Away from the capital city, set on a public beach, Al Wakrah Old Souq is similar to Souq Waqif of Doha in concept but quite different in terms of surroundings and vibe. Al Wakrah Old Souq is a heritage market that is considered among the most important tourist destinations in Qatar. The Souq is located in Al Wakrah city, the second oldest city in Qatar, distanced around 10 km from Hamad International Airport and just 15 minutes drive by car.
The Souq mixes tranquility and beautiful sea views with a traditional setup. Stated below are note-worthy reasons why this Souq is worth seeing:
- Do not miss this souq If you appreciate peaceful and quiet exploring.
- If you are a fan of seafront destinations, this is one to add to your list
- For authentic Arab cuisines, this souq is a great place to try Qatari and Arabian cuisine.
- During winters, the souq becomes a crowded spot for people who enjoy breakfast by the sea.
- This souq has great picture opportunities with a traditional backdrop, heritage buildings, and architecture.
- The souq is also famous for shopping as it has 10 zones dedicated to shopping.
- Carriage rides, pony, and camel rides are available for kids to enjoy
- Everyday, early morning and in the afternoon, visitors will enjoy watching camels out for their daily walk around the Souq.
- The Souq also extends to Al Wakrah port which is a popular tranquil spot to relax and famous for fishing.
The Souq is distinguished by the long stretch of pristine sandy beach that stretches approximately 3 km along the coast, with a corniche for people to walk along. The souq is divided into 10 market zones and is home to many restaurants, a camel pen, a horse stable, a kid’s playground, padel courts, ample parking, and the Souq Al Wakra Hotel by Tivoli.
Ten Shopping Zones of Al Wakrah Old Souq
The Souq follows the traditional setup of having market zones for different items. From the parking area, the souq alleyways where you will find clear signage and boards leading to different market zones. For the residents of the city, the souq provides an opportunity to shop for diverse and traditional goods & food items in one place.
For visitors, it is a great place to buy souvenirs and traditional items to take with them. The Souq includes the following sections:
Fruit & Vegetable
Fish & Seafood
Marine Equipment
Women’s accessories & Perfume market
Men’s accessories & Perfume market
Bird Market
Utensils market
Gold market
Supply market: Spices, honey, foodstuff, lowers & sweets
Falcons accessories market
Al Wakrah Old Souq Beach
The old Souq al Wakrah wins with its long stretch of pristine sandy beach. The Souq Al Wakra beach stretches approximately 3 km and is a family favorite beach where everyone can swim. Amenities include children’s playgrounds, toilets, and beach chairs with huts.
General Instructions: No pets allowed, no smoking of any type permitted (Shisha, etc), appropriate dress code to be followed, and no BBQ is allowed.
Beachfront
The outstanding characteristic of Al Wakrah Old Souq is its beachfront. The beloved beachfront becomes super popular and crowded during the cooler months of the year and beach season. This is the main attraction of the Souq offering a number of things people can do according to what they fancy. Visitors can enjoy long walks along the paved walkway, enjoy food and coffee or take part in several activities offered at the front.
Restaurants & Cafes in Al Wakrah Old Souq
The beachfront has a lineup of cafes, restaurants and food points. Some are quite popular for breakfast while others for casual dining with the views of the souq beach. Famous cafes for breakfast are Easair cafe, Habat Raih, Al Fanar and more. Popular dining spots are Copacabana (seafood), Royal Tandoor and more.
Among the cozy cafes, Pampas cafe and 83 café are must try to enjoy coffee and beautiful interiors.
Also, in the souq alleyways you will find a few restaurants, almost hidden gems to enjoy a variety of food. LalQila Restaurant (Pakistani & International cuisine), Dabaiwa (seafood and arab cuisine) and more. The souq is overall dominated with seafood restaurants.
Mosques
Truly a place that preserves heritage buildings and structures, the souq is home to 9 old ancient mosques. One large mosque (Abu Minaratein Mosque) and 4 smaller mosques have been put to service for daily prayers, while the remaining 4 mosques have been restored and preserved. These mosques also have women’s areas.
Hotel
The Souq also boasts a luxurious 5-star hotel, Souq Al Wakra Hotel by Tivoli which has two beautiful buildings, one at the north end of the souq and the other at the south end of the souq. The hotel provides 101 guest rooms within an authentic traditional environment as it is housed in former heritage houses where original character has been splendidly preserved. The hotel is supported by two fitness centers and a luxurious spa along with 4 restaurants offering a blend of modern Arabic tastes, mouthwatering Mediterranean, and International cuisine.
Garden & Playground
Being the ultimate family-friendly destination, the souq has a garden and vast playground located on the northern side. The play area contains many children’s games in addition to football and Padel courts. Here you will also find an opportunity for pony rides, carriage/train rides, and camel riding at amazing rates.
Historical Shell statue of Qatar
At the Al Wakra Old Souq you will come across one of the symbols of Al Wakra city, the Shell Statue. It was built in the late eighties and was moved from Al Wakra Roundabout to Al Wakra Old Souq roundabout and now it stands as an important historical landmark in the souq.
Key Information about Al Wakra Old Souq
Parking: The souq has a vast area for parking and can accommodate many vehicles.
The souq can be visited any time of the day or night.
For breakfast the earliest time for a restaurant to open in 7:00 AM.
At night only a few cafes are open till 1 AM. The beach can be used for strolling.
Location: Al Wakra
Instagram: @souqalwakra_qa/
Al Wakrah city is supported by Al Wakrah metro station on the red line of Doha Metro. Metrolink (free shuttle bus service by Doha Metro) M127 bus route has a stop at Souq Al Wakra.