UPDATED: Sep 2024
So I have been thinking. Mostly about my future and how I managed to steer my career back in 2023 when I found myself without a job. Diving into this subject made me think of all the amazing, talented, and passionate women out there who managed to turn their hobbies into profitable businesses.
What is not really fair is that most of those very same ladies do not have the power to market their businesses and products as efficiently as the big corporations do. Many gain new customers mostly via the “word of mouth”, many are yet to be discovered by a broader public. Thinking about this led me to an idea to use my blog as a platform to showcase their work. And so the directory of women-led businesses was created! 🙂
What criteria did I use for the listings?
— A business that has been established or is led by a woman (preferably both!).
— One that I have used myself and was very happy with, or…
— …one that another happy customer recommended to me.
I’ve divided the listings into categories, making it easier for everyone to find things that they need or are interested in.
Note 1: this list is by no means complete! If you’re aware of any other amazing businesses out there, please drop me a message and I’ll make sure to include them!
Note 2: I put this list together under the assumption that all listed businesses are operating legally, however, you should be aware that I have no way to check this by myself.
AllAboutDoughnuts.qa – my favorite place for delicious homemade doughnuts, which remind me so much of the Polish ones (best compliment :)).
Big Bold Cakes – Nina is my go-to baker for birthday cakes, always great flavors (and a big choice of them too) and amazing attention to detail!
Burnt.qa – rumor has it it’s the best Burnt Basque Cheesecake you can get in Doha! Also known for their other yummy desserts.
D’licious by D – Dina bakes delicious customized sweet treats, and is well-known for her themed birthday party sweet setups.
Lina’s Cakes – delicious cakes, bakes and cupcakes for everyone! And I mean in – Lina offers plenty of vegan and gluten free options, too!
MLKÅ Bakery – Milka is a talented baker who opened Qatar’s first-ever sourdough micro-bakery. Ever since, her breads have been among the best ones I’ve tried in Doha.
Moon Sweety – lavish and highly addictive cakes that will make you come back for more!
Portugal Sweets For You – a real gem in Doha, homemade traditional Portuguese sweets which I tried & loved! Also available are special Weekend Boxes with mixed pastries, which is an amazing idea.
Sara’s Sweet Treats – sweet treats for all the occasions! Distinguished by their gorgeous designs, and very yummy, too!
Sit Beit – provides an easy and fast solution to cooking traditional Arabic recipes! Ready to cook food in pouches, available in retail stores across Doha.
Cló Sunlight Apparel – my newest discovery! Amazing handmade clothes, distinguished by their vibrant colors and lovely patterns, made with great quality materials. Not only beautiful, but also really comfy!
Deeply Loved – an online boutique with a wide selection of women’s clothing. Their kaftans are beautifully designed and comfortable, too!
Kaftan by Shabna Shahid – Shabna manufactures gorgeous kaftans! You could get them customized as well (for example: mother & daughter matching kaftans).
Pineapples & Dragonflies – a boutique of gorgeous feminine styles inspired by wanderlust & empowered by individualism. Each piece of clothing is wonderfully unique.
Sandunga Boutique – an online boutique for ladies established by a Colombian expat. Lovely, colorful clothes suited for all tastes! A very impressive choice of items and amazing quality.
A Petite Story – an online concept shop, focusing on handmade accessories & curated goods for the little ones. Adorable handmade baby hair accessories and many other lovely items!
BookBag – one of my favorite online businesses in Qatar 🙂 A wide selection of books for babies and children with very competitive prices! Frequently updated list of titles and great customer service!
Little Learners Nursery – Sarah is the proud founder of Little Learners Nursery. She opened it without any external funding, and in 5 years of hard work she has managed to grow it into one of the most popular & reputed British nurseries in Doha!
Mummymoon – Goda owns & runs this luxury fashion for kids & young adults store. She’s based in Qatar, but already managed to expand her business abroad. The clothes are very unique, handcrafted and extremely creative!
Play Atelier – a great range of wooden toys and creative kits for children to get busy with! Supporting your little one’s learning & development in the best possible way.
The Chew Baby Company – beautiful, modern and natural accessories for babies made from non-toxic organic materials. An impressive selection and gorgeous designs.
Accessories.
iris108 – Asha designs and produces the most gorgeous gemstone jewelry in town! I won’t be lying if I say that every single one of her items is on my wishlist 🙂
Leatzi – an online business set up by jewelry enthusiasts located in Doha. They create special & customized designs using all kinds of jewelry.
