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Shopping in Qatar
Shopping in Qatar is easy, fun and offers great The following information will give you a basic
value. With no purchase (or value-added) tax, and guide to the availability of some of the most
because the Qatari market is very competitive, frequently requested items by visitors.
prices are more attractive than in many other
parts of the world, and usually as low as — and,
Books, Cards and Stationery
in some cases, lower than — those in duty-free
facilities in the region.
Qatar offers gleaming, modern shopping malls
and traditional souqs (markets) that recall the
olden-day Arab bazaars. The shopping malls
are air-conditioned, spacious, and have large,
free parking areas. Products and prices vary,
and quality is good. In general, the souqs offer
cheaper goods. Whereas mall shops tend to
have fixed prices, bargaining is expected in the
souqs. Read the ‘Doha’s Souqs’ feature for more
Supermarkets and hypermarkets stock a
information.
seemingly endless array of stationery: pens and
Doha has several shopping ‘districts’, rather than pencils of every description; artists’ colours;
one ‘town centre’, so no matter which part of erasers in every shape and size; art paper and
the city you are in, you can be sure there will be textured paper; a variety of filing and storage
stores nearby. devices; lined and plain notebooks; writing paper
Most shopping malls feature a large and envelopes.
supermarket as an anchor store, but there are Qatar also has hundreds of small stationery
also freestanding hypermarkets. Malls contain shops, which often go by the name of ‘library’.
boutiques, pharmacies, restaurants and coffee Small corner shops usually have a limited
shops; often, there is also a food court. Some selection of writing paper, envelopes and school-
shopping centres have multi-screen cinemas as type exercise books.
well as entertainment facilities that range from
Postcards can be found in Souq Waqif and in
skating rinks and water parks to children’s play
some of the supermarkets. Most stationery
areas and bowling alleys.
shops carry greeting cards, and several malls
All shopping malls have security patrols and have specialty card shops. If you are looking for a
first-aid facilities. They also have separate special souvenir, the General Postal Corporation
prayer rooms for men and women and full toilet (Q-Post) has produced ‘CD Postcards’ of Qatar
facilities. with still and moving images accompanied by a
For those interested in seeing the hustle and sound track in six languages: Arabic, English,
bustle of market life, Doha’s central markets, French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
just off Salwa Road, include a large fruit and The country’s largest bookshop, Jarir Bookstore
vegetable market with local and imported (on Salwa Road near Ramada Junction), sells
products, a fish market and a meat market. fiction and non-fiction books in Arabic and
The adjacent Omani Souq sells, as the name English, as well as reference and specialist
implies, goods from Oman such as dried fish, books. Family Bookshop (on Al Mirqab Al Jadeed
frankincense and spices. It also has a wide Street) is another popular bookstore. Some
selection of dates.
Doha City Guide I 73
22-carat. All gold is assayed and hallmarked Those looking for home furnishings made
in the country. Gold is generally sold by weight, locally from traditional Bedouin weaving, such
according to the day’s price of gold, plus a as attractive cushion covers and hanging shoe
‘making’ charge. However, some imported gold racks, will find an abundant supply in shops in
rings, charms and small items (particularly 18- Souq Waqif.
carat gold from Italy) are ‘ready-priced’.
Luggage
Many jewellers will make pieces to your
specification and there are numerous small
jewellers that undertake repairs — you will
find them in the Gold Souq and in Souq Waqif.
Necklaces featuring the wearer’s name in Arabic
or English are popular gifts and can be made to
order during your stay.
Some jewellers also sell cut and uncut precious
and semi-precious stones as well as mounted
cut stones. Certain traditional designs of 22-
carat jewellery from the region may be set with
semi-precious stones, synthetic stones or even
glass. Always ask so you know exactly what you If you find yourself heading home with more
are buying, and when purchasing diamonds, ask than you brought, do not despair. In addition
for a certificate of authenticity. to branded travelling bags available at the
department stores, the hypermarkets and souqs
Home Furnishings
have a vast array of cheap suitcases, trolley
Although some furniture is made locally, most bags, holdalls and backpacks. Just bear in mind
home furnishings and accessories are imported. that restrictions at Doha Airport mean no one
Stores with large selections include THE One piece of luggage can weigh more than 32kg, so
at Landmark and the Home Centre (City Center looking for an extra large case to pack for two
location and near the Jaidah Flyover), Homes people may not be a good idea.
R Us at Hyatt Plaza, and City Lifestyle at City
Center and Centrepoint. Daiso, a Japanese
shop at Hyatt Plaza, has an extensive range of
Oriental china, ornaments and kitchen items
starting at just QAR6.
