Pics: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Doha’s iconic Souq Waqif presents an ideal destination for those looking for a place that provides an authentic experience of traditional food and shopping, and entertaining atmosphere for families and friends. The old marketplace remains a popular destination for visitors, residents and tourists.
The market is considered one of the most vibrant places in Doha. It includes several restaurants serving traditional Qatari food, various specialities of the Middle East and other parts of the world. Many popular music performances are organised in this market yard, especially during significant events such as the National Day and other holidays.
The market also caters to children with pets and birds market — one of the most visited areas at the Souq. Children enjoy seeing many types of birds, such as parrots, birds of different colours, rabbits, and others.
“Souq Waqif is one of the most important tourist attractions in the city of Doha. It combines tradition, architectural identity, authenticity, and modernisation,” said Saleh Gharib, a culture researcher.
Gharib said the market is more famous for its diverse offerings, including heritage artefacts, paintings, sculptures, textiles, and especially the vibrant food scene.
According to historians in Qatar, Souq Waqif dates back 250 years. The market is considered the first outlet for those looking for space, family gatherings, and meeting with friends. Due to its location, people have created beautiful memories over the years, Gharib told The Peninsula.
About the name of ‘Waqif’ and its origin, Gharib said the word ‘Waqif’ means ‘standing’, and the name stuck because merchandisers, in those days, sold their goods standing. The word ‘Souq’ means ‘market’ in Arabic.
“Through my knowledge of the market, when I used to go with my father, specifically near Al Koot Fort. The sellers displayed their goods on their camels because there were inadequate shops at that time. So, they were forced to sell their goods while standing.
“As specialists in Qatari heritage, we believe that the name came from here because the vendors were standing on the side of the road in Doha to sell things such as pulses, fish, and other goods,” he said.
Visitors to the Souq have many things to choose from depending on their interests. Families with children can find many things to do like amusement rides, and a lot of space to wander around.
Tourists are more attracted to the handicraft, gold, and spices markets, where they take pictures and buy souvenirs such as swords and daggers decorated with silver and copper, and everything that embodies the heritage and history of Qatar.
The market is essential as it supports the national economy and promotes tourism. The Souq is set to play a significant role in light of the increasing number of arrivals to Qatar as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 approaches.
Meanwhile, with the onset of winter, the market is abuzz again as it prepares for the FIFA Arab Cup, scheduled and November and December. Several Arab nations will participate in the inaugural tournament.
During a recent visit to Souq Waqif, The Peninsula met Ahmed, a merchant selling paintings and tourist souvenirs. He said the market has again seen an uptick in visitors during the past two weeks due to the winter season and the relaxation of COVID-19 preventive measures.
“The turnout is good in the last ten days, especially in the evening. There are more tourists now from several countries including France, Britain and other African countries. They buy a lot of souvenirs, especially small paintings,” Ahmed said.
For the prices of souvenirs, Ahmed said the prices of the paintings range between QR200 and QR5,000, depending in the size. The paintings are mostly about Qatar’s heritage.
He said if a customer has a special demand, they can make it for them in three to four days if it is related to specific paintings.
For his part, a manager of an Azerbaijan restaurant at Souq Waqif said the turnout has been good and that most of his customers are from Arab countries like Lebanon and Egypt.
“After the decline in COVID-19 cases, we expect that there will be more visitors in the coming period, especially as the country is gearing up to host the World Cup next year,” he said.
