As a child, Hamad Al Sulaiti would be enthralled by the shells that washed up on the beach shore. Questions about their origins, their formation, and their age would pop into his head. His father noticed Hamad’s curious nature and took him on a trip deep into Qatar’s deserts, to dive deeper into the country’s fossilised past.
This young interest developed into a lifelong passion for Hamad, who has since dedicated himself to the study of fossils and gemstones. The dream of starting a business specialising in amber and gemstones always lingered in the back of Hamad’s mind, and it finally became a reality after being encouraged by his wife.
“With the support of my wife, we put together a plan and started an online business at first. A few months later I opened my first shop in Souq Waqif Doha,” he says. ‘Karham’ quickly became a popular spot in the market, and has gone on to open a second branch in the Katara Cultural Village.
One of the most popular products are the Misbaha, prayer beads commonly used in Islam to glorify God. The Amber gemstone is popularly used to create these prayer beads.
“My dad and most Qataris use Misbaha. Qataris love Amber Misbahas as they release a fragrant smell of lemon and pine when rubbed, and they call this ‘Karham’.”
The creation of the perfect prayer beads starts by selecting the right materials. The material must be a good-sized thickness and have no natural cracks in its body, which makes amber an ideal option. It is then handcrafted by talented artisan to transform it into the prayer beads.
“The design is inspired by different concepts found in Islam. The top of the Misbaha is shaped as a minaret, a smaller-sized bead is the ‘tamleeka’, that is moved to mark the 99th count, and the rest of the beads can be shaped differently, such as round or square.”
Hamad considers being able to share his passion for amber and gemstones with others as the biggest achievement of his career. “My personal goals are to transfer my life and technical knowledge and experience to others. I am proud to achieve this and will continue to do that.”
The ‘Afghan Dreamers’ are an all-girls robotics team from the Afghan city of Herat. Its members, aged between 15-19 years, first made headlines in 2017 after winning a prize at the FIRST Global Robotics Competition in Washington DC. Most recently the team was focused on supporting efforts to fight COVID-19, by creating a low-cost ventilator made predominantly out of car parts.
As the political situation began to change in Afghanistan earlier this year, their parent organisation, the US-based Digital Citizen Fund, asked for Qatar to safely transfer the girls to Doha.
“The Qatar government and the Qatar Foundation prepared this opportunity for us to continue our education, and not let our dreams disappear.”
The flight to Doha was organised by Qatari officials, expediting their visas and ensuring they were safely evacuated immediately. The girls were accompanied by their teacher, who added; “they responded incredibly quickly to our request. They sent a plane, helped with the logistics and transportation of the girls to safely come to Doha, and are now providing them with facilities for their education.”
After the girls settled in, they were granted scholarships by Qatar Foundation and Qatar Fund for Development to continue their education in Qatar Foundation’s world-class universities based in Education City. This reflects Qatar’s deep commitment to ensuring the right to education is enjoyed by children of all ages.
“I have to thank the Qatar government for supporting our team at a very challenging time”, said the teacher. She told her students that she “wished I had this opportunity at my age.”
“I know that we are in a different chapter of time for Afghanistan. And it might seem to be more challenging today to discuss about establishing education, robotics, or the future. But I think that still we can have hope.”
Talking to the team members, it is clear that this is only the beginning of their journey to make a positive impact on the world with their inventions; “I have many dreams in my mind, and in this team, I can make them true.”
Khaled Ahmed Al Boainain is National Museum of Qatar’s youngest tour guide, at just 10 years old. He was recently tasked with guiding his fellow youth round the museum’s ‘Seagrass Tales, Dugong Trails’ exhibition, which ran until earlier this month.
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“The name of the show attracted me. I visited it and learned a lot about the sea cow, so I decided to become a mentor. I went to the National Museum of Qatar, specifically to the Department of Education and Community Awareness, and asked them to train me to lead visitors around the exhibition.”
Khaled’s interest in volunteering and environmental preservation were strong motivators for him taking up this position. He was keen to raise awareness about the at-risk dugongs, the only herbivorous marine mammal, which are native to Qatar.
The exhibition was hosted at the National Museum of Qatar in collaboration with Exxon Mobil Research Qatar (EMRC), to showcase the dugongs and how visitors can help protect them through science and everyday actions.
