Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry continues to provide services and monitor markets to ensure the stability of food and essential goods for citizens and residents.
Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, said the country’s markets and supply of essential goods remain stable despite the ongoing crisis.
In an interview with Qatar TV, he stressed that the ministry continues to provide services and monitor markets to ensure citizens and residents have access to vital goods.
The ministry’s Operations Centre, established over ten years ago to respond to emergencies and shifting conditions, plays a central role in this effort.
“Our core mission is to monitor the availability of a range of essential goods in the local market and ensure supplies. This is all done through advanced electronic systems that allow us to track goods from their entry through border points and warehouses to all retail outlets across the country, while continuously monitoring stock levels and demand,” he said.
The centre coordinates and implements field inspection plans with over 300 inspectors, who have carried out around 3,000 inspections daily since the crisis began.
Sheikh Faisal said contingency plans developed over the past decade—designed to address risks such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz or disruptions in shipping routes—were activated immediately.
“With the start of the current crisis, alternative logistics routes were opened, and the ministry’s emergency operations room was activated, working around the clock in coordination with government entities and the private sector to monitor supply movements and ensure the continuous availability of goods in the market,” he added.
Coordination with Qatar Airways has enabled urgent shipments of essential goods, with over 300 tonnes already delivered and preparations in place for up to 1,000 tonnes.
Despite global challenges, the minister noted that price fluctuations have been limited and temporary.
“Rising shipping and transportation costs worldwide and increased demand in many countries during the crisis have caused a slight and temporary increase in some prices. Prices are expected to return to previous levels once these conditions end, God willing,” he said.
The ministry continues to monitor prices and record products, with daily market checks to ensure compliance.
“We will not tolerate any manipulation of prices or exploitation of the current conditions,” Sheikh Faisal added. “Legal measures will be taken against violators, and the ministry can receive reports via the hotline 16001 and digital platforms, and they are addressed immediately and referred to field inspection teams.”
He highlighted Qatar’s industrial sector’s role in supporting market stability and food security, noting that over 138 highly efficient food factories operate in the country.
“National production has grown significantly, with the number of local products rising to over 2,000 in 2025, a 9% increase compared to 2024, reflecting the sector’s capacity growth and product diversity. The current situation has created opportunities for the private sector to support self-sufficiency, expand production, and invest in food industries,” Sheikh Faisal said.
Qatar now ranks 30th globally in the Global Food Security Index, and the minister assured the public that the country’s “strategic stockpiles of essential goods are sufficient, and we have not needed to use them.”
“Stock from suppliers and retail outlets is relied upon, including essential items such as bread, sugar, wheat, and oils, available in quantities that meet market needs,” he added. “Essential, consumer, and even luxury goods are sufficiently available across all retail outlets.”