8 Best Places for Shopping in Doha & Things to Buy

Doha is surely one of the best places for shopaholics. You can find a wide variety of places to shop that range from traditional markets to chic shopping centres. Here is a list of some of the best places and things to buy in Doha:

1. Souq Waqif

If you are thinking of shopping in Doha, then this is the place that you must not skip. You can find everything at Souq Waif, from art galleries to outdoor cafes and restaurants. This is one of Qatar’s oldest markets and is now one of the top tourist destinations.

Address: Al Souq Street, Doha, Qatar.
Timings: Saturday –Thursday 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM - 10 PM, Friday 12:30 AM - 10 PM.
Recommendation: A good time to go to Souq Waqif is either early in the morning or in the evening time so as to avoid the heat.
What to buy: Antiques, spice, pearl, agarwood perfume handicrafts, jewelry, and textiles.

2. Souq Al Deira

Souq Al Deira is right next to Souq Waqif on Al Ahmed Street. If you are a fabric lover, then you can visit this place. You can get Indian silk, lace, and cashmere pashminas. The quality here is top-notch but, of course, a bit expensive. You can get customized Abayas and traditional clothes. Prices are not fixed, so there is a scope for haggling.

 Address: Al Ahmed Street, Doha, Qatar.
Timings: Saturday – Thursday 8:30 AM - 10 PM (closed on Fridays and Sundays).

3. Gold Souq

The Gold Souq is located in downtown Doha, which is right next to the central bus station and Al Fardan Plaza. You can get all the kinds of gold, such as chains, bangles, or even bridal jewellery sets. The gold here is available in 22-carat. You can also find silver, white gold, and platinum pieces. The jewellery is regulated, and the sold pieces are weighed in front of the buyer and tested previously. Do not forget to haggle here.

Address: Al Ahmed Street, Doha, Qatar.
Timings: Saturday – Thursday 9 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 10 PM, Friday from 4 PM to 10 PM.
What to buy: Necklace with your name written in Arabic.

4. Malls of Doha

• You can find various famous malls like the landmark shopping mall, which has high-end consumer brands. It is shaped like a typical Qatari castle, and you can find other luxury brands, too, like Mango, Salsa, and Dolce & Gabbana. You can also find movie halls and indoor amusement parks.
• Another mall to shop for is City Center Mall, Qatar’s oldest shopping centre.
• Villaggio Shopping mall is a Venetian-style mall which is a pretty great option too. You can find French restaurants and designer jewellery pieces in the same place.
• Doha festival city is a very famous mall with many retail outlets. You can see angry bird parks with cars, zip lines, rides like Raft Battle, and trampoline parks. You can find everything from fashion to lifestyle and hospitality experiences. You can also choose from more than 100 restaurants to eat from.

5. Omani Souq

The Omani Souq is situated behind the wholesale Market of Doha. The souq is a small market but is mostly visited by locals who need fruits and vegetables or other household items. You can find all kinds of oud perfumes, Omani dried fish stalls, spices, nuts, plants, truffles, hats, baskets, clay pots, fruits, and vegetables. There is a separate section of flowers and plants (Sunflowers, pansies, chrysanthemums, bonsai trees, daisies, hydrangeas). You can also buy honey and dates or even a cup of Karak, a traditional tea of Qatar.

Address: Salwa Road, Al Maamoura, Doha, Qatar.
Timings: 7 AM - 10 PM.
What to buy: White truffles, clay pots, perfumes, spices, and baskets.

6. MIA Park Bazaar

This bazaar is held on weekends from September to April. MIA Park Bazaar is a famous Souq for arts, crafts, and culinary. The bazaar hosts more than 150 stalls which include arts and artefacts.

Address: South of Doha Corniche, Doha, Qatar.
Timings: Friday from 2 PM - 10 PM, Saturday from 12 PM to 7 PM, Sunday from 12 PM to 6 PM.
What to buy: Books, souvenirs, clothes, arts, artifacts.

7. Doha Wholesale Market

The wholesale Market is located on Salwa Road. You can buy fresh produce here. There is also a separate section that is devoted to fish, crabs, crayfish, lobsters, squid, and prawns, and a meat section.  You can find the meat of sheep, cows, and goats, which are slaughtered here. You can also find a Vegetable Souq where there are locally grown and imported fruits and vegetables.

Address: Wholesale Market Street, Doha, Qatar (near Haloul Street and Salwa Road).
Timings: 6 AM – 10 PM.
What to buy: Vegetables, Meats.

8. Lafayette Galleries Doha

This Parisian-styled department hosts more than 400 international brands like Marc Jacob, Berluti, Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, etc. Lafayette Galleries is in Katara Cultural Village and is located between Pearl Qatar and West Bay.

Address: 21 High Street, Katara PB No 75, Doha, Qatar.
Timings: Thursday from 10 AM to midnight, Friday from 1:30 PM to midnight, Saturday – Wednesday from 10 AM to 10 PM.
 What to buy: Fashion-designed clothes.

Overall, there is a lot to shop for, including clothes, sweets, oud fragrances, traditional incense burners, shisha pipes, arts and crafts, lamps, and jewellery from local markets to big malls in Doha. So put all of these on your list to buy from while visiting the best city in Qatar.