Souq

A souq or souk (Arabic: سوق, Hindi: सूक Hebrew: שוק sūq, also spelled shuk, shooq, soq, souk, esouk, suk, sooq, souq, or suq) is an open-air marketplace or commercial quarter in Western Asian and North African cities. The equivalent Persian term is "bazaar".

Etymology

The spelling souk entered European languages probably through French during the French occupation of the Arab countries Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Thus, the word "souk" most likely refers to arabic/North African traditional markets. Other spellings of this word involving the letter "Q" (sooq, souq...) were likely developed using English and thus refer to Western Asian/Arab traditional markets, as British colonialism was present there during the 19th and 20th centuries. In Modern Standard Arabic the term al-sooq refers to markets in both the physical sense and the abstract economic sense (e.g., an Arabic-speaker would speak of the sooq in the old city as well as the sooq for oil, and would call the concept of the free market السوق الحرّ as-sūq al-ḥurr).

Podcasts:

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Latest News for: souqs

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Spectacular fireworks at Souq Al Wakrah concludes Wednesday

Gulf-Times 01 Apr 2025
The captivating fireworks show at Souq Al Wakrah, a key attraction of the Eid al-Fitr ...
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Souqs See Huge Turnout Ahead Of Eid Holidays

MENA FN 29 Mar 2025
(MENAFN - Gulf Times) Souq Waqif and other souq areas in and around Doha have seen a considerably large turnout of shoppers over the past few days, especially from the evening until midnight, with ... .
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Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, Al Najada Hotel unveil Eid al-Fitr offers

Gulf-Times 28 Mar 2025
Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, the five-star collection of boutique hotels, and Al Najada Hotel, 'the iconic property at the heart of Doha, characterised by its sheer opulence and royal heritage', have ...
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Push for taskforce to oversee revival of ageing Manama Souq

The Daily Tribune - Bahrain 27 Mar 2025
Manama’s ageing souq is getting a taskforce ... The souq, long at the heart of the capital, has been left behind ... .
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Riyadh's Souq Al-Zal: A Century Of Heritage Thrives Amid Ramadan's Glow

Malaysian National News Agency 27 Mar 2025
Riyadh's Souq Al-Zal ... Souq Al-Zal ... Strategically located near Al-Hokm Palace, Souq Al-Zal is one of Riyadh's oldest and largest traditional markets.
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Dubai: New Service Road, Modern Lighting Units Installed Near Hatta Souq Roundabout

MENA FN 27 Mar 2025
(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Driving to Hatta or Oman over the weekend? Then, you would come across some new road improvements, including a new stretch of service road as well as new lighting ... .
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RTA carries out roadworks leading to Hatta Souq roundabout

Gulf News 26 Mar 2025
... Hatta Souq Roundabout ... The improvements included the construction of a new 1.0km service road running parallel to the main Dubai-Hatta Road, linking the Hatta Souq Roundabout with the primary route.
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Eid sweets festival at Souq Waqif continues to draw large crowds

The Peninsula 24 Mar 2025
Doha, Qatar ... This year, Souq Waqif is hosting the first edition of the ‘Eid Fawala’ festival, showcasing various sweets, nuts, and light snacks traditionally served during Eid ... “Fawalat Al-Eid.” ... The exhibition is open daily from 7.30pm to 11.30pm ... .
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Ramadan brings traditional markets to life

Muskat Daily 23 Mar 2025
Souqs in Seeb, Muttrah and Nizwa are bustling with activity, offering a diverse range of goods essential for the holy month. Muttrah Souq, one of Oman’s most iconic markets, is seeing a sharp rise in footfall ... Seeb Souq ... Nizwa Souq.
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