Hamdan: An old resident place with chutzpah

It's one of the rare places in the city where you have more than a dozen jewellers.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street or just Hamdan, is one of the most popular places in Abu Dhabi City. And over the years, it has become one of the busiest places too. Towers, small shops and offices, and shared accommodations are all ubiquitous features of this old neighbourhood. And with heavy duty activity, it's also a street which sleeps very late.
An imposing landmark on the street is Hamdan Centre - the oldest mall in Abu Dhabi. It's a microcosm of Abu Dhabi in the 1980s till date. A visitor, by following the sundry small shops - in old style coloured glass décor - selling attars, apparels, gold, mobile phones and more get a taste of traditional souq. This is a must-visit place for a tourist just to experience old style markets.
"Yes, this is the first shopping centre in Abu Dhabi. We have flats, shops and offices. Those who are here running shops and offices are here for years now," said a local official, who didn't wish to be named, from Hamdan Centre Management Office.
"All our spaces are occupied. This place blends modernity and tradition," he said, showing an old photo of Hamdan Centre from the 1980s. The centre has stood the test of time and still takes the cake for its chutzpah among the skyscrapers.
By evening, the highlight of the street is the glowing gold jewellery shops bathed in a spectrum of lights. Residents and visitors will be spoilt for choices as top brands woo them with seasonal offers.
It's one of the rare places in the city where you have more than a dozen jewellers. Some of the oldest shops, though, are getting a facelift to match the changes happening elsewhere in the Capital market.
Hamdan Street is also home to a large number of expat dwellers. And there are people of all kind, nationalities, profession. The beauty about Hamdan Street is that there's something for everybody.
"I fell in love with this place ever since I came here. It reminds me very much of Delhi," Ashish Sharma, an executive, said. "Be it with regards to rent, options to eat out or shopping, there is availability in all budget range. I am particularly fond of Capital Park and its decoration in the front to welcome you."
Hamdan Street is one of the rare places in the city where a studio is available at the rent of Dh45,000 and above, one BHK for Dh55,000 and two BHK in 75,000 range. In the Corniche area, it will be Dh20,000 higher on any account. The place is well connected with public transport too, schools, mosques, hospitals, parks, parking spaces, restaurants in the vicinity and the street runs from Al Zahiyah at one end to Qasr Al Hosn - the place where it all started in Abu Dhabi.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi