When it comes to gifts, Qatar can be a fantastic shopping destination, this amazing destination attracts visitors not only with its beautiful landscapes and unique culture but also with its special souvenirs and gifts worth buying. The art and culture of Qatar will magnetize you to buy more and more things for your beloved or as a memory of your Qatar trip. With numerous options for buying the best souvenirs in Qatar from traditional markets to costly malls, it will surely stimulate a spendthrift inside you.
Here are some of the interesting Qatari souvenirs to help you with your decision-making to buy. And for more tips, haggle over shopping. It’s part of their local culture and is encouraged.
Al-Sadu weavings Al-Sadu is made from camel and goat hair, and one of the most traditional souvenirs is handwoven you can buy it in Qatar. The weaving technique which is used to make Al-Sadu belongs to the nomadic Bedouin tribe. They used it to make tents, carpets, blankets, and cushions covers for thousands of years.
Al-Sadu is the best souvenir because it exactly reflects the culture of Qatar. The textiles traditionally have distinguished geometric designs and patterns which are symbols of the tribe’s rich heritage and culture and desert environment. For exploring a full shop with a wide range of varieties of Al-Sadu, you can visit the Corniche end of the souq.
Dallah coffee pots
One of the best things that represent Arabic hospitality is the Dallah coffee pots. Brass or silver Arabic coffee pot has been used to brew and serve qahwa for centuries. Qatari people welcome guests by serving qahwa with strong and spicy Arabic coffee which is made with cardamom and use mini metal cups called finjaan for drinking coffee.
Dallah is preciously decorated with glamorous geometric engravings and even gemstones. Therefore, if you are a coffee drinker or not, Dallah coffee pots can attract your attention to buy for your home as a memory of your trip to Qatar.
Arabic sweet treats
Arabic sweets are an essential part of Qatari culture and have a wide range of variety and quality. You can find a variety of traditional desserts and candies in markets, shopping malls, and cafes. You can also try sweet dumplings with sesame seeds, the ever-popular baklava, rose-flavored candies, and a big variety of traditional desserts and candies which are unique to the Middle East and Qatar to relish the taste of rich Qatari flavor. Places such as Al Aker Sweets, Nabeel Nafiseh, or Luqimaty can help you to reach out to these treats, and also these markets offer a travel special packaging to ensure your sweets are not damaged.
Pashminas, shawls, and scarves
After buying pashmina shawls your shopping in Qatar would be complete. Pashminas in Qatar are at more reasonable prices to buy compared to other destinations and are in a wide choice of colors, patterns, and qualities. The shawls are woven from fine cashmere wool and are light to carry because they can fold up small. These are usable as a beach cover-up, or as sprucing up the outfit. There are several centers where you can purchase good quality pashminas but you can find less expensive ones at Souq Waqif.
Oud fragrance or oud Wood
Oud fragrance is an inseparable part of Qatari homes and you can see it in every home, restaurant, shop, and mall in Qatar. The oud perfume is well-known as black gold in the Middle Eastern. It is extracted from an agarwood tree and makes it very rare. You can buy oud in a variety of forms in the Qatari market same as pure wood, oil, and perfume bottles. You will smell the scent of oud everywhere in Qatar from cars to hotels and malls. Oud is the traditional perfume of Qatar and will remind you of Qatar when you back home. There are perfume shops in the whole of Qatar’s malls. The oud is one of the best gifts to buy in Doha, Qatar.
Abaya
Abaya which is a traditional dress of Qatar is worn by women. The quality, designs, and fits of Abaya can be different depending on the price. The price range for an Abaya starts from QR 100 and ends at QR 1000 depending on the quality. it mostly sells in black and you can wear it anywhere. it is a perfect option for Muslim women. Since Abaya covers all of the body many assume that it relates to religion, but it is a culturally-rooted traditional attire. Most of the women in Doha use Abaya due to its close alignment with Islamic guidelines. Abaya will be found in most of Qatar’s shopping malls.
Decorated shisha pipes
Shisha is ubiquitous everywhere in homes, restaurants, and parties and reflects the Qatari culture. Moreover, it is known as a great conversation starter in Qatar. It has been used for more than 500 years in Qatar and become strongly tied to local Qatari culture. It designs in various shapes, sizes, and ways. Most of the stores offer shisha and you can buy various kinds of shisha all over Qatar. It is certainly one of the best gifts to buy from Qatar.
wooden boxes
Another beautiful gift to purchase in Qatar is an ornamental Arabic box. These handcrafted boxes are wooden and have different shapes, sizes, and designs. this wooden box is the best thing to buy for storing your jewelry or other knick-knacks. You can also find boxes made of brass and even camel bone. They are adorned with wrapped patterns that make them special. You can find them in most shopping centers such as Souq Waqif, City-Center Doha, and Royal Plaza.
Dates and Dried Fruits
Dates are locally grown in Qatar and are very popular. They are available at different Souq Waqif stores. They sell in various kinds of flavors and sweetness options. Other dried fruits like pistachios, sunflowers seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, etc are popular as souvenirs to be gifted. Thanks to the versatility of dates can be stuffed with nuts and make it suit everybody’s taste. Therefore, it can be the best souvenir to buy in Qatar.
Spices
No Qatari cuisine is complete without any flavor of peculiar spices like cloves, saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, chili, and various kinds of other spices. Spices are the other best things that you can bring back home from Qatar. They have a beautiful package and are very suitable to be given as a gift. If you’ve had an opportunity to taste the flavor of an authentic Qatari dish; don’t lose your chance because the amazing taste of flavors would leave your mind blown.