{
  "id": 1806574,
  "title": "Shopping smarter to meet back-to-school costs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/shopping-smarter-to-meet-back-to-school-costs",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times",
    "slug": "gulf-times",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/731394/qatar/shopping-smarter-to-meet-back-to-school-costs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Imran Anver, a member of the Sri Lankan community in Qatar, views back-to-school spending as a planned household expense rather than a sudden financial strain. He mentioned that his family typically allocates a reasonable amount for stationery and supplies, planning well in advance so it doesn't feel like an unexpected expense. Tuition remains the biggest education expense for Anver's family, while uniforms, shoes, books, stationery, and school bags are considered manageable when purchased early. The family has noticed prices gradually increasing due to inflation but has managed to offset some of the increases through promotional periods. They always shop around for deals and prioritize quality over price, balancing value with cost.\n\nThe Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar advises families to plan school purchases ahead, compare prices, and consider lower-cost options for basic stationery. The National Planning Council reported that Qatar's Consumer Price Index increased 1.95% year-on-year in December 2025, with education prices rising 2.04%. For Doha-based entrepreneur Umme Salma, the impact of rising costs is more evident in her shopping basket. She estimates that preparing one child for the new academic year can cost between QR3,000 and QR5,000, excluding tuition. Uniforms constitute a significant portion of these costs, with basic school shirts and trousers or skirts priced over QR200, quickly adding up. Salma's family is managing the higher expected spending by prioritizing necessary items and delaying less urgent purchases. They also reuse uniforms when possible and compare prices online before making local purchases. Salma noted that purchasing products outside Qatar can sometimes be cheaper. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has intensified consumer protection measures in the back-to-school market, inspecting stationery stores, checking prices, and ensuring the validity of promotions. In June, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education introduced a School Fees Policy for private schools, which will be implemented from the 2027–28 academic year. This policy aims to improve transparency and protect parents from unjustified fee increases by linking future fee changes to specific criteria. The ministry reported that 99 schools submitted fee increase applications, of which 54 were approved, while 22 were rejected. Parents will receive up to 18 months' notice before an approved fee increase takes effect. The financial assistance provided by the Zakat Affairs Department for educational needs stood at QR54.94 million for the 2024–25 academic year, supporting 1,863 students from eligible families. This assistance covered fees for private school students and university students. Families preparing for the new school year are encouraged to focus on essential items while planning purchases strategically to manage costs effectively.",
  "summary": "For Imran Anver, a member of the Sri Lankan community in Qatar, back-to-school spending is a planned household expense rather than a sudden financial burden. “We usually spend a reasonable amount, mai...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}