Results Street square and neighborhood to visit Doha

SOUQ WAQIF

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Angle Jasim Bin Mohammed / Abdullah Bin Jasim, Par Al Asmakh Street, Doha, Qatar
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2024
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2024

The Souq Waqif, the city's number one attraction, is growing as the heart of Doha is reclaimed. It takes its name from its modest past as a market in the days of Bedouin simplicity, when vendors were forced to stand "waqif". The urban project has taken root in its foundations and habits, like a movie set that nobody wants to dismantle. An ideal village from the time of the caravans, with a labyrinth of galleries, multicolored spice bags, bird cages, wheelbarrow carriers, water pipes to refresh themselves before setting off on a camel ride. A shimmering crowd that takes its time every night.

A real old renovated souk. The supreme audacity of those who design the destiny of small Qatar, an undeniable aesthetic vista, the Waqif succeeds where so many other "fake souks" of the Gulf have failed: it is real. Moreover, everyone has adopted it and in the evening crowds of Qatari families stroll around, adding to this decor the human component that no one can control and that saves it from being a tourist trap. The strength of the proposal lies mainly in this: in a country magnetized to air-conditioned consumption under a mall-type bell, in a region where the inhabitants have lost the collective taste for the outdoors, it was perilous to conceive of a mixed social space, for gender and social categories, almost exclusively in the open air, on terraces, on the pavement. But all of Doha is there, and it's great, coming and going processionally in the central street, one eye on the water pipes, another on the side of the storefronts full of trinkets.

By which end to take it? You can start with the Dhow traffic circle, and the wide street lined with cafes and restaurants from which various alleys lead to the souk itself. It is very clean because it is swept all day and night by the municipal employees. Thus, progressing towards the Corniche, one will cross while gently getting lost in the section of spices, toys and bicycles, perfumes, carpets, soaps, fishing articles, craftsmen and pets. Don't overlook the covered passages that escape to the right of the street, as some lead to charming cafes.

The street of cafes and restaurants. Without context the most animated part, especially since it is the one that closes the latest with quality restaurants and others more traps for tourists. One comes willingly to smoke the shisha while observing the crowd that passes, enjoy an ice cream take a tea or dinner. In front of the mosque, you can find Qatari street food, women serving typical dishes cooked in large pots. It's cheap and experimental: ask to taste before taking a dish.

Boutique hotels. Located in the heart of the Souk, they are now all under the same Tivoli Hotel label, and offer a different experience from that atop the ultra-modern towers.

Falcon Market. In the easternmost part, bordering Grand Hamad St, you will find the Falcon Market. Take the Mirqab Hotel as your starting point and walk down the street to the left. The breeders present their feathered treasures, without trying to impress the tourist because it is a "professional" souk and they know well that you will not buy. With distance and discretion, you will observe the game of business and discover the complex paraphernalia that goes into this ancestral cultural practice. The falcons, still in the wild (since a buyer's goal is to make them his falcon), have their eyes covered, a chain on their leg, and are patiently waiting for the customer. A hospital for falcons equipped with the latest technology can receive raptors at any time in emergencies and even has rooms for their masters to watch their injured protégés.

The spice bazaar is told to us by our correspondent Camille Nemery: "Sweet-salty smells, splendid colors, the taste buds are awake, all the senses are put to the test! We find among others turmeric, saffron, curry, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg or ginger. In big burlap bags are stored dried herbs: coriander, mint, oregano but also candied lemons, rosebuds and hibiscus tea. Dried fruits, each more beautiful than the last, are displayed in small wicker baskets: pineapples, papayas, mangoes, figs, grapes, apricots, prunes and bananas. Seeds of all kinds bring incredible colors ranging from emerald green to intense black. Pistachios, pecans, almonds and pine nuts are waiting to be eaten. The merchants do not hesitate to make their customers taste the wide choice of products. After the weighing, they leave with their mouths full with their bag of provisions

Animal market. In addition to the falcon market, dedicated solely to the king animal, there is a central courtyard with vendors of kittens, puppies and especially birders who display huge colorful macaws and parrots on perches. Children are in heaven in this animal area.

