Souq Waqif
Located behind the Corniche, off Grand Hamed St, Souq Waqif is a showpiece of traditional architecture, handicrafts and folk art, and was once a weekend trading area for the Bedouin.
Meaning “standing market” in Arabic, the Souq evokes the feeling of ancient Arabic heritage and community. Beginning in 2004, the Souq was renovated according to traditional Qatari architectural techniques, using authentic materials.
The only traditional souq to remain in the Gulf, it’s now a charming labyrinth of narrow streets where visitors can bargain and purchase an amazingly diverse range of products including spices, dried fruit, nuts, perfumes, local honey, clothing, oud, incense, pots, tools and garden equipment, as well as Bedouin weaving, gypsum handicrafts, model dhows, wooden brass-studded bridal chests, pictures of ‘old Doha’, and paintings by Qatari artists.
A visit to one of the falcon shops is a unique experience – some shopkeepers will allow you to photograph and handle the birds while explaining equipment and training.
Open from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 10 pm, Souq Waqif is one of the liveliest places in Doha, boasting an increasing number of restaurants, where you can taste traditional
Qatari food and various specialties from the Middle-East.
There are several traditional cafés and restaurants which open until late (some 24 hours). Sample local delicacies or try the traditional shisha or water pipe, often referred to as ‘hubbly-bubbly’ because of the noise it makes. There are regular displays of folk dance and music, particularly on festive occasions, and opportunities to photograph donkeys with traditional patterned saddles.
Heritage village
Nestled in
Rumeila Park on the Corniche, Heritage Village resembles a traditional Qatari village, and showcases culture and crafts from the pre-oil period; at festival times there are exhibitions about pearling and performances of folksongs.
Cultural village
The Cultural Village, set to open in 2010, will represent a lively bridge between various cultures. The 99 hectare development, reflecting Qatari heritage through traditional architecture, will accommodate a large number of activities to celebrate the best of cultures. With a multi-purpose hall, an amphitheatre and a state-of-the-art theatre, the Cultural Village will showcase international concerts, renowned plays and exclusive pieces performed by the
Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to libraries, museums and academic facilities, the Cultural Village will include art galleries, coffee shops and restaurants where literary and arts events will make elite culture come to life.
Fanar Cutural Centre and Mosque
Also off Grand Hamad St, opposite
Souq Waqif, is The Qatar Cultural Islamic Centre, known as Fanar (Arabic for lighthouse). The mosque has a spiral external wall to the minaret, the only one of its kind in Qatar, providing a wonderful photo opportunity. The Fanar Centre offers courses on Islam and calligraphy, hosts exhibitions talks and seminars, and has an elaborate ‘family tree’ showing the descendants of all the prophets from Adam to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
The centre also offers Arabic language courses.
Al Wakra Sealine Market
Laid out on a 2 kilometre sealine, this market is built according to the patterns of the traditional Arab souq which existed on the site almost 200 years ago.
Traditional building materials and techniques were used, with yellow-white stones, a special mortar obtained from mixing mud with gypsum. The traditional architecture features the use of mangrove poles to form the support of the roof, fixed with ropes, and small windows to keep out the heat.
This market running along the coastline of Al Wakra boasts a small port for dhows, an open-air market, stores, restaurants and coffee shops, and an open yard for the visitors to sit and relax.
The construction entered its final phase, and one part of the market is likely to open to public within a few months.
