Qatar E-Commerce Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Qatar ecommerce market currently stands at USD 4.54 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 7.13 billion by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 9.43%. Momentum is anchored in the nation’s near-universal connectivity, the digital infrastructure legacy of the FIFA 2022 World Cup, and strong government support through programs such as TASMU and the National Digital Agenda 2030. Consumer appetite is reinforced by 95% smartphone penetration, an average transaction value per user of USD 3,960 in 2024, and a fast-modernising payments ecosystem that now includes instant transfers and Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) options. Cross-border demand for premium goods, aided by a de minimis duty exemption on shipments valued up to QR1,000 (USD 275), further enlarges the addressable base of the Qatar ecommerce market. Last-mile cost pressure outside Doha and a lingering preference for cash-on-delivery temper the outlook but are increasingly countered by same-day hyper-local delivery networks and policy moves that encourage digital payments.
Key Report Takeaways
- By business model, the B2C segment commanded 78% of the Qatar ecommerce market share in 2024, while B2B is projected to expand at a 13.2% CAGR through 2030.
- By device type, mobile commerce led with 70% revenue share in 2024; desktops remain relevant, yet mobile is forecast to grow at an 11.4% CAGR to 2030.
- By payment method, credit and debit cards accounted for 40% share of the Qatar ecommerce market size in 2024, whereas BNPL is advancing at an 18.3% CAGR through 2030.
- By B2C product category, fashion & apparel held 32% of the Qatar ecommerce market size in 2024 and food & beverages is progressing at a 12.7% CAGR to 2030.
Qatar E-Commerce Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
FIFA 2022 Legacy Accelerating Digital Retail Infrastructure | +2.1% | National, with concentration in Doha | Medium term (2-4 years) |
High Disposable Income & Luxury Consumption Culture | +1.8% | National, with higher impact in urban centers | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Qatar National Vision 2030 & TASMU Digital Programs Drives the Market | +2.4% | National | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Rapid Expansion of Same-Day Hyper-local Delivery Start-ups | +1.5% | Urban centers, primarily Doha | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Cross-border Demand for High-end Imports via Tax-free Zones | +1.2% | National | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Rising Penetration of Women-led Online Fashion Shopping | +0.9% | National | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
FIFA 2022 legacy accelerates digital retail infrastructure
FIFA 2022 triggered USD 200–300 billion in infrastructure upgrades that now underpin ecommerce operations; these include nationwide fibre coverage, modernised payment rails, and logistics hubs that cut fulfillment times significantly. Post-event nighttime luminosity, a proxy for economic activity, remains elevated, signalling sustained digital engagement.[1]Aidyn Bibolov et al., “2022 FIFA World Cup: Economic Impact on Qatar and Regional Spillovers,” International Monetary Fund, imf.org Transaction data mirror this pattern, with QR3.66 billion (USD 1 billion) processed online in March 2024, a 43.5% year-on-year rise. International visitors introduced global service-level expectations, prompting local retailers to invest in omnichannel platforms. Brands that implemented virtual showrooms during the tournament now report double-digit online conversion rates. These factors collectively give the Qatar ecommerce market a medium-term uplift as legacy assets are fully commercialised.
High disposable income and luxury consumption culture
With one of the world’s highest GDP per capita levels, Qatar’s consumers sustain premium shopping habits. Average digital transaction values reached USD 3,960 in 2024, more than twice typical GCC levels.[2]Qatar Central Bank, “POS and e-commerce transactions hit QR11.59bn in April,” thepeninsulaqatar.com Luxury fashion, electronics, and fine jewellery out-index on every major platform, attracting cross-border sellers eager to tap deep pockets and low duties. Expatriate executives add a second tier of affluent demand, prompting merchants to segment product lines and marketing creatives carefully. Forward integration by leading malls into online channels extends choice and reduces channel conflict. High-ticket categories feed steady, long-run growth across the Qatar ecommerce market, even as macro conditions fluctuate.
