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leisure: shopping saudi arabia 2012


DAMMAM


A trip to Dammam in the Eastern Province wouldn't be complete without stopping at one of the many shopping malls in the city. Like most malls in the Kingdom, each mall sells everything from electronic appliances and gadgets through to designer brands, watches and perfumes.


With so many malls to choose from, it is not so easy to decide where to splash the cash, but the Beach Mall, Oasis Com- mercial Mall and Plaza Hyatt Mall are very popular spots. Dammam Interna- tional Markets Mall and Bin-Khaldoum Plaza Mall also come highly recom- mended. Elsewhere, the Feminine East Mall at Damman Corniche offers Saudi women a range of international brands to choose from.


Beyond the modern malls, the Eastern Region is rich with heritage that provides an insight into Saudi customs and tradi- tions. Fixed and mobile markets selling hand-crafted items, traditional ornaments, domestic birds and agricultural products also stand as some of the best places to learn more about the region's vibrant culture. The busy and bustling Al-Hab Market is considered one of the region's most famous, making it a popular attraction for locals and visitors alike. Over at the Thursday market in Al Qateef, visitors will find handicrafts, rugs and baskets, as well as the lively Sheep Market, which sells domestic animals and birds to the locals.


Merchants at the Thursday Market in Al Nairiyiah sell traditional goods, local ghee, herbal incense and pots. Dates, coffee, carda- mom and even cattle and domestic birds can be bought Ñ although they may not feature on most souvenir wish-lists.


AL-BAHA


In this province, each of the souks is named after the day of the week on which they are held. The range of products they sell is diverse, ranging from fruit and vegetables to spice, tea and local handicrafts. Most of the fruit and vegetables are grown locally, the poultry is either bred or hunted here, perfumes come from local flowers, honey is harvested in the Kingdom and dates are also grown in Saudi Arabia. Even the ironware, such as traditional swords and other weapons, along with agricultural tools, are made locally according to traditional methods. The biggest and most popular souk in the Kingdom is Souk Al-Khamis, or Thursday Market, which is held in the Al Baha Province. The Friday Market, Souk Al-Jumaa, is held in Al-Aqia; the Tuesday Market, Souk Al-Thalatha, is held in Al-Makhwah on the main road linking Al-Baha with Al-Makhwah; and the Saturday Markets, Souq al-Sabt, are held in Beljarchi, Rama, Al Man- daq, Al-Rouma and Al-Jardaa. The largest of these is the Beljarchi. For something more eye-catching and unusual, you could head south to Narjan, which borders Yemen, where the people wear bright, multi-coloured, sarong-like izars, topped by black embroidered jackets. This region is famed for its honey, but handicrafts, folklore and dancing all also thrive here.


NAJRAN


Najran is one of the last places in Saudi Arabia where you can still find an authentic handmade jambia, the traditional dagger. Souk al-Jambia, or Souk al Khanajer, Aba al Saud, is the only souk left that specialises in the locally made daggers, making it an essential part of any itinerary. The proximity to traders grinding and selling flour in a nearby shop adds interest. Other handicrafts include: gold and silver jewel- lery; textiles; leather goods; and wood carvings. Souk al-Nisa'a is the women's souk and is the only one of its kind in the province. It sells a range of items, including clothing, toiletries, spices, incense, perfumes and some household objects. There are several other souks in this province, stocking every- thing from ironware to hand-woven baskets and handicrafts.


Once you are exhausted from shopping you can take in a folklore performance or a poetry recital, with tales about Bouzaid Al-Hilali, a legendary inhabitant of the ancient city of Al- Ukhdud. Traditional dancing is also popular and includes Razfa (for men, performed during religious feasts and marriages); Dance of the Horses (a war dance); Zamel and the Dance of the Drums (Tabel, Al Maraf'e). Another attraction in Narjan is the Abha Festival, which was the first summer festival within the Kingdom. Today, it is televised by several satellite stations around the Middle East. Festival events include poetry recit- als, lectures and traditional music concerts, dancing and the Abha Shopping Festival.


Ironware, such as traditional swords and other


weapons, along with agricultural tools, are made locally according to traditional methods


Bag yourself a bargain


¥ Bargaining is part of the culture and a time-honoured tradition at old-style souks. It is recommended that you start at 50 percent of the asking price and work towards a figure you are happy paying


¥ No shopping trip to the souk is complete without resting at a coffee shop to have a sip of mint tea, while watching the world pass by


¥ The Gold Souk can be rather overwhelm- ing for first-time visitors, but don't be discour- aged. Find out the current price of gold first. Once you know how much you should be paying per gram, you can decide whether the design you're buying is worth the added labour cost


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