Qatar · Fine-Art-Adjacent Workshop Craft (body art)
Henna (a natural reddish-brown dye derived from powdered leaves)
The application of henna, a natural reddish-brown dye derived from powdered leaves, used by Qatari women for cosmetic body decoration for hundreds of years and directly described by The Peninsula Qatar as an art form 'steeped in ancient history and once adorned by queens.' Intricate patterns and designs are applied to decorate the skin for special occasions including Eid celebrations and weddings, with designs varying regionally and by individual artistic style. Historically, the application extended beyond pure decoration: men would apply henna specifically when pearl diving, covering their hands and the soles of their feet to help condition the skin against the demands of the trade. Maha El-Naeif, a henna artist based in Doha's historic Souq Waqif, directly described her craft to Middle East Eye during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when the souq drew visitors from across the region and the world: 'People of different nationalities come to me, Kuwaitis, Bahrainis, Omanis, Egyptians, Palestinians, Jordanians. Each of them chooses their favourite design, even foreigners know how to choose.' El-Naeif has practiced henna art for fifteen years, eight of them at her stall in Souq Waqif, and traces her craft directly back to childhood: 'Drawing has been my hobby since childhood, and has become a source of income for me.' Henna artists, including El-Naeif and others working from low stools along the souq's outer edges and stall corners, remain a fixture of Souq Waqif's evening atmosphere, particularly during Ramadan, offering visitors a genuine, direct point of cultural exchange and conversation alongside the decorative art itself.
Risk level: Thriving · Not independently inscribed
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