At World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, shopping comes first

Souq is an Arabian word that usually refers to open-air markets of the Middle-eastern countries. It bears the same meaning as bedestens in Turkey or bazaars in India. In fact, the word ‘souq’ has an ancient Akkadian origin! One such rustic souq once existed at the place where I am standing now—the modern souq at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi.

In the World Trade Center(WTC) complex, Burj Mohammad bin Rashid is the tallest building in Abu Dhabi with 92 floors. It is an entirely residential building, and standing alongside it is the WTC Souk. Georgette, my guide, informs me that the new sophisticated state-of-the-art marketplace WTC Souk came into being after the old souq that existed here had caught fire.

Find me a date

Inside the WTC Souk I find abundant use of woodwork. It might be an attempt to keep the scent of the old days alive. Here, dates are obviously an authentic souvenir to pick-up. Only after visiting Abu Dhabi have I realized that I have only a bleak knowledge of dates. I enter a shop named Tawadoh Nuts. An east-Asian expat woman, the salesperson here, patiently explains me the differences among the various dates and nuts in her store. She also offers me some to taste. I end up buying some lulu dates.

The India connect

WTC Souk also has spice shops selling imported spices from India, but what interested me in the spice stores are the saffron collections. They are mostly imported from Iran and are available at a variety of prices starting from 10 Dirham/gram. The Pashmina and Cashmere collections imported from India are also popular items here.

Power beans

Coffee beans are another sought after souvenir in Abu Dhabi. Some legends say coffee had been accidentally discovered by a goatherd in the Ethiopian Peninsula; others say it was done by a shepherd in the Arabian Peninsula itself. The locals’ relationship with coffee went through many crests and troughs, but as of the present-day, it stands strong. Coffee is a beverage intimately associated with Emirati households—they are omnipresent in kitchens and majlis(guest room). The beans are mostly Arabica. I don’t have a coffee brewer at home so I skip this, though Georgette picks some up for herself.

Olfactory treats

In every indoor space of Abu Dhabi, the air is always heavy with the scent of perfume called oudh. The fragrance is emitted from the Agarwood plant, a native of Assam in India. Small vials of scented liquid are widespread across all markets of Abu Dhabi including the WTC Souk. They are expensive, but worth the dime. I must mention here, the handsome sellers are unabashedly flirty to foreign women when trying to make a sale!

To watch my Abu Dhabi video on Youtube, please click here.

Have you been to any souq? Have you shopped at the souq in World Trade Center Abu Dhabi? Do you prefer shopping from modern malls or the traditional souqs, bazaars and bedestens? Comment below and let’s get talking!

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Disclaimer: Tania was hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism Board. All thoughts and opinions expressed in the post are of her own.

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