TIMES MAY HAVE CHANGED BUT RAK’S OLD SOUQ IS KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE
Ruba Haza visits the market in Al Nakheel that has been a hub of the community in the emirate for decades
The Nakheel old souq in Ras Al Khaimah is a laststop shop for those preparing to leave the UAE.
“The market used to be very famous and people from everywhere used to come and buy what they need from here before the opening of the big malls and other shopping stores,” says Mir Salam, 65, a Pakistani shop owner.
“Now it’s a place where people visit before going back to their country, as they find cheap travel bags, clothes and electronics.”
Mr Salam, who has owned a ready-made garments shop since 1998, has seen traders and customers come and go over the years but many, like him, have stood the test of time. “The market has changed throughout the years and the visitors changed too, but we are still here and ready to provide them with what they need,” he says.
The souq in Al Nakheel has attracted customers from around RAK and beyond since it opened in the late 1970s, offering goods ranging from the finest textiles and ready-made clothes to fresh vegetables.
But the vegetable and fruit market was moved to a nearby area, making space for a new building project.
“It was moved maybe seven years ago and another building has been constructed in its place,” Mr Salam says. “That has affected our sales, along with the introduction of VAT.”
Nihad V K from India says shoppers looking for a bargain can find goods for half the price they would pay elsewhere.
“This shop used to sell only textiles in the past, imported from India and other places,” Mr Nihad says. “But four years ago, we added the tailoring business to attract more customers and make more profit.
“Not many tourists know about this place as they prefer to go to the old city, but this place also has its unique story and history.”
Electronics, DVD and general trading shops are also popular at the souq.
“People are still buying DVDs and many come from faraway places to get one,” says Nazar Kassiem, 47, an Indian working at Flash video store.
“Some come to explore the place and then decide to buy a DVD as part of the experience, while others come specifically to our shop to buy one.
“We offer music albums, movies and TV series in English and Hindi, at a cheaper price than elsewhere, and we have customers from all of the nationalities.”
Shops are set up along the two sides of a narrow road that passes through the market and leads to a large square.
The market is at the back of Gulf Cinema, one of the oldest movie theatres in the emirate.
It used to be called Al Nakheel Cinema.
“People in the old days used to come and watch movies here, not only to shop,” says Abdullah Al Habsi, 60, an Emirati who is a regular visitor to the cinema.
“I remember the cinema when it was only made out of wood and with no ceiling, and then they built this building about 30 years ago.”
Dhana Palan, one of the booking staff at the cinema, which is now managed by Star Cinemas, says many people like to spend time in the souq before catching a film.
“I heard many stories about the area and the cinema since I joined in 2004,” Mr Palan says. “The structure of the building and its location near the old market has added to the uniqueness of the place, and many people still visit the theatre and watch the movies here.
“We show mainly Indian movies and many people come to watch them from different nationalities.”
An Emirati father of five says he used to go there as a teenager with his friends and now he takes his son with him.
“I watched my first movie in this cinema with my friends in 1998,” says Mohammed Yaroob, 48. “It was an Indian movie and I enjoyed it very much. We live in Shaam which is about 35 kilometres away from the city and this was the nearest cinema at that time.”
Mr Yaroob says the market used to be well known but now it needs to be better promoted to keep it alive.
“The market shows how the emirate became modernised compared to the old market in the old city,” he says.
“It’s part of the emirate’s history and we need to highlight it more and invite more tourists to visit.”