If you are visiting Qatar, buying souvenirs to take back home is a must. Qatar is a country where you will find lots of unique stuff that you might not find in other countries. So make sure to take out some extra time from your shopping spree to get some souvenirs.
When it comes to buying souvenirs, the best places to get them are the old Souqs (Traditional markets) in Doha. This is because you will rarely find traditional items in modern places such as malls.
You should buy souvenirs, so that when you go back home, this is something that will keep reminding wonderful time you spent in Qatar. Another reason to get souvenirs is that they are a great gifting option for family and friends.
If you’re confused as what to take back home, below are some of the best souvenirs that you can find in Qatar:
Decorative Hookahs
Shishas reflect Qatari culture Since they are found in various homes, cafes and hotels. As a tourist, you might have come across various shisha lounges along the streets of the Souq or the city of Doha.
Shisha smoking is an iconic Middle Eastern pastime, and people have been doing it in the Middle East for ages. The hookah is sold in different shapes and sizes- from miniature ones for decoration purposes to big ones to smoke shisha. Some of the hookahs are engraved with gemstones making them a royal décor piece. Souq Waqif has several shops selling hookahs where you can get one. {Also check our article on must visit Souq Waqif Restaurants}
Al Sadu Weavings
Al Sadu is a gorgeous piece of handwoven material made from camel and goat hair.
The weaving technique used to wave the material belongs to the Bedouin tribe who have practised it for thousands of years to make several pieces like rugs, blankets, cushions, and many more such things.
The textiles are black, beige, red, and white, with specific geometric designs and motifs symbolising the Bedouin’s rich cultural heritage and desert environment. Al Sadu is an ideal traditional Qatari souvenir as it truly defines the rich history and culture of Qatar.
To get one or two, head to the Corniche end of Souq Waqif where you can find several women weaving these and an entire shop selling specific kinds of Al Sadu Weavings.
Oud Fragrances
Oud Oil or perfume is made from intensely fragrant agarwood and is the traditional fragrance of Qatar. You may smell its fragrance in every home, mall, restaurant, and shops in Qatar. Its fragrance is aromatic and it is available in various forms from pure wood to perfume and aromatic oils.
Oud perfume is also known as ‘Black Gold’ in the Middle East for the rarity of the agarwood tree where it comes from. Often mixed with rose scents or frankincense, the scent will engulf your senses as you sample each one. Oud is also known as the ‘wood of the gods’ for its authentic and luxurious Arabic scent.
The fresh scent will remind you of the time you spent in Qatar even after you return back home. You will find a number of shops in the Souq as well as in all of the city’s shopping malls like the Royal Plaza, Hyatt Plaza, and the City Centre.
Pashminas, Shawls, And Scarves
Shawls and scarves are probably the only souvenirs that not only look good but are of practical use. They are woven from fine cashmere wool, and are warm and comfortable to wear. They are one of the most inexpensive souvenirs that you can get in Qatar and they also make up for an amazing gifting item since they are of great use and are light-weight.
They are very useful and can enhance your look. Pashminas usually come with variety of colours and patterns and are inexpensive as well. The only tricky thing which comes to one’s mind when buying pashminas is which colour to choose.
In Doha, local favourites to pick up quality pashminas are Bombay Silk Centre on Al Khaleej Street and the Oriental Carpet Company in Bin Mahmood.
Dallah Coffee Pots
Nothing is more symbolic of Arabic hospitality than the traditional Arabic coffee pot, Dallah. Dallah is made from brass or silver, and has been used historically for ages to brew and serve Qahwa, bitter and spicy Arabic coffee. The bitter coffee is served in Qatari houses when welcoming guests and the coffee is drugged out of mini metal cups known as Finjaan.
If you’re not a big fan of tea or coffee, you can still get one as the pots serve as a beautiful decoration piece and feature engravings of geometric patterns and even embedded gemstones yeah. You can find them in most gift shops at hotels and souvenir stores at malls such as the Royal Plaza and the City Centre. They are also available on the streets of Souq Waqif and make the perfect gift for coffee lovers.
Arabic Sweet Treats
Travellers with sweet teeth will be able to get a taste of the delicious sweets available in Qatar. Sweets are an essential part of Qatari culture and Qatar has a tremendous variety of sweet treats and traditional desserts to tempt the tummy.
Baklava is a traditional Qatari sweet in the form of a pastry made up of syrupy layers of filo and chopped dry fruits. Basbousa is another middle eastern cake sweetened with rose water or orange flavour. There are lots of varieties of sweets available in Doha where you can taste traditional sweets and can also take some of these scrumptious delights home for your friends and family.
To fill your bag with drool-worthy sweet treats, head to Al Aker Sweets in Salwa Road. The place is a very popular one among people with a sweet tooth.
Decorated Wooden Boxes
A fabulous souvenir to buy in Qatar is a wooden box. They are not only handy but are also very useful to store items like jewellery, keys, etc.
There are a lot of places that sell wooden boxes. The ornamental Arabian boxes are handcrafted with intricate designs and some are even made of brass. They look pretty and are available in a lot of sizes and patterns. You can find them all around Souq Waqif. Some of the popular places to get one other than Souq Waqif are Oriental Carpet company on Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, and in various malls like Royal Plaza and City Centre. If you’re in a rush and missed the chance to buy them, you can easily buy one at Hamad International Airport.
Pearl and Gold Jewellery
Pearl is densely intertwined in Qatar’s history, as before it’s discovery of oil industry, Qatar’s economy was highly dependent on it. This is why it is also the Pearl Capital of the world. You can find a lot of jewellery shops where you can get these dainty little pearls or even gold jewellery. They look dreamy and pretty, and some of them are inexpensive which you can buy to gift someone like friends or family or even female colleagues.
You can get them for yourself as they can be a wonderful keepsake of your visit to Qatar and will remind you of your time spent in this nation. You can get pendants, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and much more at one of the Souqs in Qatar.
Hope you enjoyed our article on Qatar Souvenirs – famous things to buy in Qatar. What are your thoughts on this. Let us know in comments below.
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