- The market occupies about 7,000 square meters and has 420 shops selling a wide range of goods
Walking through Al-Qaisariyah market is a bit like taking a stroll through the pages of a history book. While most other once-impressive buildings and settlements crumbled and fell, often with replacements built upon their ruined foundations, the souq survived.
The exact date when trading began at the market is unknown but descriptions of it can be found in travelers’ journals and history books that suggest that it is about 150 years old. The market building is a true architectural gem and the main attraction in Al-Ahsa region. It is covered by a ceiling to provide shade from the desert sun, built in the old style using intertwined wooden beams. It was damaged by a fire in 2001, but the authorities worked swiftly and carefully to carry out repairs and preserve its unique history.
As word of its beauty and rich history has spread in the Kingdom and across the Gulf, so it has grown in popularity as a tourist attraction. The market occupies about 7,000 square meters and has 420 shops selling a wide range of goods, including traditional clothes for men and women, incense, local perfumes and copper kitchen utensils.
Despite all this activity, as you walk through the market it is very peaceful and the shopkeepers are friendly and welcoming. The longer you spend there, the more delights you will discover; for example, the small well in the back of the souq.
A visit to this market is more than simply a shopping expedition, it is a journey back in time and a chance to become part of its ongoing history.