Khaled was one of the museum’s first young mentors, reflecting the museum’s belief in the value of cross-age teaching.
“It was a new experience for me, and I was so happy that I accomplished this beautiful dream,” he says. “I also felt like I was a really great guide, leading the visitors through the exhibition and explaining to them what I had learned.”
Khaled now hopes to become a guide for more of Qatar’s historic landmarks, revealing the hidden treasures and stories to visitors; “I have many goals and dreams for the future, including becoming a guide in my country and explaining everything about the landmarks of Qatar to visitors, because Qatar is very beautiful.”
Paralympians Abdulrahman Abdulqadir and Sara Masoud recently took part in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, flying the flag for Team Qatar during the opening ceremony as the country participated in its seventh Summer Paralympics.
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Shot putter Abdulrahman started competing in 2008, building an impressive career with milestones including winning the silver medal in the Men’s Shot Put F34 final at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the gold medal in the F34 Shot Put final at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics held in London. Abdulrahman’s win in Rio de Janeiro was Qatar’s first medal at the Paralympic Games, an accomplishment he was keen to build on as he travelled to Tokyo this year.
Shot putter Sara Masoud is Team Qatar’s first female Paralympic medallist, winning the silver medal in the Women’s Shot Put F33 final in 2016. She began competing in 2011, and some of her career highlights include winning silver in the Women’s Shot Put F33 final at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics, participating at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, and representing her country in the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.
Both athletes note that the most influential person in their career has been their coach, Ahcene Bouteldja for Abdulrahman and Walid Maghmoul for Sara, with Walid also being Sara’s mother. Both athletes also enjoy the full support of their country, for whom they have been great role models, with Abdulrahman being chosen as Male Para Athlete of the Year and Sara being selected as Female Para Athlete of the Year by the Qatar Olympic Committee in 2018.
Qatar’s champion Paralympians continued to make themselves and their country proud at this year’s Paralympic Games. Sara achieved a personal record for this season, with a distance of 5.42 metres, while Abdulrahman won bronze in the Men’s Shot Put F34 final, with a distance of 11.36 metres. Both athletes showed impeccable dedication and determination, demonstrating why they are considered some of Qatar’s sporting greats of their generation.
Kaltham Al Kuwari and Aisha Al Mohannadi founded their interior design company ‘Design House Interiors’ in April 2018, following their graduation from Virginia Commonwealth University with Magna Cum Laude honours in Interior Design.
Within one year of opening, the DHI team completed over 30 design projects and tripled in size; “we were astonished at the amount of success and publicity DHI acquired. We credit this to our unique design approach and hard work.”
Reflecting on what motivated them to found their own company, Aisha notes that she has always held a passion for interior design, noting that “it fascinates me how spaces can affect people’s behaviour.”
Kaltham, meanwhile, enrolled at VCU with the intention of majoring in fashion; “once I gave interior design a chance, I realised that this was the path I wanted to follow.”
“What inspires both of us is the challenge of creating a space that is both functional and aesthetic. We loved seeing how the research aspect of our project came to life when we apply our ideas to a space. We always thought it would happen within five to ten years after graduating. Instead, we managed to open DHI in a year!”
“One piece of advice that has touched us was when a speaker mentioned that some of the founders of the most successful companies began their business in their twenties. Not for the reason that they wanted to start young, but because they felt they had a purpose to serve.”
Kaltham and Aisha take an accessible and evidence-based approach to their designs and services, offering their expertise across design, supervision, furniture, accessories, and private consultations. The pair describe their signature style as “high-end, contemporary interiors”.
“Understanding our client’s vision is always the first and most important step. We follow this by exploring the floor plan and space, and once we understand the primary and secondary zones within the space, we research aesthetics that could match it. First comes function, then aesthetics.”
“We truly love design, and we knew we could use our skills and knowledge for a purpose. We realised that there was a gap in the market for design solutions by Qatari designers. Most interior design works are outsourced, and being Qatari designers, we know the local market’s needs. We understand how each space would be used and the needs of the people in this region. This is why we believed it was imperative to launch our own studio.”
Throughout their journey, Kaltham and Aisha have accomplished many achievements. From many successful clients to awards of acknowledgement. “One of them would be our first residential project, where we watched a design come to life for the first time. Seeing how pleased our clients were motivated us to push to new heights!”
