Doha - Post Report Question and Answers

Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?

The souq offers many little things you can buy such as hand-blown glass sculptures, Persian and oriental rugs (The Rug Man), fabrics, desert roses, handmade furniture, and the list goes on. There are many opportunities to buy things, depending upon one's interest. - Oct 2023


Not really. Nothing is really made in Qatar. Visit the Rug Man (just look him up), he imports a wide variety of rugs and will tell you stories about them. The quality is good but he is used to that Exxon money (we still got a few rugs from him). - Jul 2022


Most of the handicrafts that you'll see for sale here were made in Turkey, UAE, Oman, Saudi, etc. So yes you can buy some regional items, most all of them aren't from Qatar.

The three things that have been the biggest hit with friends and family back home around the holidays have been the high-quality Saudi dates, Iranian saffron, and oudh. - May 2017


Nothing here that you couldn't find elsewhere in the countries where they're actually produced. For instance, at Souq Waqif, there's a guy that makes beautiful punched brass lamps. (He's from Egypt and this is a common handicraft there.) - May 2017


air tickets away - May 2015


There's not much actually made here. You can get gold at good prices, though. - Feb 2015


Shisha pipes, prayer beads, camel bone boxes, lanterns, and carpets. - Apr 2012


None, all local items at the souq are rip offs. - Mar 2012


Not very much is made here. I have a pakistani tailor I like that makes affordable suits. - Mar 2012


Olives, cheese, sheisha pipes, incense burners, spices...Note that there are a million shopping malls here with US and UK shops galore. - Jan 2012


Nothing. - Oct 2010


Save your money for your next post! Everything is imported from China, India or the U.S. - Dec 2009


A ticket out. They sell the usual junk in the souque. I don't think that they manufacture anything here, so why would you buy it? - Sep 2008


Subscribe to our newsletter


New book from Talesmag! Honest and courageous stories of life abroad with special needs.

Read More