To combat price hikes during Ramadan, Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched an initiative to stabilize meat prices, ensuring affordability for all.

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The national initiative to encourage local production and subsidised red meat for the holy month of Ramadan is greatly contributing to stabilising the prices of meat in the local market.

“The initiative which was launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) offered local sheep in large quantity for this year compared to the previous years to support the local product,” said Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Ameri, Director of the Department of Quality Licenses and Market Control at MoCI.

In a post on the Ministry’s X platform, he said that the initiative aims to ensure the availability of red meat to citizens at reasonable prices during the holy month and to contribute to achieving a balance between supply and demand, which contributes to price stability in the markets.

“The initiative will continue to the end of Ramadan. The beneficiary citizens can buy the subsidised sheep from Widam outlets operating across the country – Al Shamal, Al Khor, Umm Salal, Al Wakra and Al Sheehaniya,” said Al Ameri.

He said that the Ministry is following up on sales operations through the specialised inspection team, and is intensifying inspection campaigns on slaughterhouses to ensure compliance with the initiative’s prices and controls during the holy month.

Director of Public Relations Department at Widam Food, Mussa Ahmed Al Othman said that Widman has been participating in the initiative of the MoIC for the last 15 years.

Speaking to Qatar TV recently, he said that under the initiative, the beneficiary citizens are being provided local sheep of 30kg and imported sheep of 50 kg at subsidised prices QR1,000 plus QR50 slaughtering and other services per head.

Al Othman said that the initiative, which is implemented during Ramadan and Eid Al Adha aims at providing meat, which is the main food commodity during these occasions.

He said that the initiative, which began on February 27 for this Ramadan, will continue till the end of the spiritual month. The subsidised products are available at Widam outlets, which operate from 7am to 4pm daily. “Beneficiary citizens can visit Widam outlets to collect their shares of subsidised sheep. Delivery service is available through the Widam app and its hotline,” said Al Othman.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry also launched its annual Ramadan discounted consumer goods initiative, offering reduced prices on more than 1,000 essential commodities.

The initiative covers a wide range of essential products, including food staples such as flour, sugar, rice, pasta, chicken, cooking oil, and milk, as well as non-food items such as tissues, aluminium foil, and household detergent items that see increased demand during the holy month.