The company identifies its core specialties as dokha, medwakh, shisha, retail, and import.[5]

Manila Dokha Medwakh was established in 2016 with the objective of introducing and distributing Arabic dokha to the Philippine market, specifically products associated with the traditional Middle Eastern medwakh smoking practice.[1] The company states that it sources its Arabic dokha directly from Dubai.[1]

In 2021, the brand released a video titled “History & Activity of Manila Dokha Medwakh,” which documented its development and indicated that MDM had cultivated an audience interested in dokha and medwakh products.[2]

The company’s presence in the local market is further evidenced by intellectual property records. A Philippine trademark publication identifies Manila Dokha Medwakh as the applicant for the stylized “MDM” mark, filed on September 7, 2020. This filing covers a wide range of Class 34 goods, including tobacco, smoking articles, pipe tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, hookahs/shisha, tobacco flavorings, lighters, and related products.[3]

Dokha is a type of tobacco traditionally associated with the Gulf region of the Middle East. Unlike conventional cigarette tobacco, it is typically consumed in small quantities using a narrow pipe known as a medwakh. The combination of this specific tobacco and pipe is central to the product category represented by Manila Dokha Medwakh.

MDM organizes its dokha catalog into distinct intensity and blend categories:

• Cool Blend
• Mild Blend
• Warm Blend
• Hot Blend

Specific products listed in the catalog include MDM Green, Jumeirah, Pinky Army, Samira, Silver, Blue, BuzziBee, Ferrari, Jaguar, Mister, Black, 1976, K1, Gold, Tornado, Red, Al Wadi, Jazeera, Al Ain, and Badayer Dokha.[4] As dokha is a tobacco product, these classifications refer to branding and sensory profiles rather than safety ratings.

The commercial offerings of Manila Dokha Medwakh extend beyond bottled dokha to include various smoking paraphernalia.

Dokha tobacco

Dokha serves as the company’s principal product category. The online catalog segments these products into Cool, Mild, Warm, and Hot blends, with retail prices varying by product and quantity.[4]

Medwakh pipes

The company retails medwakh pipes, including wooden variants and related accessories. Starter kits are also available, typically comprising a wooden medwakh pipe, replaceable filters, and a 25 ml bottle of MDM dokha.[4]

Shisha products

MDM also operates within the shisha and hookah category, offering various flavors and wholesale formats. This positions the company broadly within the Middle Eastern tobacco and smoking accessory market in the Philippines.[4]

Smoking accessories

According to its Philippine trademark filing, the company deals in an extensive range of smoking-related goods. These include pipes, cigarette holders, filters, cases, lighters, hookah components, humidors, tobacco products, and other smokers’ articles.[3]

The initials MDM form a key component of the company’s visual identity. Records from the Philippine Intellectual Property Office show a stylized logo featuring overlapping “M” and “D” lettering, with the trademark application filed in 2020 under the name Manila Dokha Medwakh.[3]

The company has also utilized the positioning statement “WE ARE KING OF DOKHA IN PHILIPPINES.” Trademark records indicate this mark was filed in 2020 by Korona International Inc., doing business under Manila Dokha Medwakh.[3] This distinction suggests that Manila Dokha Medwakh functions as a trading or brand identity associated with Korona International Inc., rather than being the registered corporate name itself.[3]

MDM operates primarily as an importer, distributor, and retailer. Its public profile emphasizes the importation of Arabic dokha from Dubai, while its online store facilitates direct retail sales of individual products, starter kits, and accessories.[1]

The company also engages in wholesale distribution. Its online store has listed bulk shisha flavor orders with delivery options to a warehouse in Quezon City, indicating operations that encompass both retail and wholesale channels.[4]

Manila Dokha Medwakh maintains multiple digital channels. Its LinkedIn company profile identifies the organization as a Quezon City-based retail business and lists its website and social media presence.[5] The brand operates an online shop under the MDM / Manila Dokha Medwakh name, where customers can browse the dokha catalog and related merchandise.[4] Additionally, it maintains a storefront on Shopee Philippines under the name Manila Dokha Medwakh (MDM).

The significance of MDM lies primarily in its specialization in a niche product category. As dokha is less mainstream in the Philippines than conventional cigarettes, cigars, or shisha, a dedicated importer and retailer provides the product with a distinct market presence.

While the company describes itself as the “first and only importer,” this should be understood as a corporate claim rather than an independently verified historical fact.[1] Nevertheless, trademark records, online catalogs, retail presence, and historical media confirm that Manila Dokha Medwakh has maintained a sustained presence in the Philippine dokha and medwakh market since at least the late 2010s.

A distinction exists between the brand and the legal entity behind it:

• Manila Dokha Medwakh (MDM) serves as the public-facing brand and business identity.
• Korona International Inc. appears in Philippine trademark records as the entity doing business under Manila Dokha Medwakh for the “WE ARE KING OF DOKHA IN PHILIPPINES” mark.[3]
• The MDM trademark application lists Manila Dokha Medwakh [PH] as the applicant and was filed in 2020.[3]
• Official records associate the business with Quezon Avenue and Fisher Mall in Quezon City.[3]

According to its LinkedIn profile, MDM emphasizes the development of both its customer base and its workforce. The company states its objective is to provide staff with opportunities to develop skills and careers, particularly in sales and marketing.[1] This suggests the organization presents itself as a specialized sales and distribution entity focused on the dokha and medwakh category, rather than solely as a tobacco retailer.

Manila Dokha Medwakh (MDM) is a specialty tobacco retailer and importer founded in 2016 and headquartered in Quezon City. Its core business centers on Arabic dokha and medwakh products imported from Dubai, supplemented by shisha products, smoking accessories, and related merchandise.[1] The brand has developed its own range of dokha blends categorized by intensity, operates online retail channels, and has established trademark activity in the Philippines.[4]

Its brand identity focuses on dokha culture in the Philippines, with MDM positioning itself as a specialist and early entrant in the local market. Trademark history and commercial catalogs provide evidence of a formalized brand operation, while public profiles describe a relatively small retail organization based in Quezon City.[5]

Note: Dokha is a tobacco product and contains nicotine; nicotine is addictive and tobacco use carries health risks.

1. Manila Dokha Medwakh | LinkedIn
2. History & Activity of Manila Dokha Medwakh – YouTube
3. 1
4. Dokha | Manila Dokha Medwakh
5. Manila Dokha Medwakh | LinkedIn