Qatar National Vision 2030 & TASMU programs
The National Digital Agenda 2030 targets USD 11 billion in incremental non-hydrocarbon GDP and 26,000 ICT jobs by 2030. TASMU’s Electronic Commerce and Transaction Policy sets legal clarity for digital signatures, data protection, and payment processing.[3]TASMU Secretariat, “Electronic Commerce and Transaction Policy,” tasmu.gov.qa These frameworks reduce compliance ambiguity, lower entry barriers, and encourage investment in cloud, AI, and cybersecurity. Active debit cards climbed to 2.32 million in 2024, while credit and prepaid cards surpassed 1.4 million, expanding the payment base. Government portals, digital ID, and unified addressing systems further lift consumer trust. The long-term impact positions the Qatar ecommerce market as a central pillar of economic diversification.
Rapid expansion of same-day hyper-local delivery start-ups
Specialised couriers use AI-driven routing, micro-fulfillment centres, and cloud kitchens to guarantee delivery in under 60 minutes across Doha. Food & beverages, which is projected to post a 12.7% CAGR, benefits most as spontaneous orders surge. Hyper-local models also enable small merchants to sell nationwide without heavy inventory. Venture funding into quick-commerce start-ups exceeded USD 70 million during 2024, catalysing competition, price innovation, and service-level transparency. As a result, consumer expectations reset, lifting overall transaction frequency on mobile apps.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
High Last-mile Costs Outside Doha Hinders the Market | -1.2% | Rural and suburban areas outside Doha | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Persistent Cash-on-Delivery Driving Return Rates Hinders the Market | -0.9% | National, with higher impact in suburban areas | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Foreign-ownership Limits on Marketplace Localisation | -0.7% | National | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Small Addressable Population Base Restraints the Market Growth | -0.8% | National | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
High last-mile costs outside Doha
Sparse population density beyond the capital pushes per-parcel delivery costs up by more than 30% versus urban routes. Research by Qatar National Library highlights pilot schemes using mobile parcel stations and drone drop-offs to mitigate these costs. Yet, until such solutions scale, many platforms restrict full-catalogue service to core urban zones, capping rural penetration. Retailers experiment with click-and-collect points at petrol stations and community centres; early trials indicate improved economics but limited scalability without multi-merchant collaboration. Consequently, the Qatar ecommerce market shows a geography-based performance gap that could persist into the medium term.Persistent cash-on-delivery driving return rates
Persistent cash-on-delivery driving return rates
Cash-on-delivery (COD) still accounts for a material share of orders, especially for high-value products. Return rates on COD shipments are 1.7 times those of prepaid orders, adding cost and inventory distortion. The Qatar Central Bank’s Himyan debit card scheme and Fawran instant payment service processed QR2.11 billion by April 2025, signalling progress toward cashless settlements. Even so, cultural preferences and product-verification habits underpin COD demand. Platforms now use partial pre-payment or digital wallets with escrow features to bridge the trust gap and lower friction, but behaviour change will take time.
Segment Analysis
By Business Model: B2B momentum builds on B2C scale
The B2C segment controlled 78% of the Qatar ecommerce market in 2024, anchored by nationwide internet penetration of 99% and widespread social-media influence. In revenue terms, B2C contributed USD 3.54 billion to the Qatar ecommerce market size in 2025, outpacing regional peers. Average cart sizes remain high thanks to affluent consumers and luxury preferences. B2C growth is further propelled by international platforms localising logistics and promotions, while domestic champions leverage cultural insight to stand out.
The B2B segment, though smaller today, is projected to expand at a 13.2% CAGR through 2030, overtaking overall market velocity. Digitisation of procurement, bulk inventory platforms, and government e-tender portals reduce transaction costs and shorten sourcing cycles. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s SME digitisation grants and training programs drive adoption. As enterprise buyers switch from fax-based ordering to cloud marketplaces, the Qatar ecommerce market sees deeper multi-tier supply integration and rising average order values.
By Device Type: Mobile reshapes the purchase journey
Mobile devices generated 70% of the Qatar ecommerce market revenue in 2024, reflecting near-universal smartphone access. This dominance translates to USD 3.18 billion of the Qatar ecommerce market size in 2025, and the channel is on track for an 11.4% CAGR. Biometrics, instant-pay rails, and live-stream shopping make mobile the first-choice channel for fashion, beauty, and on-demand food. Retailers prioritise responsive design, vertical video ads, and data-light experiences to widen reach.
