Walking through the Amber Exhibition 2026 – Katara

 

I would rather call it an international amber fair.
Sellers from many countries filled Katara Hall with their stalls for three days.
This was already the sixth year the fair has been held, and its international character was clearly felt.

I expected to see a lot of jewelry, women, and luxury items. There were a few, but they were not the focus.
The real stars of the event were the amber rosaries.

The buyers were mostly men — locals and visitors from the Gulf. The rosaries were not expensive, priced between 12 and 55 QAR. People took their time choosing them: watching, touching, feeling the amber carefully before making a selection.

Amber stones comes in many different colors and shapes.
They were  displayed, and some of them were also for sale.

The antique pieces were my favorites. I saw Art Deco clocks  embedded in amber or decorated with amber intarsia. Everyday objects were also seen— key chains, mini chess boards, and other small items, all enriched with amber details.

I also saw necklaces made of large amber beads in different colors. They looked especially striking — probably best suited to tall women. There were also small cufflinks, made of silver and amber, crafted in Poland. I even noticed a few signet rings  set with amber.

Horses, camels, and dhow (sail) boats sculpted in amber were also on display. However, the falcon — a powerful regional symbol — was by far the most common and popular amber decorative object at the fair.

It was a truly interesting experience. Amber is a mysterious kind of “stone,” and it is clearly appreciated and collected by many people in this region.