Abu Dhabi: Although the temperature approached 50 degrees Celsius on Friday, Souq Al Mubarakiya opened its arms to embrace its customers, who keep visiting it despite the scorching sun, as they cannot resist the charm of the jewel of Kuwait.
After Kuwait eased lockdown, Al Mubarakiya returned to its earlier busy look — lively, exciting and a very Kuwaiti marketplace.
Al Mubarakiya is an ideal place to immerse yourself in the vibrant daily life of Kuwaiti people, and you will feel as if you are in a movie scene.
Indulge your senses with the aromas, colours and textures at Al Mubarakiya Souq, one of the oldest markets in Kuwait City. Browse through stands with olives and dates, honey and spices, sample perfumes like musk and admire the intricate jewellery and antique shops.
Partially covered market
Bedouins sell their woven handicrafts here, and plenty of eateries offer a wide variety of food in this large, partially covered market. You can get traditionally brewed coffee and plenty of authentic souvenirs too.
“Souq Al Mubarakiya — Another vibrant place here in Kuwait. Looking forward to continue exploring its shops and sights soon,” said United States Ambassador, Alina L. Romanowski, on her Twitter account.
The American ambassador sought recommendations for her next visit to the marketplace.
This popular traditional market is located in Kuwait City, between Abdullah Al Mubarak, Abdullah Al Salem and Palestine Streets. It has been around for at least 200 years. The market was damaged during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. However, it was renovated and it got back its traditional flavour.
Range of shops
You can spend hours in this market strolling around and discovering reasonable bargains on heritage goods such as Persian silk carpets, real Arab antiques, perfumes like musk and oud, and traditional costumes. This place is perfect whether you want to shop, eat or for sightseeing.
Al Mubarakiya features a variety of shops such as dates, honey, spices, sweets, vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. In addition to a range of shops, gold and silver jewelleries and accessories can also be found here.
The market also hosts two mini museums: Sheikh Mubarak Kiosk and the first Islamic pharmacy in Kuwait. Admission is free.
Cheapest in Kuwait
There is a courtyard near Al Bahar or Sea Mosque, where you can find traditional cafes brewing their teas over coals and several small restaurants are lined-up where they serve authentic Arabic, Indian, Persian food to customers in the open air. The prices are the cheapest in Kuwait. On hot summer days, water mist is sprayed from pipes over the tables to help cool you down. A children’s playground is nearby and shisha is also easily available.
