Al Ahsa – Al Qaisariyah Souq

The Al Qaisariyah market is one of the most important attractions in town. The souq (bazaar) runs parallel to King Abdulaziz Rd. It is stated that the market is about 200 years old. It was damaged by fire in 2001 but has since been largely restored. The street surroundings are also undergoing a beautification process (as of Oct. 2022). A walk through Al Qaisariyah Market, ideally starting at its magnificent entrance gate, is most interesting in the late afternoon and evening hours, when most of the stores are open and the entire scene is illuminated. The two- to three-storey gate has a large, keel-arched gable with stucco decoration all serves as a passageway into the inner souq area. Covered arcades (traditional dakas) accommodate the stores arranged in rows, which actually look like little stores of a toy store. They sell a wide range of goods, including traditional clothing for men and women, incense, local perfumes, and copper kitchen utensils, as well as food, such as the regionally grown brown-grain Hassawi rice.