Travel & Hospitality Awards | Middle East 2019 | www.thawards.com

Souqs & Malls
Doha is the capital
and most populous
place in Qatar. It is a city
that is constantly evolving
and changing as it morphs
itself into one of the world’s
most attractive cities. No
skyscrapers spring up
everyday, it is a city that
oozes confidence and style
and it should come as no
surprise that there are plenty
of shopping experiences,
modern and old-fashioned
available to enjoy here.
Another reason why Qatar
is truly one of the up and
coming places in the world
is because of the copious
shopping malls. Truth be told,
you don’t have to travel far
to reach a mall in Doha. One
of the most well known is the
Venetian-inspired Villaggio
Mall, which has over 200
stores. However its indoor
canal is its main draw. Here
you can take a gondola ride
and look up at a painted blue
sky with scattered clouds,
highlight the grandiose
and alluring nature of this
wonderful country.
Not only are there super amazing,
modern malls but you can also
appreciate the past and old traditions
by visiting one of the many Souqs
found in the country. One classic you
just have to visit is Doha’s Souq Waqif
for a true sense of the old world.
The “standing market” has been
rebuilt and renovated to evoke an
atmosphere of previous days gone
by. This legendary souq zig-zags with
shops ranging from fabric, spices,
sweets, household goods (think huge
pots) souvenirs to beautiful art. To
evoke the sense of the past, you will
also find wood carvers and tailors
working away, you’ll see for yourself
how the traditional agals Qatari men
wear to keep their head dress in
place are made.
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