- Design
- Spring/Summer 2026
- April
My Doha: Shaikha Al Sulaiti
A personal portrait of the city, seen through the eyes of Qatari designer Shaikha Al Sulaiti
Shaikha Al Sulaiti is a Doha-based designer whose work creates a dialogue between contemporary design language and Qatari heritage, reinterpreting motifs, materials and everyday cultural references. Since launching her own studio she has developed collectible furniture and object-based works that draw on traditional crafts, regional dress and domestic memory, while emphasising sustainability and ethical approaches to making. She has gained international recognition through her bold approach to design, notably debuting a stool crafted from deconstructed Hermès Birkin bags at Rossana Orlandi gallery during Milan Design Week 2022. More recent work, including an armchair upholstered in Chanel tweed, continues this exploration of recontextualising luxury textiles, while other work looks to more traditional inspirations, such as Bedouin Sadu weaving. Throughout her practice the common theme is a celebration of Qatari culture that bridges the gap between the inherited and the newly imagined. Here, she shares the places where she finds inspiration in Doha.
Museum of Islamic Art
“The Museum of Islamic Art is one of the most important places for my design journey. Islamic art has such a distinct aesthetic – so confident, so intentional – and I’ve been feeling extremely inspired by it recently. For me, it’s not only about the patterns or the geometry – it’s the innovation of the Islamic Golden Age: the thinking, the craftsmanship, the ambition behind the objects. Qatar has so much beauty and tradition, but exploring Islamic art pushes me to go deeper, to understand a wider history of design intelligence. That curiosity shapes what I want to do next.”
Bayt El Talleh
“Creativity also needs pleasure, and this restaurant is one of my favourite places to recharge. I’m vegan, so I’m always looking for places that feel exciting – not just for the food, but for the atmosphere as well. It’s Lebanese, and it sits on a hill, which makes it feel almost cinematic when the weather is good. The surroundings are beautiful, the food is genuinely delicious and it’s the kind of place that reminds you that inspiration isn’t always found in a studio.”
National Museum of Qatar
Doha Design District
“This place feels personal to me because it’s where my work has a place within the conversation about Qatar and design today. Here, I’ve been developing a collaboration with an Italian luxury brand that produces carpets inspired by the old souq and the layers of Qatari culture, both urban and Bedouin. What excites me is adding a contemporary edge. Some of these ideas come from memories of my grandmother’s house: shapes, moods and dreams I’m trying to hold on to. For me, collaborations like this matter because my mission is to celebrate my culture internationally.”
Souq Waqif
“Souq Waqif is a must-see, especially if you’re a designer. It’s an old souq that’s been renovated to feel like what it was – so when you walk through it, it’s like stepping into an older Doha. For me it’s also very convenient, so I go often. I love the sensory richness of it: the textiles, scents, materials and colours – and the Gold Souq is incredible for traditional jewellery.”
Cover image: Shaikha Al Sulaiti. Photo: Abdulla Rashid
