A picture of Souq Waqif taken last week. Pic: elissa darwish
Doha: Souq Waqif, the traditional market which is a historic remnant of the previous century’s commerce in the Gulf, remains vibrant during Ramadan despite the pandemic. Due to COVID-19 related restrictions, it remains open only on weekdays with precautionary measures in place.
At 9.30pm, visitors, both of local and foreign origins, begin to swarm the main streets of the Souq. Most are middle-aged, but a few youths hang around coffee shops, enjoying their evening refreshments.
Such visits of Souq Waqif are frequent, despite the removal of all outdoor sitting areas in accordance with the recent sanitary measures.
While the new restrictions affect the restaurant industry of the Souq, one can still order takeouts of their favourite traditional dishes. As for the cultural products found in the market, the demand on them varies from sector to sector.
The Souq saw an influx in customers right before the Garangao celebration that took place in the middle of Ramadan.
For this event, the kids, clad in cultural garments, venture out to sing in their neighbourhoods, in exchange for sweets and treats. Hence, the Souq, with its impressive selection of candies, traditional desserts and nuts, is often a first choice when it comes to the Garangao shopping.
One Qatari customer shared her experience of frequenting Souq Waqif for the occasion: “We came here a few days before, searching for things to put in the kids’ baskets for the festival of Garangao.” She also expanded on her regular visits of the market: “I often buy sweets, clothes, food and spices here.”
“The sales depend on the period”, weighed in one grocer, “During Sha’ban (the Islamic lunar calendar month before Ramadan), there are a lot of customers, since they stock up for Ramadan. Then, the sales rise again in the days preceding Garangao, and finally, right before Eid.”
But those who do not participate in the Ramadan shopping also appear in the trade districts. Customers taste the colorful spices and marvel at the Arabic designs of the national garments on display. “I come here every day, I love the Souq!” gushed Olga Ortiz from Puerto Rico, as she admires a camel-pattern scarf at a garment shop.
Generally, the clothing retailers, spice shops and groceries still benefit from a good number of buyers, despite inevitably having been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is the perfumeries, jewellery and accessory stores that seem to have gotten the short end of the stick. While some fragrance shops managed to upkeep their revenues and customers, others suffer from a considerable lack of demand. “Sometimes, I only have one to two customers daily!” lamented a perfume vendor.
However, the vendors also partially ascribe such decrease in sales to the season, claiming that the demand on their products usually rises in winter.
One source believes that the number of total visits of Souq Waqif has been cut in half, following the outbreak of the sanitary crisis.
Nonetheless, there are still some revenues coming in from the country’s temporary visitors, according to one vendor. He claims that the transit passengers visit the Souq to get acquainted with the local culture, while awaiting their onward flight from the Hamad International Airport.
Souq Waqif continues welcoming shopaholics, food lovers and culture enthusiasts.
Its Art Center still remains accessible for visits, while little attractions, such as moon spotting could also be found on its grounds. The Souq’s shops are open from Sunday to Thursday, between 10am and 1pm and after Iftar, from 7pm to midnight.