The pair continue to be motivated by the glowing feedback they receive from clients, and were awarded an International Property award for ‘Qatar’s best residential interior’ earlier this year.
Kaltham and Aisha offer their advice to aspiring designers; “follow your passion, work hard and stay consistent. Make sure to keep up to date with the market and industry, and always do your research! It’s a challenging field, but with experience, you will grow and learn.”
Elsbeth Blekkenhorst-Tames has been a resident of Qatar for 11 years and is the founder of the slow fashion brand Elisabietta. Elsbeth previously worked in a corporate job, before deciding to leap into the world of fashion, sustainability, and charity in 2015.
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Elisabietta was initially established so that Elsbeth could design her own flat shoes that incorporated her favourite classic styles.
“Practically with my eyes closed, I started running my business. Along the way, I added accessories such as bags and scarves. And very recently, I launched my sustainable dress collection that is block printed and handmade in India, in collaboration with my dear friend Sonali Raman.”
Elsbeth is an advocate for making wardrobes as sustainable as possible. The pieces she creates at Elisabietta are what she describes as ‘seasonless’; “you can wear my pieces over and over or pass them on. I am very loyal to the pieces I buy and many pieces I treasure. Fashion is a cycle, and styles always come back around!”
As well as sustainability, purchasing ethically-produced products is a core value for the brand; “my supply chain is fully transparent. I’m in close contact with the suppliers and producers who make my collections to ensure they use the right materials and the manufacturers work in safe and fair conditions.”
Elsbeth’s brand and her charitable campaigns have received overwhelming support from the community in Qatar. She formed ‘Shoes for Dreams’ during the peak of COVID-19 in 2020, and has received huge numbers of shoe donations from those around her.
“I wanted to know how I could help others and give back. I drove around Qatar to collect the shoes, with safety measures in place, and met and connected with so many wonderful women.”
“It’s beautiful to see and experience how many people want to help. During the darkest days of COVID-19 last year, the light was still shining because of all of these wonderful women helping me.”
Shoes for Dreams continues to be an ongoing campaign as Elsbeth pursues her passion for giving back. “After the explosion in Beirut, I dedicated the campaign to the women of Lebanon affected by the disaster.”
Asked to shares her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Elsbeth notes that “you need to be passionate about it. This will help you during the moments when people tell you ‘no’. Do your research and prepare for the commitment that comes with owning your own business.”
Many of Elsbeth’s hopes and goals for the future involve spreading the ongoing importance of sustainable and ethical fashion. “Sustainable fashion is not about being boring or old-fashioned, but renewing. Once you learn more about the fabrics and materials behind who makes your clothes, it’s much more satisfying to wear a sustainable piece and feel proud of wearing it too.”
Valeria Mazzei is a 21-year-old entrepreneur and Virgin Commonwealth University Student in Qatar. Starting her business at the age of 16, her success has come from hard-work and consistent focus on her vision. Q Life interviewed Valeria to learn more about her inspiring story.
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Would you please introduce yourself?
Buongiorno! I am Valeria Mazzei, Italian in Qatar – for about seven years now! When I was 16, I started my entrepreneurial journey with Venus Karma, juggling high school exams and business meetings. Currently, I am studying Graphic Design at VCUQ, and life gets more exciting – and busy- by the day!
How did you get into fashion, and what motivated you to start your brand Venus Karma?
My grandma and my mother are my biggest inspirations for my love for fashion and business. I generally grew up in a family of prominent creatives and artists where art and freedom of expression were very dominant. My mother has taught me always to be a strong and independent woman, so creating a brand was perfectly enclosing the things I loved the most – art, independence and growth.
What is the inspiration and influence behind your products, and what drives your passion for your brand?
Venus Karma has started by recollecting emotions after my grandma passed away. May she rest in peace. My mother and I wanted to continue a legacy and create something in her honour, driven by true love, passion and admiration. Every product we make has a meaningful story behind it because we believe in the power of emotions and collaboration.
Can you describe some of your most significant achievements and successes in your career?
