Caring for Arabic Sandals (Na'al) in Qatar: Cleaning, Conditioning and Repair

For many men in Qatar, Arabic sandals are worn more than any other shoe: to the office, the mosque, the majlis and the souq. That constant wear, combined with heat and bare feet, means a quality pair needs more care than most people give it.

The footbed is the first thing to go

Because sandals are worn barefoot, sweat soaks directly into the leather footbed. Over weeks it darkens, develops a shine where the foot sits, and can start to smell. Wiping the straps clean doesn't touch this. A gentle leather cleaner worked into the footbed with a soft brush, then wiped and left to dry naturally in the shade, keeps it in check.

Conditioning in the heat

Leather loses its oils fast at 45°C. Dry leather cracks at the flex points — across the toe strap and where the footbed bends. A light leather conditioner once a month in summer, and every couple of months in winter, keeps it flexible. Use a small amount; too much makes the footbed slippery.

Storage and daily habits

• Don't leave sandals in the car or by the door in direct sun.
• Let them air out overnight rather than sealing them in a cupboard.
• Rotate two pairs if you wear them every day.
• Brush sand out of the stitching after desert trips.

When to get them professionally cleaned

If the footbed has darkened unevenly, the colour of the straps has faded, or there's a smell that won't go, a professional deep clean and conditioning brings them back. Colour on straps can be retouched to match. Before Qatar National Day and Eid, it's worth sending your best pair in early.

Repairs worth doing

Sole separation is common in summer — heat softens adhesive. Re-bonding or re-stitching early stops it spreading. See our guide on soles coming off in the heat. Renova handles both men's sandals care and shoe repair, with pickup across Doha.