Retail opportunities at Metro stations

Qatar Rail is offering retailers an opportunity to open new stores at various Doha Metro and Lusail Tram stations, it was announced.In an advertisement, Qatar Rail announced that retail spaces are available in at least 12 metro stations: Al Wakra, Lusail QNB, Ras Bu Abboud, Sports City, Al Riffa Mall of Qatar, Education City, Free Zone, Hamad Hospital, Qatar National Museum, Qatar National Library, Al Waab QLM, and Bin Mahmoud.According to Qatar Rail, permitted trades for this particular offering include General Services (stationery, accessories, gifts/souvenir shop, sports shop, nutritional supplements, and florist); Food, Beverage and Convenience Store (café, quick service restaurant, juice bar, specialty food, convenience store, and news agent); and Services (electronics, laundry, health and beauty, pharmacy, travel agent, and quick service repair).“Our retail proposition caters to the bespoke demands of rail commuters and neighborhood customers. In addition to the retail outlets, stations also include dedicated spaces for ATMs and Vending Machines,” Qatar Rail said on its website.Qatar Rail noted that retailers who will avail of this offer can get up to 12 months of licence fee for free, flexible agreement duration of three years or five years, and water and electricity costs will be included in the licence fee.The Doha Metro is comprised of 37 stations spread across three lines – Red Line, Gold Line and Green Line – and has a retail space of approximately 9,200sq m is spread across 213 retail outlets.Meanwhile, Qatar Rail noted that the 19km Lusail Tram is comprised of 25 stations spread across four lines aboveground and underground, and offers approximately 1,500sqm of retail space spread across 43 retail outlets. It is connected to the Doha Metro via Lusail and Legtaifiya interchange stations.Trams, Qatar Rail pointed out, provide efficient and environment-friendly transport services for commuters compared to petrol-powered vehicles.“Trams are greener and cope better with traffic than buses. They are also much more efficient in terms of road usage as one train replaces about 40 cars which take up a far larger area of road space,” Qatar Rail said on its website. “Lusail tram will soon become the main transportation hub for visionary Lusail City the largest single sustainable development to be undertaken in the State of Qatar”.Many retail outlets are now operating at various metro stations, ranging from coffee shops, banks, telecom services, pharmacies, convenience stores, quick service restaurants, specialty foods, and juice bars, in addition to ATMs, vending machines, and other stores.