Back-to-school shopping picks up

As the 2026-2027 academic year commences on August 30, local markets, bookshops and school-supply stores are experiencing a surge in activity from families preparing their children for the new school term. The back-to-school season is a crucial commercial period for retailers, with demand surging for an array of educational and personal supplies.

Faced with the increased demand, many stores are responding by broadening their product ranges and launching seasonal promotions to entice families looking for the best balance of quality, affordability and aesthetics. Bookshops and stationery stores have been particularly busy in the lead-up to the academic year, with parents and children making early purchases to stock up on necessary items and capitalize on promotional deals.

Consumers have a diverse selection of locally produced and imported goods to choose from, offering families greater flexibility in terms of budget and preferences. Retail sales representatives at various bookshops indicate that the back-to-school period is among their busiest seasons, especially for stationery, school bags and other essential classroom items.

Imported products from countries like India, China, Türkiye and Pakistan make up a substantial portion of the market. Simultaneously, retailers have observed a growing interest from consumers in locally made products, which are gaining popularity due to their competitive pricing and satisfactory quality. Notebooks remain a top choice among shoppers, with an 80-page, high-quality notebook priced at approximately QR12.

A pack containing 12 notebooks, each with 60 pages, is available for around QR14, resulting in a cost of about QR1.50 per notebook.

Colourful pens, erasers, rulers, and other stationery items are also witnessing strong demand. Their appealing designs, featuring cartoon characters and themed patterns, have made them especially attractive to younger students. Among these items, watercolours and oil colours gain popularity among primary-school students enrolled in art-related subjects, while secondary-school students tend to buy calculators, engineering rulers, graphing tools, and technical-drawing equipment.

Schoolbags are among the most sought-after items on families' shopping lists. Retailers offer a wide variety of sizes, designs, and price points to cater to different age groups. Younger children are fond of imported bags featuring popular cartoon characters and superheroes such as Spider-Man, Batman, and Wonder Woman, which typically cost between QR80 and QR110, depending on quality and design.

Older students, on the other hand, are increasingly attracted to bags showcasing internationally recognized football stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, as well as designs bearing the logos of major international football clubs and other beloved personalities.