Doha City Guide I 75
Perfumes
Many shops around town specialise in upmarket The range of textiles available in Qatar is
brands of the traditional men’s leather sandals enormous. You can find both natural and
so popular in Qatar. Hypermarkets, small shops man-made fabrics in a variety of widths. Check
and the souqs sell cheaper makes in similar carefully when ordering by the metre — you may
designs. Other types of shoes and trainers are need a shorter length if the material is wider
also available in the malls and souqs. Shoe Mart than you are used to, or vice versa. The sales
operates the largest shoe stores in Qatar; it has staff will know the length you require if you
branches at City Center and Centrepoint. describe the garment you wish to have made,
and advise you accordingly.
Sporting Goods
Ladies will find everything from plain and
patterned cottons, silks and man-made fibres
to heavily beaded and embroidered fabrics. For
gentlemen, suiting and shirting materials are
readily available both from textile shops and at
the men’s tailors. Ladies’ tailors do not normally
sell fabrics.
There are tailoring shops in almost every part
of town. Tailoring in Qatar is quick, inexpensive
and generally of a high standard. Allow three
or four days for completion, although some
shops can offer a faster service in emergencies.
Specialty shops around town and in the malls Tailors will usually provide accessories such as
sell sports clothing and equipment. Doha 2006 matching threads, buttons, zips and trimmings.
merchandise includes T-shirts and caps, and However, there are shops in the souq that offer
these can be found at the merchandising outlets a wide range if you wish to choose them yourself
at Games venues and in some of the malls. or take them home with you. Please refer to our
Most hotels can loan you sports equipment for separate ‘Doha’s Souqs’ feature to get an idea of
use in their facilities. Scuba diving equipment where to look for tailoring materials.
and accessories can be bought from specialty
centres such as Pearl Divers.
Doha City Guide I 77
In the West Bay Area of Doha, close to Sheraton In the Al Aziziya area, separated from the
Doha Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel, the Diplomatic Sport City by Villaggio mall. Clearly identifiable
Area and Media Village by a massive three-storey ‘shopping cart’
outside, Hyatt Plaza has a large Giant Stores
One of the largest shopping malls in the Middle
supermarket, a food court and the Jungle
East, City Center has four levels. It houses an
Zone play area. The main mall has a number
ice-skating rink, a bowling alley, children’s water
of boutiques and cafés as well as an outlet for
park and the X-treme World entertainment zone.
Doha 2006 merchandise. A large lifestyle store
Its multi-screen cinema is the country’s largest.
carries home furnishings on the ground level,
Besides restaurants and cafés scattered through
and on the second storey are clothes plus Daiso,
the mall, City Center also has two food courts.
a Japanese shop.
With several exhibition areas, it frequently hosts
exhibitions and events. Landmark Shopping Mall
Anchor stores include a Carrefour hypermarket Tel: +974 487 5222
and Debenhams department store. There are
banking facilities, travel agents, pharmacies as
well as a Qtel customer service centre.
There is a taxi rank outside the mall, which is
also served by the public bus network.
Royal Plaza
Tel: +974 413 0000
On Al Sadd Street
Villaggio
Tel: +974 487 5222
In the Al Aziziya area, next to the Sport City
Doha’s Souqs
Although Qatar has numerous modern shopping
malls, the country’s traditional souqs (markets)
remain popular with both nationals and
expatriates. And no wonder, for the range of
goods is tremendous, the prices competitive,
and bargaining a way of life.
What is just as intriguing is the number of There are plenty of photo opportunities in
elderly Qataris drawn to the souq for its Souq Waqif — you can even pose for one atop
reminders of days gone by. They joyfully identify a donkey! You can also stop for typical Gulf
the places and people in the photographs refreshments. Some of the old shisha cafés have
and look lovingly at the antiques and original benefited from the addition of cool courtyard
craftwork as well as new handicrafts. The terraces with trees. Elderly men sit around
traditional and aromatic spice souq has been talking, playing board games and smoking the
augmented by shops selling honey from the water pipes called shisha or nargileh locally,
region alongside a wide variety of herbal teas; but often referred to in English as hubbly-
and various shops display piles of roasted nuts bubbly pipes because of the noise they make
and brightly wrapped chocolates and sweets, all as the smoke is drawn through. Traditional
sold by weight. restaurants have also been added, some with
rooftop terraces, and traditionally-robed security
guards roam the souq with rifles slung over their
shoulders.
But Souq Waqif is a true working souq, not just
for tourists. People scurry through the alleyways
buying vast cooking pots that are big enough
to cook for an extended family of 30, search
for just the right tent for desert camping, or
buy tools and equipment for home and garden
maintenance.