Lockdown has been a very significant moment for Venus Karma and all of us. March 2020 is when we branched out into a new venture called Venus Karma Beauty. While Italy and its hand craftsmanship started to sink because of Covid-19, we found a creative way to support the women Italian artisans through an excellent financial partnership. This project has given birth to our best-selling products, such as the Vintage Vegan Teacup Candles from the 1930s, Vintage décor, Resin and Ceramic art. These are all hand-made in Italy in the homes of the skilful artisans!
It still amazes me the process of these teacups. We collect these vintage tea sets from houses all around Italy. We then categorize them to know their origin – and some date even before the 1900s – then our artisan skilfully transforms them into vegan soy wax candles – completely toxic-free and re-usable for a fancy tea time!
What have been some of the biggest challenges you have faced?
The challenge of being a student while creating a company has been significant. Time management and a healthy mindset have become my best assets in this entrepreneurial journey, where we have to overcome an infinite amount of challenges every day! Still, I feel grateful and blessed every day to have pursued this path due to the tremendous learning experience I am exposed to.
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learnt during your journey as an entrepreneur?
You are never too young, too inexperienced and too busy to create an empire – if you are 100% willing to invest all your time and money into your dreams and goals. My age may have been an issue in some situations, but being the youngest in the room has taught me resilience, determination and strength. While being a young woman has taught me never to stop believing in my capabilities.
I hope this motivates all the ladies out there that it is never too late to pursue your goals, and even if it looks like there is no place for you at the table, go and create it for yourself.
What are your hopes and goals for the future of Venus Karma?
I see the future of Venus Karma in an international setting where we allow customizing of the highest quality streetwear. Whilst offering unique home décor and preserving our exceptional customer service that distinguishes our company from others. We love to connect on a deeper level with our customers. Venus Karma is all about emotions, and we want to be the place our customers go to choose or create something special.
Júlia Gallifa Beltri is a 24-year-old padel player and coach, who has built a successful career through her love for the racquet sport. She moved to Qatar earlier this year from Barcelona, and now coaches at the Padelo club in Doha.
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“My parents inspired my journey to become a padel player. My mother was a gymnast, and my father was a professional tennis player, so growing up, I was very involved in sports and played a lot of tennis.”
Júlia suffered an injury as a teenager and began playing padel during her recovery; “at that time, padel was a very new sport in Spain. I played for fun and liked it so much that I started taking on proper training and went on to compete in national tournaments in Spain.”
Júlia soon turned her passion for padel into coaching, becoming a manager at a very young age and later joining the Catalan Padel Federation; “I have coached for a long time now, and I’m so happy to teach in Doha.”
“To people who have never played, I would tell them to try it at least once, and I promise they will want to play again. You don’t need to be professional, and you can even play just for fun!”
“It is an extremely social sport, with four players on the court at the same time. It is also a great beginner sport, which everyone can play, regardless of your body type.”
For Júlia and many of the club’s members, Padelo has become a source of exercise, entertainment, and – just as importantly – socialising.
“A lot of people say they feel safe in the club and see it as a place to let go and have fun with friends. It’s an amazing feeling as a coach when you look around at the courts and see people smiling and enjoying something that I feel so passionately towards. It reminds me that I’m doing something good for the country and its people.”
A resident of Qatar since 2008, a banker by occupation and cricket coach by passion, Ashan Perera is the Head Coach at Stallions Sports Academy Qatar. The Academy is the leading and largest one in Doha, with roughly 200 young players trained in a yearly season.
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Inspired and encouraged by his father, Ashan began playing Cricket at the age of 8, participating in many levels and divisions of the sport. “What makes me continue playing the sport is the way it has helped me in my personal life, in terms of teamwork, physical fitness, mental health, and strategic application. All of these have allowed me to gain a healthy way of living”. Ashan now coaches his son at the Academy.
As a home for young cricketers to practice their sport, Stallions came to its first fruition back in 2013, initiated together with Sidath Tennakoon and Lakshitha Perera, two pioneer cricketers from Sri Lanka.
Ashan met Sidath, an experienced Academy manager, whilst Ashan was operating Lion’s cricket club in Doha. Together they collaborated on the idea of starting their own Academy, and Stallions was born. “Under his guidance, we managed the academy, producing many talented players to represent Qatar in international tournaments”, Ashan says.