Desktop and laptop still serve complex or high-ticket transactions, notably in electronics and B2B procurement, where screen size and multi-tab comparison matter. Emerging channels such as smart TV and voice commerce remain experimental but gain attention as 5G removes latency barriers. The convergence of app-based loyalty programs and mobile wallets cements the Qatar ecommerce market’s mobile-first profile and reinforces data-driven personalisation.
By Payment Method: BNPL disrupts card hierarchy
Credit and debit cards accounted for 40% of transaction value in 2024, a legacy of Qatar’s mature banking sector. Card issuing and loyalty partnerships with airlines and retail chains keep this payment mode sticky. Yet, BNPL is the fastest-growing option, advancing at an 18.3% CAGR through 2030 after regulatory approval in July 2024. Spendwisor, PayLater, and three other providers signed up 220,000 users in six months, underscoring latent demand for installment plans without interest.
Digital wallets move in tandem, buoyed by QR code acceptance in stores and utilities. The Fawran instant payments network settles transfers in under 15 seconds, pushing wallet adoption beyond peer-to-peer into retail checkout. Cryptocurrency and carrier billing occupy niche spaces, popular in gaming and micro-content. The resulting payment mix increases checkout conversion and underpins revenue growth across the Qatar ecommerce market.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By B2C Product Category: Fashion holds sway while food accelerates
Fashion & apparel held 32% of the Qatar ecommerce market size in 2024, thanks to high spending on luxury and designer labels. Cross-border sales of emerging Saudi and European brands complement local boutiques that now livestream collection launches. Exclusive capsule drops and limited-edition collaborations drive urgency and sustain premium margins.
Food & beverages is projected to grow at 12.7% CAGR as hyper-local delivery compresses order-to-table times to under 45 minutes. Ghost kitchens and AI-powered menu curation shift quick meals online, especially among young professionals. Electronics retains a solid share through cross-border purchasing and domestic product launches tied to global release cycles. Beauty & personal care gains from halal formulations, while furniture, toys, DIY, and media together fill remaining demand niches. Together these categories confirm the Qatar ecommerce market’s broad diversification.
Geography Analysis
Doha accounts for an estimated three-quarters of online transactions, driven by population density, top-tier logistics, and higher digital payment adoption. Same-day delivery coverage now spans nearly all central districts, boosting consumer trust and frequency. Point-of-sale terminals totalled 75,779 nationwide by December 2024, yet most cluster in the capital, reinforcing Doha’s lead.
Outside Doha, suburban corridors such as Al Wakrah and Al Khor display growing click-and-collect adoption as residents balance convenience with cost. Local convenience stores double as parcel handover points, narrowing the delivery gap. Rural regions still face high per-order logistics costs, prompting pilot deployments of moving smart parcel stations that cut average last-mile times by 23% in early trials.
Cross-border trade adds a separate geographic layer to the Qatar ecommerce market. The de minimis rule waives duty on personal imports up to QR 1,000 (USD 275.03), fuelling demand for niche electronics, fashion, and hobby items. Free-zone operators use advanced fulfilment centres to re-export to Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, positioning Qatar as a regional consolidation hub. The ongoing 5G rollout, now covering 98% of inhabited areas, further narrows the urban-rural digital divide, enhancing nationwide access to online retail.
Competitive Landscape
International heavyweights like Amazon join regional platforms such as Noon and AliExpress in shaping consumer expectations, yet local players wield cultural nuance and agile service models. The top five platforms capture roughly 40% of the Qatar ecommerce market, leaving room for specialised entrants. Talabat, once a pure food-delivery app, now processes 1 million daily orders across the GCC and leverages that scale to cross-sell groceries and non-food items, securing USD 6.1 billion GMV in 2023.
Lulu Retail Holdings integrates online ordering with its hypermarket network; its partnership with Snoonu in Qatar enables express grocery dispatch and augments store traffic. Amazon cooperates with local last-mile specialists to maintain same-day promises on high-turn SKUs, while global brands host branded storefronts to exploit Qatar’s luxury orientation. Smaller challengers deploy cloud-based enterprise resource planning modules that let micro-merchants manage inventory, payments, and marketing in one dashboard, shortening time-to-market.
