gold Lines, aimed at supporting local small and medium enterprises, and promoting economic activities in the country.
Gold Line’s 10 stations from Ras Bu Abboud to Al Aziziyah will have 55 retail units and 33 ATM locations while Green Line’s Al Riffa station will have eight retail kiosks and two ATM locations.
Red Line’s five stations from Katara to Lusail and Hamad International Airport (Terminal 1) will have 19 retail units and 11 ATM locations. 
Registration is now open for retailers and the application closes on August 29, according to Qatar Rail.
Qatar Rail said its “unique retail proposition will be the first” in the country, offering: business access to retail commuters and neighbourhood customers, modular shop with diverse retail mix, partitioned shell and core retail space with flooring, right to occupy term of five years with fixed fee, and fee exclusive of service and utility (water and electricity) charges.
Retail spaces will comprise of four types: services (banks, telecom, money exchange, courier, pharmacy, travel agent, health and beauty, laundry, quick service repair, and government entity); food and beverage (café, quick service restaurant, juice bar, and specialty food); convenience stores; and general retail (stationery, electronics, florist, accessories, gift/souvenir shop, book store, sports shop, and nutritional supplements); as well as ancillary (ATMs).
Al Meera earlier opened its ‘MAAR’ (literally means ‘the act of passing by’) convenience stores at Red Line’s Msheireb and Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre stations, giving exceptional services to metro commuters in Qatar.
The company plans to open around 10 to 15 ‘MAAR’ stores at metro stations: six along the Red Line, four on the Green Line; and about four or five on the Gold Line, it is learnt.
QNB Group, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, also opened a branch at the Msheireb Metro Station (central station) in May aimed at providing customers with easy access to leading banking services anywhere in Qatar or through its international network.
It is learnt that the Doha Metro, once fully operational, is expected to further boost Qatar’s retail sector, as many malls and business establishments such as Mall of Qatar, Villaggio Mall, City Center Doha, and Galeries Lafayette at Katara – the Cultural Village, among others, will be easily accessible to a large number of residents and visitors.
The Doha Metro is also expected to boost Qatar’s tourism industry, giving visitors easy, safe, and cheaper access to a number of tourist destinations, including Souq Waqif, Souq Al Wakrah (with Metro-Link buses), National Museum of Qatar, and Katara – the Cultural Village.
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