You say Khaleeji style, we hear quiet luxury. Effortless elegance, no logos, just an air of – and very good tailoring. And in Doha, it’s not a fleeting Tiktok trend. Home to everything plush, polished and perfectly air conditioned, the city understands how to do opulence with the same nonchalance as a Friday brunch.
And, you don’t even have to look that far. Doha Festival City, one of the city’s go-to malls, has everything you need to slip into your stealth-wealth era. You don’t need to be on a private list of bespoke ateliers or VIP showings either. With new AI-powered retail tools and some super underrated gems, you can nail the look without the fuss.
Here are the picks you might miss if you’re not paying attention:
WAAD Designs
No guide to Arab quiet luxury even starts without the abaya. What might seem like a simple black cloak quickly drawn over “regular” clothes has quickly evolved into its own artform in the Khaleej. The material, its sheen, the cut, the shoes you pair with it- it’s not as simple as it seems.
And WAAD Designs strikes the perfect balance. The Qatari abaya brand launched in 2010, blends the ease of off-the-rack shopping with the detail and precision of bespoke tailoring. Their client list reads like a who’s who of royal family members and public figures. So if you’re trying to turn your office look from “I tried” to “diplomat landing on a private island”, WAAD should absolutely be on your radar.
Where: Doha Festival City, 1st Floor, Opposite Godiva.
Asteri Beauty
We all know her: she’s got softly bronzed skin, dark eyes, and makeup that looks like it lives in her face, not sits on top of it. That “barely there but actually very intentional” look? In Doha’s heat and humidity? That’s skill.
Asteri Beauty, founded by Saudi entrepreneur Sara Al Rashed, has basically bottled that skill. The brand’s whole thing is makeup that behaves like a second skin, even when you’re moving between icy AC and desert sun. Their formulas hold onto the “high performance” promise without feeling heavy, cakey, or too much.
Where: Doha Festival City, 1st Floor, Gate 2, VIP Area.
Kishwa
In the peninsula, gold and luxury go hand in hand , and not in the tacky “gold-plated steak” sense. We’re talking heritage: murtasha sets passed from mother to daughter, bracelets that carry entire family legacies, and the kind of gold earrings you’ll wear no matter what your TikTok colour analysis says.
Kishwa is where that legacy comes to life. The Turkish brand draws from the Silk Road, the Ottoman Empire, and centuries of craftsmanship to make modern pieces that still feel rooted in tradition. Walk in and you can literally smell the heritage (hint: the finest bakhoor). And once a piece becomes yours, you’re part of the story too.
Where: FF C8, West Zone Gate, First Floor, Doha Festival City.
Cengiz Aktürk
Fashion weeks pales in comparison to private Arab parties. If you’ve ever had the fortune to be invited to one, you’d find jewel toned silks, shimmering chiffons moulded around a corsets and fish tale gowns with intricate embellishments- all hidden beneath the abaya until the lights dim and the party starts
These gowns aren’t about showing off; they’re about celebrating luxury and individuality in private spaces. It’s drama, anticipation and a Cruella moment (the 2021 Emma Stone version, ofcourse). We’re loving these gowns by Cengiz Aktürk.
Where: Ground Floor, Luxury Area, Doha Festival City.
Al Jazeera Perfumes
No outfit is complete without a scent, and Qataris genuinely have this down to an art. Ask anyone in Doha for perfume recommendations and Al Jazeera Perfumes will almost always come up.
Launched in 1998, the brand blew up purely through word of mouth, no flashy marketing, no influencer campaigns, just genuinely good fragrances that people kept talking about. If you want your quiet luxury moment to linger in the air behind you, this is the spot.
Where: Ground Floor, Doha Festival City.
Not in Doha? Here is your guide to nailing quiet luxury.