Tailors specialised in making thobes occupy
small shops in the same area that the textile
merchants display their wares, with rack upon
rack of white cottons available for anything from in bridal and eveningwear with intricate
a few Qatari riyals to several hundred riyals per beadwork. A shop specialising in natural honey
metre. And the colourful selection of women’s has its entrance on the outside of the building at
dress fabrics can be quite bewildering. the end closest to the Corniche.
Small booths scattered throughout the souq Upstairs, there are shops selling clothing
offer watch-repair services and cobblers sit for men, women and children, shoes and
outside the mosque between Souq Waqif and accessories and children’s toys. Ladies and
Souq Al Ahmad. You can also find cushions and gents’ cloakrooms are on the ground floor,
mattresses in traditional majlis style, as well something worth knowing particularly if you are
have aluminium trunks or other aluminium ware out shopping with small children!
made to order. Various shops sell traditionally
Across Grand Hamad from Souq Al Ahmad,
styled coffeepots, incense burners, woven and
you can turn into Al Ahmed Street, which has
brass-studded wooden chests of all sizes,
several souqs as well as numerous small
suitable as anything from jewellery boxes to
independent retailers, many of which are bargain
blanket chests.
outlets advertising clothing, accessories and
Souq Al Ahmad miscellaneous items at fixed prices as low as
QAR2.
One photo opportunity on Al Ahmed Street is
the restored Sheikh Qassim Bin Mohammed
mosque. At the intersection, you will see police
standing on shaded platforms in the middle
of the road directing traffic — as much for the
benefit of camera-toting tourists as for the
motorists. This is how they used to direct traffic
half a century ago!
Souq Faleh
for photographs wearing them. If you buy any Doha’s souqs are bustling, vibrant and piled
of the traditional wedding pieces with coloured high with interesting gems to be discovered.
decoration, ask what the stones are. Coloured Don’t be afraid to browse; no one will mind
glass and semi-precious stones are often used if you pick articles up or check the feel of a
instead of precious stones. fabric. If you don’t see what you want, just ask
— shopkeepers are usually willing to help. With
There are a number of shops that specialise
people of so many nationalities working in the
in selling cut and uncut precious stones or
souqs, chances are that someone will be able
jewellery incorporating precious stones. You can
to speak your language. If not, hand gestures or
also design your own pieces, and many visitors
sign language is always useful.
buy chains with a name-pendant in Arabic script.
Enunciate the name clearly and it will be written The souqs are safe places to shop at any time of
phonetically in Arabic script, which runs from the day, whether you are venturing out in a group
right to left. or alone. And having visited once, you are sure
to want to go back — so don’t leave a visit until
your last day!
Where to eat
Dining around Town Applebee’s, International cuisine
1) Suhaim Bin Hamad St, 2) City Center-Doha
Al Bandar Restaurants, Seafood, Indian,
Tel. 1) 436 0747 2) 493 4880
Arabic cuisines, Al Corniche St, Tel. 431 1818
Asiana, Asian cuisine, 1) Airport Intersection
Al Dar, International cuisine 2) Landmark Mall, Tel. 1) 462 6600 2) 488 2612
Doha Club, Tel. 441 8822
Assaha Lebanese Village
Al Hamra, Lebanese, Syrian, Arabic cuisines Lebanese cuisine, Al Matar St, Tel. 435 5353
Al Rayyan Rd, Tel. 443 3297
Automatic Restaurant, Oriental,
Al Khaima, Oriental, International cuisines International cuisines, Al Sadd St, Tel. 442 5999
Al Sadd St, Tel. 444 6962
Baguette, International cuisine, Suhaim Bin
Al Khair, Syrian cuisine, Al Diwan St Hamad St, Tel 432 2524
Tel. 431 3998
Balhambar, Arabic cuisine, Al Corniche St.
