Souq Al Mawsim, Traditional marketplace in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
Souq Al Mawsim is a traditional marketplace in Diriyah with many stalls and shops selling local crafts, textiles, spices, traditional clothing, and regional food specialties. Different sections focus on specific goods, so you find date vendors, textile merchants, and other traders grouped by their type of merchandise.
This marketplace stands in Diriyah, the first capital of the Saudi dynasty, which was a key trading hub on historical commercial routes. The location's long role in trade continues to shape how goods and merchants move through the region today.
Artisans here practice techniques that have been handed down through many generations of local families. You can watch how traders and craftspeople work, keeping methods alive that shape daily commerce in the region.
The marketplace opens during evening hours when temperatures drop, following local habits and customs. Wear comfortable shoes since you'll be walking through many different sections spread across the area.
Each section specializes in one type of goods, making it easy to navigate if you know what you need, but the separation also creates a feeling of discovery as you move from one area to another. This ancient shopping approach differs from how modern stores are typically organized.
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