Shop the anchors
Start at IKEA and Harvey Nichols, then explore the fashion and homeware wings.
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In short
Doha Festival City is a large mall on Al Shamal Road in Umm Salal, north of Doha, with over 500 stores, Qatar's first IKEA, Angry Birds World and the Snow Dunes snow park. Entry is free. It opens at 10:00 and closes at 22:00 early in the week and midnight Thursday to Saturday, with Friday opening at 12:30. Families can fill two to four hours or half a day.
Doha Festival City is a large shopping and entertainment mall on Al Shamal Road in Umm Salal, north of central Doha, with more than 500 stores, over 100 places to eat, Qatar's first IKEA and family attractions such as Angry Birds World and Snow Dunes. Entry is free, and it suits families and shoppers looking for a full day under one roof.
The mall is owned by the Bawabat Al Shamal Real Estate Company (BASREC) and operated by the Al-Futtaim group. With about 246,200 square metres (more than 2.6 million square feet) of leasable space, it was the largest mall in Qatar when it opened.
Opened in stages, from IKEA in 2013 to 2018
The site opened in stages. IKEA came first, in March 2013, as the country's first IKEA store, covering about 32,000 square metres. The mall had its soft opening on 5 April 2017, and the official grand opening followed in November 2018 with a gala evening and a concert by Jennifer Lopez.
IKEA, Harvey Nichols and the NBA Store
Anchors include IKEA, Monoprix, Harvey Nichols and Ace, and the NBA Store is here too. Other shops cover fashion, electronics, homeware and beauty. A food court and sit-down restaurants serve Arab, Asian, European and American food, and there is a cinema.
Angry Birds World and Snow Dunes
Angry Birds World, a theme park based on the mobile game, opened its outdoor area in April 2019 and has indoor rides as well. Snow Dunes, Qatar's first indoor snow-themed park, about 9,500 square metres, followed in August 2019, with slides and play areas kept below freezing. Virtuocity is another paid attraction. Each sells its own tickets, so check prices on their websites.
VOX 4DX, Virtuocity and the size of the site
VOX Cinemas has 18 screens here, including Qatar's first 4DX theatre. Virtuocity is a gaming and e-sports venue that won a 2025 Global RLI Award for most immersive attraction. The mall sits on a site of about 433,000 square metres, has two food courts and was built for an estimated QAR 6 billion by Bawabat Al Shamal, a joint venture of Al-Futtaim Real Estate Services and a private Qatari investor.
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Key information
🛍️Type: Shopping and entertainment mall
📍Location: Al Shamal Road, Umm Salal, north of central Doha
📅Opened: Soft opening April 2017; grand opening November 2018
🏬Size: About 246,200 m² leasable space, 500+ stores, 100+ places to eat
🪑Anchors: IKEA (Qatar's first, 2013), Monoprix, Harvey Nichols, Ace
🕕Time Zone: Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3)
Explore the area
IKEA Doha next to the mall
Umm Salal Mohammed Fort 8 km
Qatar National Convention Centre 15 km
Lusail 12 km
Al Gharrafa 10 km
✦
Plan your visit to Doha Festival City
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Shopping
- 500+ stores
- IKEA, Monoprix and Harvey Nichols
- NBA Store
Dining
- Food court and sit-down restaurants
- Over 100 places to eat
Entertainment
- Indoor attractions for families
- Cinema
What They Offer
Shopping
500+ stores
Dining
100+ restaurants and cafés
Parking
Large free car parks
Visit duration
2–4 hours, or half a day with an attraction
Timed entry required No
Family day
Mix shopping with the mall's indoor family entertainment.
Eat out
Choose from the food court or one of the many restaurants.
Accessibility
Step-free malls with lifts, accessible restrooms and parking.
Age limits
None.
What to pack
Payment card, shopping bag, light layer for air-conditioning
What to wear
Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees (Qatar mall dress code)
Not allowed
Immodest clothing under the mall dress code, smoking indoors, pets
Amenities
Food court, restaurants, restrooms, prayer rooms, ATMs, parking.
