UK's Harrods opens Doha pop-up shop

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Dec 14, 2015

Iconic British department store retailer Harrods is heading east for Christmas, with a pop-up shop in Doha, Qatar. The 6,500 sqm. branch is located in the Katara Cultural Village, and will be open over the holiday period.

For the first week, it will only be open to VIP visitors, after which the general public can visit from 4pm to midnight daily for the next 45 days.

The store was designed by Gio Pagani and is a larger version of the Harrods branch in Sardinia. Among its brands are Audi, Bentley, Buccellati, Graff Diamonds, Chopard and Ferrari.

"The goal for this ambitious village was to create a really unique space that enhances the environment, adds a desirable 'wow' factor, and highlights each luxury brand within a contrasting unexpected temporary space, turning what was originally an anonymous space into one of the world's most desirable shopping experiences," said Pagani.

According to Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud Al Thani, CEO of Harrods' owner Qatar Investment Authority (QIA,) the store was opened to coincide with Qatar's national day celebrations. A much larger store is planned for the national day in 2016.