The Souq Waqif is a place of historical significance that lies in the state of Qatar. ‘Souq’ in Arabic means ‘standing market’ and the Souq Waqif dates back to centuries when the nomads of Arabia known as the ‘Bedouins’ used the souq as a market place to trade their goods.
The souq is easy to find and is located in the middle of Doha; it attracts many hundreds and even thousands of travellers from across the world. It has even been considered as one of the main attractions of the country. Visitors may choose to stay at a nearby airport hotel Doha has to offer, while other options include Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels which is situated within walking distance to Souq Waqif.
In 2006, the government of Qatar realized the importance of restoring the souq’s ancient architecture and thus launched a restoration program. All buildings which were built after 1950 were demolished and all older buildings were refurbished. The restoration project was duly completed in 2008.
The souq is reported to have been established a century ago within close distance to Wadi Musheireb, a dry riverbed. The place was used by both the Bedouins and locals who would meet here to trade an assortment of goods including livestock, wool and even Arabian sweets. Today, the very same souq has grown to become a bustling marketplace for local communities to sell garments, spices and handicrafts. It offers visitors a range of other traditional good such as carpets, abayas, shisha, incense, pots and embroidered garments. Souq Waqif is also the place to purchase a variety of arts and crafts like those done by local artists, gypsum handicrafts and many other wooden crafts. Shoppers are also able to hire a wheel barrow porter or a ‘hamali’ to help carry goods at a reasonable rate.
Other interesting elements of the souq include a pet area which sells different domestic pets and the Al Rayyan theatre which is able to accommodate 980 people at one time. The souq is also famous for hosting many local concerts and events which feature theatrical and musical performances.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
