Many airlines, too, have banned passengers from carrying such products on aircraft over safety concerns.
However, such restrictions have not deterred people from buying these portable battery-powered vehicles, as is evident from the large stocks available in hypermarkets around Doha.
A sales superviser at a prominent shop in Doha told Gulf Times that they just replenished their stocks and dozens of hoverboards had to be displayed during the weekend.
After prices came down by almost 50% for some brands, a number of customers (mostly parents) started coming in to enquire about smart balance scooters for their children, he said.
Earlier, a standard smart balance scooter would cost over QR1,000, but the price has dropped significantly, depending on the brand and specifications. Some brands of hoverboards are now available for just QR500-600, say sources.
“We ran out of stocks at one stage because of the high demand,” the superviser added. “This is one of the reasons why most shops are displaying dozens of items to tell people that they now have more stocks.”
He said they had initially expected sales to drop after several malls banned the use of hoverboards on their premises late last year. Also, people did not have the option of buying them as gifts for family members in their native countries as airlines imposed a ban.
However, the demand for smart balance wheels remained high despite the restrictions, with children using them in open spaces such as parks, it was found.
A salesperson at a leading hypermarket in Doha confirmed that they had to order for additional items from their supplier to replenish stocks.
“Our sales have been increasing every month; you will see families coming and looking for hoverboards that suit their budget,” he said. “It seems every youngster in Qatar wants to own one.”
“Competition is really high due to the increasing number of stores selling these items,” a salesperson at a Doha store said, adding that they expected prices to reduce further. “We have to launch some promotions to entice more customers to buy from us.”
The Aspire Park and Museum of Islamic Art Park are two of the preferred destinations where children can use their smart balance wheels, it is learnt.
Some children could also be seen using smart balance wheels on internal streets though some people expressed concern over this practice, urging kids to be careful to avoid accidents.