Qatar is primarily a Bedouin culture, and the tribal ethos is still strong in modern society. However, the practical art of weaving has produced some beautiful Bedouin artefacts, such as tents, rugs, cushions and saddlebags. The Bedouin weavers work with wool from sheep, goats and camels, using simple tools made from wood and gazelle horn. Qatar was once renowned for its weaving industry - it's said that even Mohammed preferred his clothes made from Qatari fabric. They also wear a black mask, called al-battoulah , which covers all of the face except the eyes, nose and mouth.
Qatari men wear a thobe , a long white shirt over loose pants.
They also wear that symbol of the Arab world, a loose headdress called a gutra , held on with a black rope known as the agal . Qatar does not have an indigenous cuisine worth mentioning. Outside the big hotel restaurants, Doha is filled with the usual collection of Western fast-food places and small Indian and Pakistani restaurants offering little more than curries and biryani dishes. Fruit juice and soft drinks are the only beverages you'll find in the average Qatari restaurant. Lonely Planet Publications Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved.