Shopping · Doha · Qatar
Shopping in Doha
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: km2bp @ Mapillary.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Doha shopping splits between large air-conditioned malls and the traditional souqs around Souq Waqif, which are better for spices, perfume, textiles and gold. Best souvenirs: Dates and date products, Oud and bakhoor and Spices.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 5
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Dates and date products
Where to shop
Souq Waqif and the Gold Souq
Spices, dates, perfumes, textiles, pashminas and handicrafts, with gold jewellery sold by weight in the Gold Souq next door.
Place Vendôme
A large mall in Lusail with luxury and high-street brands around an indoor canal and an evening fountain show.
Doha Festival City
A big mall on the northern outskirts with high-street brands, a theme park and indoor snow park.
Porto Arabia, The Pearl
Luxury boutiques and cafés along the marina promenade.
Villaggio Mall
A Venice-themed mall in Aspire Zone with an indoor canal and gondola rides.
Markets
Souq Waqif spice and textile lanes
Open stalls with saffron, frankincense, dried limes, rose water, fabrics and traditional clothing.
Falcon Souq
Specialist shops selling falcons, hoods, gloves and training equipment.
What to buy
Dates and date products
Boxed premium dates, date syrup and chocolate-coated dates from souq shops and supermarkets.
Oud and bakhoor
Agarwood oil and scented incense chips sold in perfumeries throughout the souq and malls.
Spices
Saffron, cardamom, dried lime and machboos spice blends weighed out to order in Souq Waqif.
Gold jewellery
Gold sold largely by weight in the Gold Souq, with a separate charge for workmanship.
Sadu textiles
Woven Bedouin-pattern cushions, bags and wall hangings from craft shops in the souq and museum stores.
Museum shop design
The Museum of Islamic Art and National Museum shops sell well-made books, ceramics and prints.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Souq Waqif and Old Doha
Souq Waqif
A restored market on the site of Doha's old trading souq, with mud-rendered walls, wooden beams and lanes selling spices, dates, perfume, textiles and handicrafts.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Market · Souq Waqif and Old Doha
Falcon Souq
On the edge of Souq Waqif, shops sell hooded falcons, leather gloves, hoods and training gear to Qatari falconers, and birds perch on stands inside.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
- History
Street · Lusail
Lusail Boulevard
A wide promenade lined with towers, fountains and cafés running through the new city of Lusail, often used for festivals and celebrations.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
- Architecture
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Luqaimat, Regag, Karak chai and Qahwa with dates. Stalls in Souq Waqif, Katara events and Qatari cafés. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Msheireb Downtown | $$$$ | Rebuilt downtown of stone-clad streets, heritage museums and a free tram loop |
| West Bay | $$$ | Skyscraper district with beach hotels, City Center Doha mall and the northern Corniche |
| The Pearl | $$$$ | Man-made island of marinas, Mediterranean-style promenades and waterfront dining |
| Lusail | $$$ | New planned city north of Doha with a boulevard, tram, stadium and marina towers |
| Al Sadd | $$ | Older inland commercial district of malls, mid-range hotels and inexpensive restaurants |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in QAR. Tipping is appreciated but not expected. About 10% in restaurants where service is not included, rounding up taxi fares and a few riyals for porters and delivery drivers is common.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in June–August; the busiest months are December.
- December: Darb Al Saai — National Day heritage festival with family activities (usually in the days before 18 December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for shopping, families and luxury
Lusail
New planned city north of Doha with a boulevard, tram, stadium and marina towers
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Doha?
Dates and date products, Oud and bakhoor, Spices and Gold jewellery.
+Where is the best shopping in Doha?
Souq Waqif and the Gold Souq: Spices, dates, perfumes, textiles, pashminas and handicrafts, with gold jewellery sold by weight in the Gold Souq next door.
+What are the best markets in Doha?
Souq Waqif spice and textile lanes and Falcon Souq.