Souk al zal (Riyadh)
When first driving around Riyadh, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a jumble of skyscrapers and megamalls.
But look a little closer, and you’ll find the Ad Dirah neighborhood, the old heart of the Saudi capital. There are no glistening towers here, no designer boutiques. The streets are narrower. It feels like you’ve stepped back in time.
Locals come to the area to shop, to relax, to socialize. They might come to pray at the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque – the city’s largest – or to stroll with their family in Salam Park. Perhaps they’re attending a Ramadan celebration in Al Safa Square. Many will drop by the Souk al-Zal – the biggest, oldest artisan market in Riyadh.
Traditional Eastern artefacts
The market can trace its history back to Protected content , to the beginning of modern Saudi Arabia. It sits within a stone’s throw of the Masmak fortress – the site where, in Protected content , a young Ibn Saud and a small band of his most trusted soldiers crept up after dawn prayers, rushed the gate, captured the governor, and announced the return of the Al Saud family.
A treasure trove of traditional Eastern artefacts, the souk is one of the major tourist attractions in Riyadh. The word ‘zal’ means ‘carpet’ or ‘floor rug’, referring to the patterned textiles so central to Middle Eastern imagery.
Inside the souk, merchants recline in chairs, chatting to one another across the tiled walkways. It’s a relaxed shopping experience – the salesmen aren’t too pushy, and they generally speak good enough English to communicate comfortably with non Arabic-speakers .
Locals bring their foreign visitors to showcase the cultural items for sale: handmade carpets; glinting swords and hooked daggers; mysterious perfumes from far-flung lands.
There’s also an open-air live antiques auction every Friday and Saturday – the Saudi weekend – for a few hours following the asr (afternoon) prayers.
You’ll smell the oud before you see its pungent smoke emerging from redolent woodchips and hot coals. This substance, also known as bakhoor, is usually imported from Indonesia or Cambodia. The real deal comes at a premium price, and many of the products on offer are synthetic substitutes, so shop carefully .. contact me to answer your question please . . Mo