The Souq Waqif, a traditional market in the heart of Doha, is a place to go for traditional garments, spices, handicrafts and souvenirs. It is also home to dozens of restaurants and coffee shops. Photo credit: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula.
A mix of people from different cultures and backgrounds, traditional art and crafts, cafes, and restaurants lined along the streets, the bird market, falcon market (with the magnificent falcon hospital) – the iconic Souq Waqif still has the thrills despite the novel coronavirus pandemic.
A Friday night at the Souq takes you back to times before the coronavirus outbreak. Despite many safety measures in place, including sanitizers hanging on walls and corners, residents and citizens alike are not deterred as they fill up the ancient market.
Just a few hundred meters from the Corniche and MIA Park, the Souq offers various family-friendly attractions that, one can say, are much needed in these unusual times.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced an initial lockdown earlier this year, not just in Qatar but globally. As Qatar emerges from the lockdown, thanks to the government’s swift action by initiating policies to help curb the spread, families, friends, and residents look for activities to engage in, and the Souq provides that and more.
From the astronomy center where one can feel closer to Earth’s neighboring celestial bodies to the busy alleys with salespeople displaying their wares and down to the handicraft section – even the ice cream man provides some kicks for kids.
“It feels like the first time I have been here,” says Mahmud, a Qatar resident. “Since the lockdown, I haven’t gone out with the family, especially with the kids and online learning. It’s a lot of chaos. But the Souq is always nice to visit; it makes us forget about how difficult it has been the last few months.”
The Souq Waqif Art Center, after months of renovation, is now open again to visitors. Situated in the heart of Souq Waqif, the Center is home to dozens of artists and its architecture, an ode to Qatari and Islamic history.
The center has always attracted visitors. On Friday, its galleries were lined with a collection of exquisite artworks from themes like childhood games to random happenings in the Souq. Many of the artworks are available for purchase for keen collectors, from paintings to drawings, pottery, and sculptures.
“This is my favourite place here,” says Lauren from London. “Besides the crafts and traditional wares, the Art Center is a great place to relax. I’m glad it is open again to the public. The paintings all tell a story, and that’s what art is about.”
