AJMAN SOUQ IS A PORTAL TO MORE TRADITIONAL TIMES
▶ Shoppers from across the region have been hunting bargains here since the early 1950s, writes Salam Al Amir
It is only a short walk from the centre of Ajman to what is probably the emirate’s oldest souq.
It was built in the early 1950s and sympathetically restored several years ago, and parts of its more traditional architecture remain intact.
Venturing inside can feel like a step back in time as surrounding modern high-rises and office blocks disappear from view.
Visitors to Saleh Souq are greeted with high, wide halls and roofs made of palm fronds, as well as exotic smells of spice and incense.
“People from Egypt, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and many other Arab countries come to buy things here,” said Pakistani Mohammed Shahid, 42, who opened his shop Al Molouk 23 years ago.
“People are attracted by the souq’s style and the fact that they can find the best deals, as well as unusual items they can’t find in malls.”
Saleh Souq, in Al Nakheel opposite Ajman Museum, started life as a small collection of shops.
Today, more than 80 boutiques welcome customers late into the evening.
Shoppers are spoilt for choice with a wide variety of products, from elaborately embroidered clothing to handmade leather goods.
Benches for weary visitors sit beneath six-metre marble columns and Emirati flags flutter in the breeze.
“The place was first built by an Emirati man named Saleh,” Mr Shahid said. “It started with no more than 10 shops but since the municipality renovated the place, the number has grown larger and larger.”
The souq was renovated with Dh7 million provided by the Ajman Municipality. Some areas lacked even a roof to protect shoppers from the heat.
In 2016, work began to line the souq’s long alleyways with coral stone, a traditional material still used in projects in the UAE today.
By the end of last year, engineers had completed the souq’s extensive new infrastructure, including new shops.
Other facilities, including an outdoor theatre and walkways to link the souq with the city’s corniche area are also planned, said Mohammed Al Muhairi, the municipality’s head of engineering and infrastructure.
Officials hope the work will provide a further boost to the number of tourists visiting the emirate. Already, tourists are coming from far and wide to enjoy the souq’s more traditional feel.
And during Ramadan, customer numbers double or even triple as families seek presents for visiting relatives.
Mohammed Anwar, 38, said he helped his father run his shop as a youngster and took over the business when his father died.
“My father opened our shop in 1980,” Mr Anwar said. “We had many, mostly women customers coming from neighbouring countries around the UAE to buy from the souq.
“The difference in price is an attraction as well. Customers know that they can negotiate the price here. And they know that what they can get for Dh1,000 outside the souq, they can find here for probably half the price.”
The souq was renovated with the help of Dh7m provided by the Ajman municipality