Al Majless Al Arabi, Arabic, Lebanese Tel. 483 4423
cuisines, Al Salama St (Al Sadd Area)
Tel. 444 7417 Beijing, Chinese cuisine, Salwa Rd (opposite
The Centre), Tel. 435 8688
Al Mandaloun, Lebanese cuisine
8th Floor, Alfardan Centre, Grand Hamad St Bennigan’s, Irish American cuisine, Khalifa
Tel. 435 3156 International Tennis and Squash Complex,
Tel. 483 8700
Al Mandarin, Juices, sandwiches, desserts
1) Salwa Rd (near Jarir Bookstore) Best Fish, Seafood, 1) Al Mirqab Al Jadeed St
2) Al Shafi St (Rayyan City) 2) Al Sadd St, Tel. 1) 443 8540 2) 444 7656
Tel. 1) 442 5588 2) 482 1158 Betos, Argentinian Grill
Al Mounir, Lebanese cuisine Suhaim Bin Hamad St, Tel. 432 0333
Al Mirqab Al Jadeed St, Tel. 441 7131 Bukhara, Indian cuisine specialising in
Al Rabwah, Western, Eastern, Arabic cuisines Mughlai, Khalifa International Tennis and
Al Wakra Main St, Tel. 464 4542 Squash Complex Tel. 483 3345
Orient Express, Filipino, Chinese cuisines Star of India, Indian, Chinese cuisines
1) Al Defaaf St (Al Sadd Area) 2) The Mall Khalifa St, Tel. 486 3708
3) Hyatt Plaza, Tel. 444 1255 (Al Defaaf St)
Take Away, Oriental cuisine, 1) Al Sadd St
Palm Grove Restaurant, Indian, Chinese 2) Al Matar St, 1) 442 7778, 2) 466 7307
cuisines, Al Matar St, Tel. 465 1214
Tajine, Moroccan cuisine, Salwa Rd
Paradise, Arabic, Indian, Chinese cuisines (opposite The Centre), Tel. 444 4171
Al Matar St (Al Jazeera Service Apartment)
Tandoor, Indian BBQ, Al Matar St
Tel. 431 8550
(near Family Food Centre), Tel. 462 0100
Ponderosa, Steakhouse, grand buffet Tanjore, Indian cuisine, Suhaim Bin Hamad St,
1) Ramada Junction, 2) Al Jamiaa St Tel. 432 0333
(near Al Meera), Al Dafna Area
Tel. 1) 465 7310, 2) 483 6206 Thai Noodles, Asian cuisine
1) Opposite Souq Al Asiery
Qurtobah Restaurant, Arabic, Lebanese 2) Ahmed Bin Mohamed Bin Thani St
cuisines, Hitteen St. (Al Muntazah Area) 3) Mesaieed
Tel. 444 4514 Tel. 1) 443 4220 2) 435 2245 3) 477 1408
Ras Al Nasaa, Oriental, Italian, International, Thai Snack House, Thai cuisine, Al Mirqab
Iranian cuisines, Al Corniche St. (near Doha Al Jadeed St, Tel. 432 9704
Club), Tel. 441 1177
The Garden, Indian (fine dining, casual,
Ric’s Kountry Kitchen, American cuisine non-veg, veg) cuisine, Al Kahraba St,
Ras Abu Abboud St (near Sana store) Tel. 436 5676
Tel. 443 7846
The Great Wall Chinese, Chinese cuisine
Royal Palace of Bukhari, Arabic cuisine Salwa Rd (next to The Centre), Tel. 431 2812
1) Al Mirqab Al Jadeed St, 2) Najma St
Tel. 1) 436 0802 2) 436 0801 Turkey Central Restaurant, Arabic cuisine
Al Mirqab Al Jadeed St, Tel. 443 2927
Shaharzad, Egyptian cuisine, Suhaim Bin
Hamad St, Tel. 443 7586 Turkish Al Bukhari, Turkish, Arabic cuisines
Khalifa St, Tel. 486 6515
Shater Abbas Restaurant, Arabic, Iranian
cuisines, multiple locations Venice Restaurant, Oriental cuisine
Tel. 443 4517 (Salwa Rd, next to Jarir Al Sadd St, Tel. 444 1750
Bookshop)
The Coffee Beanery, Coffees, juices, light Mex Chic’Inn, Tex-Mex, chicken
West Foodcourt
snacks, Salwa Road, Tel. 465 7800
(multiple branches) Mr. Waffle, Belgian waffles, ice creams
East Foodcourt
Kudu, Burgers, salads, sandwiches, fries Orient Express, Filipino, Oriental cuisines
Al Waha Lounge Bar, Oasis Hotel & Qube, Ramada Hotel Doha
The Beach Club, Tel. 442 4424 Tel. 441 7417
Aussie Legends, Rydges Plaza Doha Shehrazad Lounge Bar, Ramada Hotel Doha
Tel. 438 5444 Tel. 441 7417
Dunes Cocktail Lounge, Sealine Beach The Old Manor Steak House, Mercure
Resort (Mesaieed), Tel. 476 5299 Grand Hotel, Tel. 446 2222
Habanos, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha The Pearl Lounge Club, Doha Marriott Hotel
Tel. 484 8000 Tel. 429 8499