Qatar retail major charged over Ramadan price hikes

A big name retailer in Qatar is facing legal action by the government for ignoring a ministerial decision to freeze the prices of 104 consumer items during Ramadan.

The retailer, which has not been named, is understood to be the first in the Gulf state to be officially charged over price manipulation, it was reported on Monday.

It has been charged for violating the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Business and Trade related to the prices of commonly used items, mostly basic foodstuff, during the holy month, The Peninsula reported.
Inspectors from the Consumer Protection Department of the Ministry discovered the alleged violations and referred the case to the Public Prosecution and the case will now be heard in court, the report added.

The Ministry froze the prices of the 104 basic consumer items to protect consumers who had been complaining of unfair and unprecedented price hikes by retailers.

The court case is thought to be the first time any retail outlet has been charged for price manipulation in Qatar.