I agree with Flex01. UK brands on franchise out here incur extra costs as compared with their UK counterparts. For example, they buy stock from the parent company, then pay to ship (if an Emirati company like M&S/Al Futtaim) to JAFZA/Dubai then pay to ship to Qatar, import charges, warehousing charges, then they need to make a profit on the products as well. Exchange rates have no bearing on us here - we earn in riyals and we spend in riyals so the current exchange rate is irrevelent. Freedom of choice is alwas there as a consumer: if you don't agree with the prices then shop somewhere else. We're lucky that at the moment loads of brands are panicking and slashing prices (particularly Alshaya brands) so bargains are there to be had.
I agree with Flex01. UK brands on franchise out here incur extra costs as compared with their UK counterparts. For example, they buy stock from the parent company, then pay to ship (if an Emirati company like M&S/Al Futtaim) to JAFZA/Dubai then pay to ship to Qatar, import charges, warehousing charges, then they need to make a profit on the products as well. Exchange rates have no bearing on us here - we earn in riyals and we spend in riyals so the current exchange rate is irrevelent. Freedom of choice is alwas there as a consumer: if you don't agree with the prices then shop somewhere else. We're lucky that at the moment loads of brands are panicking and slashing prices (particularly Alshaya brands) so bargains are there to be had.