Image for representation only.
Doha: With the growing demand for mobile phones in the country, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has encouraged entrepreneurs to invest in this sector to boost the national economy.
Citing latest statistics, the ministry said that a total of 957 commercial licences have been issued in the mobile devices sales sector in different areas of the country, most of them in Doha city and its outskirts.
Al Rayyan Municipality topped the list with 386 licences followed by Doha Municipality (374), Al Wakra (91), Al Khor and Al Dhakira (42), Umm Salal (32), Al Shihaniyah (15), Al Daayen (13), and Al Shamal (4).
The licences cover a number of activities including sale of mobile phones, accessories and supplies as well as maintenance services.
The ministry said that there are many areas in the state that provide a good investment opportunity in this sector. Statistics showed that one active licence in the municipality of Doha serves about 2,557 residents and 1,569 residents in the municipality of Al-Rayyan.
In Al Wakra municipality a licence serves about 3,286 residents and 4,810 residents in the municipality of Al Khor and Al Dhakira. The service coverage in other municipalities are: Umm Salal: 2,838 residents, Al Shihaniyah 12,504 residents, Al Daayen: 4,179 residents, Al Shamal: 2,198 residents
On the global level, the total number of mobile phones subscriptions reached 7 billion during last year which indicated that 95 percent of the world’s population lives in areas with accessible mobile phones network. The number of smart phone owners is projected to rise from 2.6 billion in 2015 to 6.1 billion by the year 2022.
Procedures for mobile retail shops
The number of smart phone owners in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is expected to reach more than 730m between 2015 and 2021. Around 1.42 billion smart phones were sold between 2007 and 2015. Global revenues from smart phone sales exceeded $425.9bn in 2015.
The Ministry has also outlined the procedures to invest in mobile device retail shops. Potential investors have been advised to choose an appropriate location for the shop, prepare an action plan and conduct a feasibility study to determine the value of their investment.
The ministry also stressed the importance of signing agreements with suppliers to secure an inventory of phones in the shop and ensure the availability of accessories and spare parts.
The ministry highlighted the importance of using innovative methods to attract customers such as providing complimentary accessories or discounts when customers choose to buy more than one phone.
The necessary documents for the establishment of a mobile device retail shop include a trade name certificate, a commercial record registration application, copy of the IDs of owners, a rental agreement and third-party consent (from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Civil Defence in case the total space of the shop is more than 250 square meters).
