The Abu Dhabi Souk, oasis of serenity and unity

Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi's Old Souk no longer exists, but residents still experience its ambience.

Abu Dhabi's historic 'Old Souk,' once a meeting place for merchants and shoppers, has now evolved into an enormous modern-day souq, which has kept intact its historic charm and serenity.

Called 'The Souk', it is located in the site of the old Central Market, a 12-acre single story market where businesses and trading flourished when the Capital first began to expand and blossom in the early 1970s.

The Souk, which translates to 'marketplace,' dates back to 1968 and was designed by an Egyptian engineer, Abdulrahman Makhloof. The historic place hosted around 1,000 traders in the 1970s, before it was closed down in 2005 for renovations.

The souq underwent a splendid facelift, before re-opening its doors in 2013 as part of an estimated Dh5 billion World Trade Centre Project, which included the tallest building in Abu Dhabi, the 382 metre-high Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid.

Home to stunning cashmere fabrics, lavish gold pieces, opulent handcrafts, unique artworks, rare perfumes and even exotic spices and food for visitors to indulge in, the new souq has kept intact its traditional aura and never fails to impress thousands of people it receives a day, one trader told Khaleej Times.

Tahir Khan, who runs a family business that began back in India four generations ago, said: "Our business began nearly 400 years ago and we brought it here to the UAE. We started with the Old Souk, it was the best place where everyone came to shop and do business deals. It united everyone."

The family deals with stunning hand made carpets, silk rugs, pashmina shawls and even handbags, with prices ranging from as little as Dh30 per item, and going up to as much as Dh30,000. The family now has two stores, Cashmere Cottage and Persian Carpet House, both located in The Souk as well as other areas. "Even though our items are from Kashmir, we try to give each item a touch of the 'local' and the 'traditional' of the UAE.

"When we first started the business in the Old Souk many years ago, we had great support and from authorities. We didn't even have to pay rent, and the first three years it was rent-free." Today, rent of a 70 square-metre shop around Dh230,000 annually.

He said he hopes to make his ancestors proud by continuing the family business.

For the tourists and expats, the market is a very much loved place because they get a sense of the Emirati and Arab culture by just roaming around the souk's alleyways.

He added: "There is business rivalry, but we keep that apart. We all live here in a friendly manner and whenever someone needs support, we are there to help."

Standing in a shop filled with jewels and hand-crafted embroidery pieces was Vishnu Suresh, who helps run 'Latas,' which first opened in Sharjah back in 1982.

He recalled the Old Souk filled with small kiosks, where many traders from India met for business deals and ventures. Suresh said most of the customers back then were Arabs, Indians and Pakistanis, whereas today, Europeans take the number one spot.

"I always see tourists checking the prices of the items and then checking with their currency rate to see if it's within their budget," he said.

"A majority of the items in the souq are handmade, so they are one-of-a-kind pieces that tourists can't find elsewhere," according to Suresh.

Shah Faisal, who helps run 'Kani Home,' a business that is famous for its silk and wool handmade carpets, said many tourists look for culture and heritage when visiting the Capital, which is why The Souk will continue to flourish.

He pointed out that European tourists in particular, love visiting the family owned business, which began nearly half a century ago.

"My grandparents brought the business to the UAE and now we have branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi."

He said each carpet is designed and made by a family in Kashmir and each oriental carpet represents a family.

Despite the major revamp, the charm of the Old Souk is still intact, particularly by the wooden architecture, balustrades and warm, yet rich colours that fill the space.

"This souq is a very much loved place for the Abu Dhabi community throughout history. People come here because they want a taste of the old."

Yasser Al Marzouqi, general manager of The Mall at World Trade Centre, Abu Dhabi (WTCAD), said the souq continues to play an important role for the community.

"The Souk is an important place in Abu Dhabi and for its residents because it's a place where everyone can come together while also acting as a tourist attraction."

He added that the souq represents how Emiratis first did business. Through selling and buying goods, the UAE prospered through the creation of an international trading network.

Over the years, traders have diversified from selling spices, silks and perfumes, adding electronic goods, souvenirs and clothing.

"Yet the souq retains its famous bustling atmosphere, eclectic variety of good and an unforgettable experience of watching Emiratis doing business."

"We added the mall so that we could appeal to a broader, international audience, but it was also important that the souq continued to grow as we wanted, as an Emirati company, to pay homage to our rich cultural heritage."

jasmine@khaleejtimes.com 

• Abu Dhabi