Khalid Tawalbeh
Doha
As the Holy Month of Ramadan progresses, Souq Waqif is offering extensive activities to draw locals, residents and foreign tourists to enjoy beautiful Ramadan customs and traditions in Qatar.
The Souq Waqif, Katara, Al-Zubara Castle, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Doha Corniche and other prominent locations in Qatar continue to attract tourists from various nationalities to experience the distinctive Ramadan events and celebrations in a unique way.
Visitors who come to Qatar are usually encouraged to visit Souq Waqif, which reflects the heritage and cultural life, and is elegantly decorated every year to present visitors with Ramadan atmosphere.
Salem Al Harthi, a Saudi visitor, said Souq Waqif is filled with many restaurants that offer various authentic Arabic dishes, such as Lebanese, Damascus and Cairo restaurants, many of which offer popular Gulf cuisines, which are the common denominators among the people of the Arab Gulf countries.
Harthi described the atmosphere in Souq Waqif as one of the most beautiful he has seen in the entire Arab region, pointing out that Souq Waqif has no equal in its splendour and beauty in the Arab Gulf region, due to the ancient architectural character that adorns the forms of all buildings in the Souq, including shops, markets and hotels.
Saadoun Al Zoubi, a visiting Iraqi lawyer, said: “These alleys and narrow winding streets make us live an experience that we young people would not have known about without this market, and they also mimic all the old Arabian Gulf markets that we heard about from our ancestors, whether in Baghdad, Abu Dhabi or Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. This picturesque Arab scene has increased the splendour of many events held by the market administration throughout the week from parties and competitions to some old games such as the Dima game.”
For his part, Anas Ziad, a resident in Qatar, stressed that Souq Waqif is the only destination for all the children of the Arab Gulf to live the experience of the past that “we hear about from our parents and grandparents, as the market provides places for Arab families to gather and provides them with the privacy that each individual family wishes.”
Ziad pointed out that the market is considered an honourable Gulf facade, which gives a beautiful impression of life in the past in terms of urban character and Arab customs and traditions, while shops selling perfumes, furnishings, copper and pottery utensils leave a beautiful impression on visitors from abroad.
Ayedh Al Masoudi, from the UAE, said this is the first time he visited Doha and Souq Waqif, and he was impressed by the general shape of the Souq in terms of the beautiful architectural form of buildings and shops, and the narrowness of the streets and their meandering with the order and cleanliness enjoyed by the Souq.
“The Souq gives us the imagination of what the simple and beautiful life of the ancestors was like. This is where we really see the magic of the East that we read in books,” he said, pointing out that one tour is not enough in this market because of the many events, including musical performances, dances and folkloric folk festivals offered by the market represent a sneak peek into the olden days’ life.
Eng Abdullah Al Khaldi stressed that the market is considered a major tourist destination in Qatar, as well as a heritage, civilisation and ancient site with a history that gives visitors the opportunity to get to know a great side of Qatar, praising the efforts of the event organising committees in Souq Waqif, which contributes greatly to the activation of tourism and attract many visitors, especially from the GCC countries who flock the place during festivals.
“Souq Waqif has become known in the Arab region for international and local events and festivals that attract a lot of tourists and make each festival unique in its own rights, such as the Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and the Spring Festival, which attract hundreds of thousands of peolpe,” he said. “The Spring Festival in Souq Waqif is one of the most famous festivals in the Arab world and the Middle East visited by more than half a million from neighbouring countries as well as residents.”
He added that Souq Waqif in the month of Ramadan has a wonderful flavour, especially for citizens and residents, where traditional dishes are available, giving friends the opportunity to meet and hang out in restaurants or cafes scattered around the market.
He noted that more than half a million tourists, especially from neighbouring countries, come to events and festivals organised during this period, especially as the events department provides various events to attract as many audiences as possible.
A variety of restaurants serving popular Qatari and Gulf dishes, as well as Lebanese, Egyptian, Turkish and Damascus meals are welcoming visitors in an atmosphere of friendliness with excellent services and reasonable prices, so that everyone can enjoy a special Ramadan night.
Famous Souq Waqif shops are at the forefront of the most visit places in the market, which, since the beginning of the holy month, has been witnessing remarkable activity and a heavy demand by individuals and families to buy gifts and the necessary spices, perfumes, fabrics and ornaments. The shops and stores offer an amazing range of goods from the Middle East and India, such as spices and seasonal delicacies, in addition to items to celebrate the famous Garangoa night, through a distinctive assortment of celebration bags for children on the middle of Ramadan.