National Stud. Part of the souk is dedicated to the horse studs that live in their urban stables and on land adjacent to the souk. You can come and pet the horses through the fence, and with a guide take a tour of this part of Waqif.

Perfume market. Ah! Oriental perfumes! They often float in the air of the streets of Souq Waqif. The vials and bottles lined up in the perfumers' stores are so mysterious, with unknown names of spicy and amber scents, oriental in short. Other names are familiar, because here you can buy an imitation of a branded perfume made by local noses! The best is to smell to discover and leave with small vials that the seller will not forget to label so that we remember what it is. Great gift to bring back too.

Souvenir market and flea market.

Fabric market. You can find fabrics, but also shoes, common clothes, abayas for women and thobes (or dishdasha) for men, from the most sober to the richest models sewn with gold. It is located in the narrow streets of the souk.

Souvenir and second-hand market. Welcome to a globarabic world of souvenirs. You will find almost nothing Qatari, but on the other hand, shiny old things from all over the peninsula (old coins, various second-hand objects of Bedouin origin). Souvenirs are more Turkish (pottery, earthenware, bags, lamps, etc.) or Middle Eastern (cheap and beautiful Iranian and Syrian carpets!). Try to bargain up to 30% with the carpet merchant, it's a good deal.

Pearl and sword market. In the heart of Souq Waqif, you'll be sure to enter a few stores that sell beads and jewelry. Qatari pearls, Gulf pearls, and even Tahitian black pearls and the common Chinese artificial pearl are offered in these stores, as well as a whole lot of tools and utensils from the country's pearling days. Other stores in this area are dedicated to swords, which come from the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East (Jordan, Syria...).

Honeys, cheeses. There are locally made cheeses in a corner of the souk, but also stores with artisanal honeys, all different and remarkably good. Come in and taste, not only with your eyes!

Souq Waqif Art Center. It's not uncommon to see some of the artists in residence here working at their easels, painting or touching up a drawing, often depicting the daily life of Qataris or desert landscapes. The hall surmounted by a chain of Turkish lamps under a huge ceiling impresses.

Gold Souk. This gold souk opened in the extension of the Souq Waqif, on the other side of Grand Hamad Street, and has 42 stores specializing in 18 and 22 carat gold and jewelry. It also specializes in expensive carpets, mostly from Iran.


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Members' reviews on SOUQ WAQIF

3.8/5
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Visited in november 2023
SouqS
Il existe actuellement 3 Souqs du même type, à DOHA Wakra et El Khor. D'ailleurs dans les images que vous avez posté il y a des photos du Souq wakef Wakra.
RalucaM
Visited in november 2019
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Marchandises très diverses de tout le Moyen Orient
Grande variété de produits et atmosphère orientale sans équivalent à Doha.
coco1412
Visited in november 2017
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Souk refait à neuf ... dommage !
C'est toutefois une des rares choses que l'on peut faire à Doha. On y trouve tout ! Les épices sont de qualités et à prix très raisonnable. Il est possible de manger pour pas chers des mets traditionnels dans une de ces petites rues.
Un point particulier à voir : les vendeurs de Faucon. Les faucons sont traditionnellement utilisés pour la chasse.
Visited in march 2017
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Souq moderne, dans toutes ces petites ruelles ont trouve des montres, epices, tapis, animaux...
Une rue centrale très sympa regroupe des bars et restaurants.
Vous pouvez aussi embaucher un pousseur de brouette pour porter vos courses !
sonaut
Visited in march 2016
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Le SOUQ WAQIF situé en plein centre ville de Doha, reste un des vestige du vieux Doha qui disparait petit a petit derrière les constructions neuves. Cet endroit plein de charme et très sécurisé est un incontournable, les odeurs d'épices, le coin des oiseaux et autres animaux , les terrasses bondées de monde ou vous prendrez votre café ou votre thé. Vous plongez dans l'histoire de ce que pouvait être Doha il y a une centaine d'année, avant la construction de la ville moderne d'ou il sort de terre une nouvelle tour par mois.Aucun risque a vous promener même seul dans le souq, ici tout est sous contrôle des dizaines de caméras.

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