Sylvie Van Roey – Sylvie specializes in beautiful handmade bracelets with natural gemstones and 925 silver.
Home decor.
Enjoy the Little Things – a great shop for all kinds of handmade home decor! Homemade signs, pictures, photo holders , planters and many other items. Lots of Christmas decor is available too!
Knot by Heba – if you’re a fan of macrames, this is your place to shop! Wall hangings, plant hangers, dream catchers and many more. All handmade and beautiful!
Olive & Co Design Studio – unique, customized gifts, hand made with love. A wide selection of gorgeous laser-cut signs, ornaments, and more!
Triple C’s Crochet Corner – gorgeous custom-made crochet items, manufactured with love by a lady with over 20 years of crocheting experience!
Other.
Artesana – if you ever thought about trying wood craft yourself, Artesana is where you start. They specialize in DIY wood craft kits, as well as creative & hands-on educational boxes for kids.
Enchanted Strings – Jesfaine creates unique pre-made & custom-made string art keepsakes. Handmade and perfect as a gift or home decor pieces!
Littlegoodies.qa – Raushan made a name for her business selling a wide variety of unique and well-thought gifts/souvenirs. A lovely person with a true passion for what she does!
Luna & Lia Atelier – Talented Rosa designs and makes a variety of gorgeous accessories. From pillows to bean bags, clutches and phone/tablet holders – her creations are characterized by vibrant colors and meticulous execution.
Queen B Doha – Belinda creates personalized animated art, a perfect memory of your time spent in the Middle East, or a gift for your loved ones!
What Rachel Did Next – Rachel is a graphic designer who makes gorgeous greeting cards. Visit her page for some lovely Christmas cards which are a big hit! All Rachel’s cards are eco-friendly, too!
Skincare & makeup.
Al Nahl Lifestyle – Simeen specializes in handmade all-natural beauty products, striving to become a zero-waste company soon!
Love Lavishly – Anju is creating amazing handmade soaps that come in all shapes and sizes! Perfect as a gift, and for your own pleasure.
The Walk In Closet – an online Asian beauty store selling cosmetics, spa products & beauty tools of amazing quality. Free delivery on orders over QAR 100 is available!
Natural medicine.
The Holistic Medicine Cabinet – your one-stop-shop for natural immunity boosters! All-natural and homemade syrups, gummies, and other concoctions with no preservatives, fake colors, or added sugar.
Other.
Inspire Me by Elizabeth Wood – Elizabeth supports her clients to live out their best lives, reach goals and results they have been seeking for a long time as well as re-frame limiting beliefs into positive action.
Warrior Fit Gym – Charlotte & her business partner have managed to open their own gym in Qatar with no local investor, in the middle of the pandemic. They have already created an amazing community of like-minded people, and their business is thriving! I’m looking forward to trying it myself.
Alicja Kalinska Photography – Alicja is a professional European photographer, specializing in portraits (business & casual), maternity, newborns, family, kids and babies photography. I vouch for her work personally!
Edina Dober Photography – Edina is a true artist, specializing in beauty, fashion and movement photography. She’s one-of-a-kind in Qatar, and each of her photo is a small work of art.
Juliette Sawyer Photography – Juliette is a professional photographer based in Qatar offering commercial & family specialized photography services.
Najla Nabil Photography – a versatile & creative photographer, specializing in personal portraits, creative portraits, headshots, as well as family and events photography.
Dahabi Henna – an amazing henna artist in Qatar who makes and sells organic henna cones.
Mean Girls Qatar – an eclectic online shop, specializing in handmade rattan bags, as well as Korean beauty products.
Qatar Home Deco – your one-stop-shop for the improvement of your home! In Qatar Home Deco you will find a wide selection of wallpapers, carpets, and wooden flooring.
The Tupperware Lady – Amina has launched an online platform that sells the globally renowned Tupperware products. Her product range includes preparation, storage, containment, on-the-go sets and serving products for family and home.
TriToppers – beautiful and unique cake toppers, banners and other party items. All custom-made to suit your needs!
Wa’hab – an award-winning and truly amazing initiative to fight food waste in Qatar! They partner with food outlets and other charities to collect excess food and donate it to the beneficiaries. They also aim to create awareness, reuse surpluses, and compost food waste.
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You might also like…
— How I quit my job, and the important lessons I’ve learned about working in Qatar.
— Beaches in Qatar, PART 2. Three great beaches you’ve probably never heard of. And one to avoid!
