DOHA: With growing competition among the various local tribes to hire the best tent for the wedding ceremonies of their loved ones, combined with the approaching National Day celebrations (December 18), rental prices of tents and accessories are skyrocketing in the Qatari market.
Some service providers speculate the prices may go up to QR700,000 for a tent with a size of 100m x 100m. As Qatari youth centres, schools and local tribes are gearing up for the National Day celebrations, companies offering tent and accessories are facing with high demand for quality products and services causing an unprecedented surge in the prices.
The average price of a tent may vary from QR50,000 to QR250,000, largely depending on the size and quality of the tents. But additional services such as laser lights and dazzling fireworks may take the cost over half a million riyals.
Hanna Ibrahim, a director of a tent renting company was quoted by Al Sharq as saying: “This year there is a little change in the rental prices due to the demand for additional services such as video coverage, laser light, fireworks, large screen display monitors and catering services.”
There are no fixed or standard prices for tents. It depends on their size and quality of accessories. The size of a tent may vary from 40 x 60 (300 sq m) to 100 x 100 (10,000 sq m). Ibrahim added: “We are flooded with demands from youth centres, tribes and schools. Tribal youths and schools generally demand for tents made up of wool to give them the traditional look. And for the National Day celebrations, we get orders for big tents that are appropriate to undertake Arda, a form of cultural dance with swords.”
Abdul Hameed Anwar, an employee of a tent renting firm said: “Prices of tents have gone up for two reasons; partly because this is a peak season for weddings and partly because rising competition among the tribal youths to hire the best tents and accessories for the National Day celebration.”
While speculating the price, he added that if the present trend continues, the prices may go up to QR700,000 for a tent 100m x 100m in size, including the cost of additional services such as laser lighting, fireworks and other high end serves.”
Khalid Faris, Director of another company was also quoted as saying by the daily: “Qatari tribes usually go for only ‘Deluxe Royal Tents’ which come in a size of 100m x 100m, and the rents may vary from QR180,000 to QR250,000 and even more, depending the quality of accessories such as sofa, carpets, lighting, cameras, size of display monitors and dancing floor areas.”
The Peninsula
