QATAR, desert, sea, and future
There are journeys that begin long before touching the ground, and my arrival in Qatar was one of them. From the airplane window, the first thing that appeared before my eyes was the desert: a golden and endless ocean, where the dunes looked like waves frozen in time. A landscape that exuded calm, commanded grandeur, and held mystery in every fold of sand.
Suddenly, the horizon changed. Doha emerged like a mirage come to life: glass and steel skyscrapers reflecting the sunlight, and in the background, the turquoise blue of the Persian Gulf gently embracing the coast.
If I close my eyes and think about that first trip, the scent of incense when entering the airport and the distant echo of the call to prayer come to mind. Qatar is that: a constant contrast between the ancient and what is yet to come; a country moving towards the future without leaving behind its essence or its culture.
Qatari society is deeply shaped by Islam, which guides its customs and celebrations. The family is the center of everything, and tribal ties remain very strong. For a Qatari, hospitality is a sacred value: welcoming a guest with Arabic coffee (gahwa) and dates is more than a gesture, it is a symbol of respect.
The desert and the sea have shaped their identity. Falconry, camel racing, and pearl diving are living legacies of a past that still pulses. And if, like me, you understand culture through food, let yourself be carried away by the aromas: saffron, clove, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, dried lime… spices that tell stories of ancient trade routes. In every traditional dish, you can feel these traces: machboos (spiced rice with meat or fish), harees (wheat with meat), and sweets with dates and honey. And, of course, nothing is complete without a cardamom coffee or a mint tea shared in good company.
Qatar, top business destination
There is an Arabic proverb that says: “Maktub” (مكتوب), which means “it is written.” And that’s how I felt on that first trip: Qatar was written for me. It was the first Arab country I visited, the first one I fell in love with, and also the first one in the Persian Gulf to which I sent my natural stone container.
It wasn’t an easy path. The stone industry is tough, both at work and at home. Every country, every culture, presents a new challenge. And even more so being a woman in a world that, for a long time, seemed reserved only for men. But I learned that, although sometimes the first door opens out of curiosity, what really keeps you inside has no gender: it’s called hard work, discipline, professionalism, and keeping your word.
For me, natural stone is not just a product. It is culture, design, art, and emotion. It is the imprint of a land turned into a legacy.
Qatar taught me that tradition and modernity can walk together, and that barriers exist only until someone dares to cross them.
As they say here: Malsalama… see you soon.
