UPDATED: Nov 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 (not unexpectedly, but inconveniently so!). 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 of checking this by myself.
Aroosa Bakes – a talented home baker, specializing in sophisticated looking cakes. If you’re looking for a bake for a wedding or an engagement party – Aroosa’s cakes will be right up your alley!
Achi B Chutney – your place to go for a variety of delicious chutneys, highly recommended by the community! And they’re vegan friendly too.
AllAboutDoughnuts.qa – my favorite place for delicious homemade doughnuts, which remind me so much of the Polish ones (best compliment :)).
Bianca’s Ice Cream – a Swiss ice cream maker in Qatar, Bianca specializes in premium artisanal ice cream flavors, which are made from fresh ingredients and vegan friendly!
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.
Cakes by Harriet – one of the most recommended home bakers in town, Harriet’s cakes are little works of art, and they taste delicious too.
D’licious by D – Dina bakes delicious customized sweet treats, and is well-known for her themed birthday party sweet setups.
Edein Mama – a mama & daughter duo, baking the best maamoul in town! If they look familiar – you’re on to something – Rana is also the proud owner of Sit Beit!
The Guilt-Free Kitchen – this brand sells gluten-free desserts (online), as well as an array of gluten-free snacks through selected outlets.
Heavenly Bakes 2 Go – a very versatile home baker, highly recommended for creating a wide variety of delicious bakes for different occasions.
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!
Platters – Creative Catering – Meera’s company designs and executes glamorous cheese, dessert and savoury platters that bring luxury and style to any event.
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.
The Cookie Atelier – a mom of 3, an artist and a graphic designer turned baker, making one of the most unique custom-made cookies in town! A perfect addition to your special occassion.
Vanilliana Cakes – another amazing home baker in Qatar. Her cupcakes are little works of art, bursting with color and flavor!
When Lavender Met Rose – a skilled home baker specializing in all kinds of baked goods, from bread & bagels to delicious cakes.
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).
Mehreen Khazafi – a talented designer specializing in trendy casual and semi-formal clothing for those who want to make a unique statement. Her embroidering is absolutely gorgeous.
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.
SR by Sonali Raman – this brand champions slow, sustainable fashion, handwoven textiles, and kaarigari—artisanry. They believe in mindful and ethical production and strive for zero waste.
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!
Bloom Baby Classes – a great space established by three ladies, where babies learn new skills that aid their development. Their classes will encourage motor skills, early language skills and teach body awareness too.
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!
Jumpstart Center – a center for children with special needs in Qatar, established by a doctoral-level psychologist and BCBA-D who has been working with people on the autism spectrum for over 25 years.
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.
Rebel Angels Gymnastics Academy – this fantastic sports academy for children was established by Anna, a Polish expat with a passion for gymnastics. In only a few years, this passion project grew to become one of the biggest gymnastics academies in Qatar!
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.
Migramah – a very unique business selling a very special type of accessories: handmade macrame jewelry. One of its kind in Qatar.
Sylvie Van Roey – Sylvie specializes in beautiful handmade bracelets with natural gemstones and 925 silver.
Home decor.
Cee Crafts – Carmen creates gorgeous handmade decorations, including seasonal ones – currently displaying a massive array of festive 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!
Home Charms – your one-stop-shop for a wide variety of lovely handcrafted home decorations, also featuring seasonal items!
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!
Kraafty Korner – a great place to shop for handmade paper decor & gifts. The designs are all custom, perfect for birthdays, festivals and other special occasions!
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.
Artist Jami – Jami is a local artist delivering a variety of art workshops for both adults and children. She also sells her beautiful art online.
Clay Encounters – Rima set up a fantastic ceramic design studio, where she not only sells beautiful pieces, but also organizes pottery classes, and even birthday parties for the kids!
Craftsy Cards – a gorgeous ensemble of greeting cards, frames and accessories. Macrame dolls are a super unique addition to the shop.
Dalu – Dalu is a new Qatari brand, poised to transform the landscape of artistic collaborations, emerging as a beacon for local and regional artists and artisans and providing them with an empowering platform to create and thrive.
Designs by Toni – Toni specializes in crafting personalized delights for every occasion. She also takes commissions, and can create a one-of-a-kind special piece just for you!
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 locally inspired 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.
Patt Handcraft – Patt is a talented seamstress creating beautiful pieces for every occasion, including seasonal gifts.
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!
