Shoppers in Qatar can eat their way through Spain without leaving the Gulf. LuLu Hypermarket has launched its Festival of Spain 2026, a week-long celebration of Spanish food and culture running across all of the retailer's outlets in the country until 14 October 2026.
The festival kicked off on 8 October at the Giardino branch in The Pearl-Qatar, with the Spanish Ambassador to Qatar, H.E. Dr Álvaro Renedo Zalba, on hand to open proceedings alongside figures from the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Qatar. Stores have been decked out with themed décor and displays inspired by Spain's famous landmarks.
What's actually on offer? A wide spread of Spanish goods, from premium cheeses and artisan breads to fresh produce and gourmet specialities, imported directly from Spain. There are live cooking demonstrations by students from SEK International School, plus tasting sessions where you can try traditional recipes and get to know ingredients like saffron, olive oil and turrón.
The ambassador made an interesting point at the launch: Spanish and Arab cuisines share deep historical links. Saffron, olive oil and the Christmas sweet turrón all have roots tracing back to Arab culinary influence on the Iberian Peninsula — a neat bit of context the next time you sample any of it.
There's some serious logistics behind the scenes too. LuLu operates a sourcing and distribution facility in Madrid through its Y International arm, part of a network of export centres spanning 22 countries. That's how the chain keeps Spanish products flowing into its Gulf stores year after year — this is an annual event, and this edition has expanded the range of items sourced directly from Spain.
So why should a traveller care? If you're passing through Doha in early October, it's a free, low-effort way to get a genuine taste of Spanish food culture — no flight to Madrid required. It's also handy for expats and residents missing European ingredients, or anyone planning a trip to Spain who fancies a preview of what's on the shelves. The Pearl, where the festival launched, is worth a wander in itself, with its marina and dining scene making an easy add-on to a shopping trip.
If you miss this one, LuLu runs festivals celebrating other world cuisines throughout the year, so keep an eye on its calendar. But for now, the shelves are stocked with jamón-adjacent cheeses, saffron and sweets — until 14 October.