Tips for visiting Doha Festival City
- Book Snow Dunes or Angry Birds World tickets ahead on busy weekends.
- Bring a light jacket if you plan to visit Snow Dunes.
- Visit on a weekday morning for quieter shops and easier parking.
- Check special hours during Ramadan and public holidays.
- Use a ride hailing app; public transport options to the mall are limited.
Driving
About 20–25 minutes north of central Doha on Al Shamal Road, with large car parks.
Public transportation
Mowasalat buses on Al Shamal Road; taxi or ride-hail from the metro.
Address
Doha Festival City is on Al Shamal Road in Umm Salal, north of central Doha. Umm Salal Mohammed Fort is about 8 km away and Lusail about 12 km.
Opening Hours
- Monday10:00-22:00
- Tuesday10:00-22:00
- Wednesday10:00-22:00
- Thursday10:00-00:00
- Friday12:30-00:00
- Saturday10:00-00:00
- Sunday10:00-22:00
Open daily; hours change in Ramadan and on public holidays.
Hours from local guides; the mall closes briefly for Friday prayers and hours change in Ramadan. Call 4035 4444 to confirm. Stores close at mall closing time.
Special events
Seasonal sales, Eid and National Day events.
Best times to visit
Weekday mornings are quietest.
Best days to visit
Sunday to Wednesday; Thursday to Saturday evenings are busiest.
Best months to visit
All year: indoors and air-conditioned.
Admission tickets
Entry is free.
Doha Festival City: Free Entry
No entry fee; attractions inside are paid separately.
- Free entry to the mall
Admission
Free entry: no ticket or booking is needed.
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
No booking needed.
Children and admission
Children welcome; play areas and entertainment are paid separately.
Groups
No booking needed.
Pets
Pets are not allowed inside (assistance animals excepted).
Photography
Personal photos are fine; commercial filming needs mall permission.
Bags
No restrictions.
Smoking
Not permitted indoors.
Accepted payment
Free entry; shops accept cards.
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Travelers are asking
Usually 10:00 AM, closing 10:00 PM Sunday–Wednesday and later at weekends; Friday opens after midday prayers.
Yes, IKEA is one of the anchor stores.
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Stay in Umm Salal Muhammed
Where to stay near Doha Festival City
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Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery5-star hotel
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Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli5-star hotel
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from$69.00/ night
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- Airport shuttle
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers based on Marhaba and QIC guides.
General
Yes, entering the mall is free. Attractions inside, including Angry Birds World, Snow Dunes and Virtuocity, charge separate admission. Check their current ticket prices on the official websites before you visit.
It is in Umm Salal, north of central Doha, on Al Shamal Road. The drive from West Bay usually takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic, and the mall has large car parks.
Yes. The IKEA store at Doha Festival City opened in March 2013 and was the first IKEA in Qatar. It covers about 32,000 square metres and is one of the mall's main anchors.
Snow Dunes is an indoor snow park of about 9,500 square metres inside Doha Festival City. It offers snow play and cold weather activities, with tickets sold separately from mall entry.
It is a theme park based on the mobile game, with outdoor and indoor rides. Its outdoor area opened in April 2019, and tickets are sold separately.
Yes. VOX Cinemas has 18 screens, including Qatar's first 4DX theatre.
Yes, entry to Doha Festival City is free.
Bags: No restrictions.
Explore the area on this page lists 5 places around Doha Festival City, among them IKEA Doha and Umm Salal Mohammed Fort.
Booking
The mall has more than 500 stores and over 100 dining venues, spread across about 246,200 square metres of leasable space, which makes it one of the largest shopping centres in Qatar.
Timing & weather
Local guides list Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 10pm, Thursday and Saturday 10am to midnight, and Friday 12:30pm to midnight. Hours change in Ramadan.
The mall had its soft opening on 5 April 2017 and its grand opening in November 2018. IKEA opened earlier, in March 2013.
Most visitors spend 2–4 hours, or half a day with an attraction at Doha Festival City.
Stay & facilities
Yes. The mall dress code asks visitors to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
Getting there
Yes. Mowasalat buses run along Al Shamal Road. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are also easy.