Stallions’ mission is to encourage youngsters to participate in sports for their enjoyment and to help them develop their physical, mental and social skills. Stallions strive to create a world-class learning experience, through structured and goal-orientated programs, with experienced staff, “We focus on setting an example, creating opportunities and providing innovative learning environments”.
There have been many proud moments for Stallions Cricket Academy, “We embarked two junior cricket teams to the UK and brought junior teams from Dubai to Doha. These opportunities have been a great way for youngsters to participate and nurture their sport.”
Stallions have also produced some young talents to represent the Qatar National youth teams. “I would like to thank the Qatar Cricket Association for the many opportunities they have provided to the young players”.
During their time as an academy, Stallions have faced challenges, “In the initial stages, it was difficult to facilitate the children with a stadium and facilities. However, over time and with much effort, we have created an environment to grow our players on beautiful grass grounds with cricket nets at the Iranian School in Abu Hamour.”
Ashan is passionate about Cricket and the beauty of team sport. “Cricket is more than a sport; it offers skills such as team building, judgement and decision-making, and allows you to grow your confidence incredibly. To me, nothing beats the feeling when you step out onto the field to play your favourite sport.”
The cricket community in Qatar remains strong as the sport holds popularity in many South Asian countries. “I have seen a lot of enthusiasm throughout the Asian communities, especially India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. I have seen many outdoor spaces in Qatar filled with people coming together for the sport, whether to participate and spectate. It’s a beautiful sight.”
Rashid Almansoori is a well-known among the kitesurfing community in Qatar, having founded the kitesurfing centre Salty Kites. Q Life interviewed him to learn more about his journey to becoming a professional sportsperson and business owner.
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Tell us about your background.
I’m a 27-year-old graduate of Aspire Academy and Qatar University Business College, and former Chairman of the Athletes & Youth Committee in the International School Sport Federation.
I was a member of Qatar’s national kitesurfing team for one year, before the programme was unfortunately cut. I’m also an internationally recognised International Kiteboarding Organisation Level One instructor, and the founder and owner of Salty Kites.
How did you discover your passion for kitesurfing?
I was introduced to kitesurfing in 2016. A colleague of mine, Khalifa Al Misnad, invited me to come and practice with the National Team after I placed second in the Samla race that year.
After my lifelong dream of a football career ended abruptly, I was looking for a new adventure and immediately fell in love with kitesurfing. I have not looked back since.
What makes kitesurfing in Qatar so special?
We have such a wide variety of locations that offer a mixture of conditions for your level or preferences.
My favourite spot for teaching and flatwater riding is Zekreet Lagoon on the West coast. It’s a sheltered bay with shallow water and steady north winds, and it’s perfect for teaching and beginners. For more advanced riders, Fuwairit and Ruwais have excellent conditions, with many waves hiding up north.
We also ride in the mangrove forests when there are suitable tides. With so many beaches and regular winds, there are endless options.
Tell us more about the kitesurfing community in Qatar.
Qatar has had a wonderful kiting community since long before I joined, and it only continues to grow. What makes the community in Qatar unique is that it’s very close, like a big family. We look out for one another and cheer each other on after every trick we land.
We also have a very diverse community, and even non-kiters join to take pictures of us playing or hang out on the beach and be part of the atmosphere. Many expatriate kiters get their start here in Qatar and continue to foster this passion when they move elsewhere.
As more Qataris have joined kiting, there is a growing permanent community too. Salty Kites is proud to be adding to this community with every student that we teach.
What type of classes do you host at Salty Kites?
We teach everything from beginner lessons to progression skills, including classes in foil boarding and jumping techniques. We use the latest kites and gear from the best brands, and offer lessons in English or Arabic.
What are some of your favourite kitesurfing memories?
Some of my favourite memories are from when I represented Qatar at international tournaments with the national kitesurfing team. We competed in Poland, China, and the UAE, and it was an incredible introduction to the world of competitive kiteboarding.
Another is teaching the son of my former Aspire Academy football coach to kitesurf. Being able to give back to those who have invested so much in me is a beautiful feeling.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to grow Salty Kites into a well-known kitesurfing brand within Qatar and internationally. I also want to build up a kitesurfing team that can participate in international events on behalf of Qatar. Kitesurfing is in the Olympics now, and it would be amazing to see a Qatari kiter competing someday.