Technology differentiators are accelerating. AI-driven recommendation engines lift basket values by 11% on average, and voice search trials on Arabic voice assistants reduce friction. Social commerce evolves quickly: TikTok-optimised video ads produced a 9.07% conversion rate for Qatar Insurance Company, encouraging others to allocate greater spend to shoppable media. Competitive intensity therefore hinges on speed of innovation, service reliability, and strategic partnerships rather than price wars alone.
Qatar E-Commerce Industry Leaders
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AliExpress.com
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Carrefour Qatar (Majid Al Futtaim Retail L.L.C.)
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Amazon.com, Inc.
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Lulu Hypermarket (EMKE Group)
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Al Anees Electronics W.L.L.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- March 2025: My Q Trading & Advertising and Al Jisr for Commercial Representation unveil an integrated ecommerce platform set for April 2025 launch, blending in-store and online inventory to heighten customer engagement and align with national digitisation goals.
- February 2025: Qatar invests QR2 billion (USD 550 million) in AI and data centres, unlocking advanced personalisation, predictive logistics, and scalable cloud services for the Qatar ecommerce market.
- November 2024: Talabat Holding PLC files for an IPO on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, attracting USD 250 million in cornerstone commitments to fund fintech expansion and loyalty upgrades.
- October 2024: Lulu Retail Holdings PLC announces an IPO on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, flagging a 13.5% share of GCC modern offline grocery sales and continued omni-channel investment.
Qatar E-Commerce Market Report Scope
The internet trade of goods and services is known as e-commerce (or electronic commerce). These commercial dealings are either B2B (business-to-business), B2C (business-to-consumer), or C2C (consumer-to-consumer). A more recent business model is "direct-to-consumer" (D2C), allowing brands to sell directly to consumers. The internet is what drives e-commerce. Consumers use their devices to access an online store to browse the selection and order goods or services. Qatar emerges as an ideal location for business growth, as the country has the world's highest GDP per capita, attracting companies to invest and expand their business reach.
The Qatar E-commerce Market is Segmented by B2C ecommerce (Beauty and Personal Care, Consumer Electronics, Fashion and Apparel, Food and Beverage, Furniture and Home), and B2B ecommerce.
The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD million)
By Business Model | B2C |
B2B | |
By Device Type | Smartphone / Mobile |
Desktop and Laptop | |
Other Device Types | |
By Payment Method | Credit / Debit Cards |
Digital Wallets | |
BNPL | |
Other Payment Method | |
By B2C Product Category | Beauty and Personal Care |
Consumer Electronics | |
Fashion and Apparel | |
Food and Beverages | |
Furniture and Home | |
Toys, DIY and Media | |
Other Product Categories |
B2C |
B2B |
Smartphone / Mobile |
Desktop and Laptop |
Other Device Types |
Credit / Debit Cards |
Digital Wallets |
BNPL |
Other Payment Method |
Beauty and Personal Care |
Consumer Electronics |
Fashion and Apparel |
Food and Beverages |
Furniture and Home |
Toys, DIY and Media |
Other Product Categories |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the Qatar ecommerce market?
The market is valued at USD 4.54 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 7.13 billion by 2030, growing at a 9.43% CAGR.
Which segment is expanding fastest within the Qatar ecommerce market?
The B2B segment tops growth charts with a 13.2% projected CAGR between 2025 and 2030, fuelled by digital procurement adoption.
How dominant is mobile commerce in Qatar?
Mobile devices generated 70% of online sales in 2024 and are forecast to grow at an 11.4% CAGR, cementing a mobile-first landscape.
Why is BNPL gaining traction in Qatar?
Regulatory approval in 2024, combined with interest-free payment options, positions BNPL to grow at an 18.3% CAGR, disrupting traditional card usage.
What are the main hurdles to ecommerce growth outside Doha?
High last-mile delivery costs and continued cash-on-delivery preferences inflate logistics expenses and return rates in rural areas.
How is the government supporting ecommerce expansion?
Through the National Digital Agenda 2030 and TASMU, the state invests in ICT infrastructure, sets clear e-transaction regulations, and promotes digital payments, providing long-term tailwinds for the sector.
Page last updated on: July 4, 2025