Ramadan Market brings communities together for retail at night

The Boulevard Ramadan Market will run until Saturday, April 8, and is open from 9 p.m. to 2 pm. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Shulhub)

Turki Al-Mousa’s booth which is set up as an old mini-market or Dukkan Zamman in Arabic. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Shulhub)

Al-Mousa’s booth offers the first color TV, Atari, instant Kodak cameras, and the old Saudi phone.” (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Shulhub)

Rashid Al-Dossary is a sabha trader and his booth glimmers with lanterns and rope lights that reflect on the hundreds of sabhas on display. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Shulhub)

• The market runs until Saturday, April 8, and is open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Ramadan markets, which are commonly known as bazaars or souqs, are set up specifically at this time of the year and offer a unique shopping experience that is centered around the holy month’s themes

RIYADH: Small and medium-sized businesses are showcasing their products at the Ramadan Market in The Boulevard in the Hittin district of Riyadh.
The market runs until Saturday, April 8, and is open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Ramadan markets, which are commonly known as bazaars or souqs, are set up specifically at this time of the year and offer a unique shopping experience that is centered around the holy month’s themes, such as spirituality and community.
The bazaars offer an event at night after a long day of fasting. They are a vibrant and exciting part of Ramadan, bringing people together in familiar settings.
The markets are bustling with activity, and offer a variety of food, clothing, and other goods that help reflect spirituality and culture during the holy month.
Rashid Al-Dossary, an antique and sabha trader, has lanterns and rope lights that reflect on the hundreds of sabhas on display.
His business has been thriving in Riyadh’s Souq Al-Zal, one of the city’s oldest traditional markets.
Al-Dossary told Arab News: “I have been in that old market for years and people started calling me the mayor because I am known to buy the most antiques in the souq.”
The Ramadan Market also features booths that sell products to stir feelings of nostalgia in the older generation, and provide a glimpse into the past for younger shoppers.
One of the booths is Turki Al-Mousa’s which is set up as an old mini-market.
Al-Mousa said his booth gives a look into the development of games and toys, and he offers old collectibles and artifacts.
He told Arab News: “We have the first color TV and it is fully functional, albeit outdated, Atari, instant Kodak cameras, and the old Saudi phone.”
He added that the booth was a look back at the life of busy old neighborhoods in Riyadh.
The atmosphere becomes more lively in the market as the night draws on, with traditional local music and social gatherings commonplace.
Visitors enjoy a hot meal as they take a break from viewing the treasures of the Ramadan Market.
Fatimah Al-Bassri, owner and chef at Om Al-Ghala Kitchen, told Arab News: “Balila and jareesh are among my most famous Saudi dishes in demand in Ramadan.
“Everyone thinks it is difficult to prepare Saudi jareesh, but it is way easier and more delicious than any other dish. Just put all the ingredients in a pot and bring the mixture to a boil over low heat for about four hours.”
Other small businesses in the market include one run by Abdulmajeed, who started his coffee trading online in 2016.
He said: “Aside from our Saudi and Turkish coffees, we offer wheat grain coffee as an alternative, for those with health issues that keep them from drinking regular coffee.”