By Umer Nangiana
Name: Shabir Ibrahim
Nationality: Pakistan
Shop location: Main Souq Waqif Street
What do you sell?
I sell pearls, gemstone, silver and antique. In antiques, I have different collections from teapots, boats, watches, malash (wedding rose water), madhkan (incense burner).
Where do you source your goods from?
The antiques come from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and some from Qatar. Mainly, they come from within the Arab region, particularly Yemen and Saudi Arabia, as the old rulers belonged mostly to these two countries. So [we get] their surviving belongings in original and also some copies.
What are your shop’s specialties?
I have pearls ranging from low to high quality. But the best I have is the silver jewellery that is made here in my workshop. The foreigners like Arabic designs so we design them here in our workshops and use real gems and real pearls in them.
The price of jewellery depends on its weight and the gems used in it. The ones with Ruby and Emerald, for instance, will be differently priced. Similarly, the blue sapphire will get a different price per carat.
We also make copies of the more expensive diamond sets. We put real gemstone with white sapphire, which comes at an affordable price for our customers. I have the entire range. It depends on what the customers are looking for; I have almost everything available in all weights.
Who are your customers?
Local people and foreigners mostly from Arab countries like the heavier sets. I have all types of customers coming to my shop every day. I believe whoever visits Qatar comes to my shop too. I get customers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, United States of America, [and] different countries of Europe.
We mostly depend on tourists [for our sales]. And their interests vary. Some like antique jewellery, others like the new designs.
How is business here?
Alhamdolilah (Thank God) I have shops outside as well but business here in Souq Waqif is doing really well. This place attracts many tourists and then it hosts festivals, so we get a good number of customers and a variety of people.
Every one, either local or expatriate, comes to Souq Waqif. This boosts our sales.
Here, the high season is in winters. In summers, we get 50 percent less customers.
Do you face any kind of problems running this shop?
No, I have no problems at all. The people in charge of the market here are very cooperative.
What is the best thing about Souq Waqif?
I think the most amazing thing happening here at the Souq are the festivals. They are perfect to advertise the market and help provide us with business. These festivals attract everyone from children to adults and families, which is what I like best about Souq.
What kind of customers do you find annoying?
The people who come only for window shopping are the most annoying. (Laughs). They just waste time and also disturb the customers who actually want to make purchases.
Tell us your favourite anecdote related to a customer.
I once had this lady come to my shop. She was a minister from Tunisia. She was very different. She arrived in the morning at my shop and kept selecting different items till evening and she purchased all of them. It was her last day in Doha and she did a lot of shopping from my shop. She bought mostly jewellery and antiques.
Then, I had another customer. She was from Poland and was working for someone in the royal family. She bought a lot of antiques and pearls.
If it wasn’t for this job, what would you have been doing?
I was born and brought up in Saudi Arabia. I have studied and initially worked there as well. I have been working as a translator with Americans there. It was a good experience. Then, I started this business. If not for this, I would have been in government service. Since my childhood, I have wanted to be in the army but I did not get a chance back in Saudi Arabia.
