Doha Shopping Tips by call_me_rhia

al noof masterpieces and gifts: do you need a souvenir?

Would you like to buy some local souvenirs? Something that is actually unique to Qatar and (here's the catch) made in Qatar? The only place we found was in Souk Wakif, in a little shop called Al noof. Our friends who live in Doha took us there - not only for the souvenirs, but to see the three dimensional plastic model of how the city looked in the past.

What to buy: You can buy small and large locally-made three dimensional plastic models, like the one in the photo. They mostly represent traditional buildings or city landmarks and are quite nice. They also cost very little.

What to pay: The smallest ones start at 30 rials.

Address: souk wakif

Theme: Art

villagio shopping mall: venice in qatar?

Villagio Shopping Mall is quite an iteresting sight, even if you don't like shopping - 220 stores are anyway too much to take in - in one go. Actually I would not even recommend it to go there to shop, but just to see a great example of Middle Eastern kitsch (which I adore).

When i visited it in January 2009 it was not yet completely finished, but most shops were open. Not that i cared too much. So what's it like inside? It is designed to feel like an Italian town in architecture - and look up at the ceilings and see how, painted blue, they look like a sky. Different areas of the mall have different shades of blue - the area where the sky is dark (near dusk) has street-lamps all over, and they are designed too look as if they are lit.

Do you need more Italy? Find the canal that runs through the centre, complete with gondolas that you can ride. The "gondoliere" is just there to manouevre the gondola, he's not rowing... gondolas here are operated mechanically. Fed up with Italy? Go and have fun in the ice-skating rink by the food court.

What to buy: Don't buy anything... go there to sightsee.

Address: Al Waab Street

Directions: Between Sport City and Hyatt Plaza

Phone: +974 4135444

Theme: Department Store