Souq al-Zal

Souq al-Zal
Souq al-Zal, 2014
Native nameسوق الزل
Area38,580 square metres (9.53 acres)
Locationad-Dirah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates24°37′45″N 46°42′44″E / 24.62917°N 46.71222°E / 24.62917; 46.71222

Souq al-Zal (Arabic: سوق الزل) is a traditional marketplace (souq) and a popular tourist attraction in the ad-Dirah neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[1][2] It is situated east of the al-Hukm Palace compound in the Qasr al-Hukm District and is one of the oldest marketplaces in the city that specialize in carpets trading and the sale of agarwoods.[3][4][5] Covering an area of almost 9.5 acres, the souq's origins date as far back as 1901.[6] Its name is derived from zulliya (Arabic: زولية, romanized: zūlīya), the Gulf Arabic word for floor rug and was located in close proximity to the erstwhile Dakhna quarter.[7][8]

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City had completed the renovation project for the souq in 2005.[9] Souq al-Zal was selected as one of the 15 entertainment zones by the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia during the 2022 edition of Riyadh Season.[10][11]

  1. ^ "Riyadh's Souk Al-Zal: a shopping trip through time". Al Arabiya English. 2015-09-20. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  2. ^ "Riyadh Season's Souq Al-Zal offers nostalgia for elderly Saudis". Arab News. 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  3. ^ ""سوق الزل"... شعور بالدفء وحنين إلى الماضي في "موسم الرياض"". aawsat.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  4. ^ "150 سنة عمر سوق الزل في الرياض .. زبائنه لم تغرهم المراكز الحديثة". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  5. ^ جغرافية المملكة العربية السعودية وبعض دول العالم الخارجي للصف الثالث المتوسط (in Arabic). وزارة التربية والتعليم، التطوير التربوي،. 2006. ISBN 978-9960-19-056-3.
  6. ^ "سوق الزل... وجهة سعودية للتبضع بين جنبات التاريخ". aawsat.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  7. ^ "سيرة مدينة". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  8. ^ "تراث الرياض العمراني المفقود.. وما يمكن إنقاذه ! (2-2) - عبدالله بن محمد بن سليمان". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  9. ^ "هيئة تطوير الرياض تنهي مشروع تحسين سوق الزل". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  10. ^ "Souk Al-Zal Launches Its Activities and Reminds Riyadh Season 2022 Visitors of the Fragrant Past – General Entertainment Authority". www.gea.gov.sa. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  11. ^ "المعرض الفني بـ"سوق الزل" بوابة إلى السبعينيات". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.