Saemi Kim Art – Saemi is a Doha-based artist organizing art workshops as well as selling her beautiful vibrant art online. She does personalized art too!
The Giftery – an online shop offering handmade and specially customized gifts for all your special occasions & special ones. And that includes seasonal decor items!
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!
Urpharma – Camille is a pharmacist who’s introducing clean skincare and supplements to Qatar market. I was lucky to try one of the serums and loved it!
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.
Me Time Wellness Center – this center is a safe environment where women can focus on their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through the practice of yoga, meditation, and authentic Thai massage.
Seed Health & Wellness Center – Seed is a one of its kind integrative medical practice and urban wellness destination that combines ancient wisdom and modern tools and expertise, offering a holistic ecosystem of complete health, nourishment and healing
Sequences Wellness – my personal favorite, a comprehensive wellness centre established to service the community with a healing and science-backed ecosystem. Their versatile and certified physiotherapists, mindful movement instructors and skilled practitioners work together under one roof to build customized plans uniquely suited to each client and their personal health goals.
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.
Yes2Health – Marta is managing a one-stop-shop for delicious guilt-free sweets, healthy bites, sport supplements and more. You can find a wide variety of low sugar, gluten-free and keto snacks and desserts, from brands which you can’t find anywhere else in town.
Alicja Kalinska Photography – Alicja is a professional European photographer, specializing in business photos, as well as timeless & elegant portraits of adults, kids, and whole families. My family has been photographed by her many times and we absolutely loved every single photo!
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.
Pepita Fernandez Photography – a Doha based photographer specialising in documentary style family photography. I absolutely love her photos, taken at her clients’ homes.
Three Little Bees Studio – a talented photographer specializing in newborn and family studio photography, including amazing seasonal photoshoots!
5 Origins Travel – Elsa is an Independent Cruise Advisor currently based in Qatar. If you’re looking for someone to help you design the cruise holiday of your dreams – she’s the one to go to!
Abounding in Grace Interiors – Nidhi specializes in budget-friendly interior design, helping her clients create the space of their dreams.
AlJamal Official – a group of very talented musicians who play for the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, who can make your occasions special!
CVBee.me – I am SUPER proud to be able to list my own business here! A unique career platform with lots of useful services, adjusted to the Middle Eastern market. CV updates, LinkedIn Audits, translation to Arabic, and more. Not to boast, but the number of great reviews I’ve received over the past months makes me think I’m worthy of joining the list 🙂
Dahabi Henna – an amazing henna artist in Qatar who makes and sells organic henna cones.
Designs by Razia – Razia is an Architect by profession with a Master’s in Sustainable Design, a really talented designer and such a sweet person! Her services include not only interior design, but also architectural design, 3D visualizations and renders.
Farhads Henna – a true artist, creating beautiful henna designs, with over 1000 happy customers. Also, the first caricature henna artist in Qatar! If you’re thinking of including henna in your special event, this is your go-to artist!
First Aid Qatar – a very needed service, offering Pediatric/Adult CPR & First Aid Training in Qatar, delivered by a British nurse instructor.
Gifts by Roopie – Kaylee, who named her business after her mum who started up in the UK, prides herself on making unique and affordable gifts for all occasions! If you’re looking for a gift inspiration, her page is a must-visit!
Glam Your Image – Elisabete is a well known etiquette and protocol consultant, a one-of-a-kind service in Qatar! She’s also a public speaker, empowering women.
Henna By Annfaz – a henna artist with over 20 years of experience, specializing in bridal henna, and proficient in all kinds of henna designs and styles!
Once Upon a Party Doha – a perfect place to shop for a variety of party items, including cake toppers, birthday banners and 3D letters!
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.
Refill2Save – a wonderful initiative aimed at reducing plastic waste across Qatar! It’s a rolling refilling station of liquid soap and detergents. And let’s not forget their soap & detergent vending machine conveniently located in DFC!
Sara’s Home Haven – Sara is a talented interior stylist on a mission to turn rentals into homes! She caters to all kinds of budgets, and her Instagram profile is full of great knowledge about upgrading your rental!
Sophie McDonald Dance Company – this dance school features many dance style classes led in Qatar by UK-trained teachers.
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.
The World of Inaara – INAÃRA is a homegrown Qatar brand that brings you hand-woven and handcrafted products from India at fair prices. Their products are bursting with character and colors, absolutely gorgeous.
This Mama Invests – Malu is a certified money coach on a mission to help women in GCC start investing to create financial well-being and generational wealth!
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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— 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!
