Souk for the soul – all about the Traditional Souk in Abu Dhabi

• Location and Design
• The Heritage Market
• The Edutainment Zone
• Artisan Village
• Union and Open Plaza
• Hotels
• FAQ’s

Abu Dhabi based developers, Al Qudra, has unveiled their latest plan for a tourist attraction in the capital city. Called ‘The Traditional Souk’, this is a transformation of the 245k square metre stretch of Abu Dhabi’s W64 Zone into a leisure and entertainment complex. Read more to find out what this development will include and where it will be situated.

LOCATION AND DESIGN 

The Traditional Souq will be situated in the 245 square metre stretch of Abu Dhabi’s W64 Zone, which overlooks the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It will be next to the upcoming Al Qana project, an epic 2.4km waterfront residential, leisure and entertainment destination.

The market will be designed using a seamless blend of classic UAE heritage architecture combined with modern, 21st-century trends. This means the souq will bring together the alleyways and open courtyards of the Middle East with hotels and restaurants of the modern era. At the entrance of the Traditional Souq, there will be an edutainment zone to educate the visitors on the UAE’s rich history. Truly a vision worth the wait.

The Traditional Souq will include the following: 

THE HERITAGE MARKET

The focus of this attraction, the Heritage Market, will showcase the beauty of UAE culture. The market’s numerous stalls will offer visitors the opportunity to purchase handcrafted and natural treasures including carpets, oud, silk, antiques, jewellery, and traditional clothing. There will also be the chance to experience Emirati culture in the form of Falconry, Bisht-making, Al-Sadu weaving and more!

THE EDUTAINMENT ZONE

The edutainment zone’s details are yet to be revealed in detail. All we know right now is that it is to be situated at the entrance of the Traditional Souq and will have a host of entertainment for the visitors. This will include digital and live-action performances, music, film and art that will engage and educate visitors on the UAE. 

ARTISAN VILLAGE

An area dedicated to showcasing various regional art styles, the Artisan Village will showcase art, craft and products, predominantly from the UAE. Handmade jewellery, pottery, sculptors and ceramics will be available for purchase. For those keen to learn, there will also be galleries and workshops where they can learn and exhibit their work.

UNION AND OPEN PLAZA

An open courtyard, the Union and Open Plaza will have seven separate water features (representing the seven emirates), along with landscaped greenery and cooling sheltered walkways. One thing’s for sure, if the plans are anything to go by, the whole area will be a visual feast. The idea behind this plan was to give the visitor the feeling of being in an oasis, with the scenic Grand Mosque in the background.

SHOPPING 

Shopping at the Traditional Souk will not just be limited to stalls, it will also have souvenir vendors, brand stores and a hypermarket to complete the retail experience. 

HOTELS

A boutique hotel (that is yet to be named) will be opening up at this Traditional Souq in Abu Dhabi. It will offer luxurious stays with direct access to the souq. The hotel will have a spa, a fabulous outdoor pool, and many other appealing features. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does the word Souk mean?

A ‘souq’ or ‘souk’ (also spelt soq, souk, suk, sooq, souq, or suq) refers to a market place that is open-air in Arab cities. Souq visitors can find traditional perfumes, food items, jewellery, art and more.

What other exciting developments are coming up in Abu Dhabi?

There are a host of interesting projects lined up in Abu Dhabi for the coming years. Mangrove Walk is already open and has swiftly become a firm favourite with tourists. Other eagerly-anticipated new attractions in Abu Dhabi include the Flamingo Observation Park, Snow Park and the National Aquarium.

For those who wish to reside in the capital, there are several residential projects in Abu Dhabi offering a great combo of leisure, comfort and eco-living that are worth checking out.

Love the buzzy, traditional atmosphere of a souq? Consider a visit to the Gold Souq in Abu Dhabi, which is one of the many souqs in Abu Dhabi. Another popular souk in Abu Dhabi is the Souk Qaryat Al Beri.

If you’re a resident of Dubai, there’s the Warsan Souq in Dubai that’s very much worth a visit.

We can’t wait to visit the Traditional Souk and all the other exciting upcoming tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi.

For all the latest news on the UAE’s upcoming developments, stay tuned to MyBayut, the region’s favorite property blog.