Shopping In Kuwait: Bringing The Best From The Old Traditional Markets

Kuwait, a hidden gem between Saudi Arabia and Iran, is a land of authenticity and culture. With the real Arab culture still prevailing without any western influence, Kuwait is the best place to experience the beauty of heritage. The landscape, the architecture, and the Souq for traditional shopping in Kuwait have made it a destination where you can admire the magnificence in every corner. While every corner of this country in the Middle East is an intriguing oasis amidst the desert, there are attractions like old Souq and market, making it a land of culture.

Top Souks In Kuwait For A Unique Shopping Experience

Kuwait, a small country in the Middle East, is loved by travelers when it comes to shopping. While there are malls and shopping complexes built around, Kuwait is popular for its Souq’s and the ancient markets. Exhibiting every bit of Kuwait's art and culture, here are the best places to shop in Kuwait.

1. Souk Al-Watiya

Famous for the gold and other gems, Souk Al-Watiya is one of the popular places to find gold shops in Kuwait. Located in Watiya Abu Bakr Street, this Souq houses many gold shops selling quality material with the most intricate work. You can shop any gold jewelry with 21 and 22-carat quality and an expectational design of Arabic or Kuwaiti designs. You can even find the best hotels and restaurants close to the market area. The fancy and boutique cafes make it among the best places where you can hang out, shop, and spend a day.

Location: Abu Bakr St, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Opening Hours: Sunday to Saturday: 08:00 am to 11:00 pm

2. Kuwaiti Souq

One of the oldest Kuwait shopping places, the Kuwaiti Souq is located in the Ras Al Khaimah area of the country. The Souq has a number of shops and retail units that make it popular among the local residents and tourists. With a short distance from Ras Al Khaimah Corniche, this place is almost flooded by travelers in the city.

The real beauty of this old Kuwaiti Souq can be admired during the festival seasons like Eid, when the entire market is illuminated, and there are buyers everywhere discovering the charm of this best tourist attractions in the Middle East. The vibrancy of Kuwaiti Souq can be seen in its vast collection of accessories, clothing, and every item sold here. One can always negotiate for the best price and get quality stuff in the cheapest amount. From traditional clothing to kitchen accessories, gold, and other souvenirs, you can find everything you need.

Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Opening Hours: Sunday to Saturday:

• 8 am till noon prayer
• 4 pm until 11 pm.

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3. Souk Al-Mubarakiya

One of the old traditional Souq in Kuwait, Souq Al-Mubarakiya is the best place to buy real souvenirs from Kuwait. Dating back to 200 years, this traditional market was damaged in 1990 due to Iran Invasion. After the renovation, the Souq was restored with its traditional beauty.

While there are many malls in Kuwait, you can still get the best souvenirs like perfumes and antiques, costumes, and more. There are grocery stores, vegetable stalls, meat and fish shops, and other varieties like dates and other best Gold Souq in Kuwait.

The cafes around the Souk are the best to spend the time after strolling around for the whole day. You can get the best Arabic and Indian food at the restaurants lined up here. There are two mini museums in Sheikh Mubarak Kiosk that attracts most of the tourists here.

Location: Located between Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Abdullah Al-Salem & Palestine Streets

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

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4. Friday Flea Market

Kuwait is a country where street markets are highly popular and offer a fine shopping experience to travelers. One such place that clearly offers a fascinating experience is the Friday Flea Market in Al-Rai area of Kuwait. This is a market that has become highly popular over the last few years and locals often prefer coming here to shop for the most authentic of items. So, what is so special about this market?

Well, the Friday Flea Market is also referred to by the name Kuwait Flea Market and is often seen as a perfect spot to shop for second-hand things. Be it furniture, clothes, carpets or any other thing, this is a market that offers it all. In fact, as far as prices go, this is a market where one can expect low prices and there is a huge scope for bargaining. If you're looking to shop for carpets, this is a market where you can expect to bargain for the same. The market remains open from Thursday afternoon to Saturday afternoon.

As for the best time to visit here? Travelers can plan to come here during Thursday afternoons or Saturday mornings as this is the time when most of the best products can be found in the market and there is too much crowd to hamper the shopping experience here. So, if you're looking to shop locally in Kuwait, visit the Friday Flea Market and shop for the best of items at modest prices.

Location - Al-Rai Area behind the plant nurseries

Opening Hours - The market remains open from Thursday afternoon to Saturday afternoon

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Best Things To Buy In Kuwait When Shopping Locally

Kuwait brings the best of the Middle Eastern culture and art that attracts tourist from every corner. When it comes to shopping, Kuwait is best known for the traditional Souks and shops where you can find the handicraft items, jewelry, the antiques and other magnificent accessories to buy. Every top attraction in Kuwait houses at least one traditional market that is selling that perfect piece of art for every visitor.

1. Wooden Work

Wooden art is quite popular and, when it comes to home decorating accessories and gifts, the perfectly carved wooden figures are the best thing to get while shopping in Kuwait. You can find quite impressive art that is made out of wood into figures as camel, towers, coasters, and more, with intricate Kuwaiti art. There are motifs or Arabic calligraphy engraved on wood that can easily be found in any mall or shop near airports in Kuwait.

The use of vibrant colors adds more beauty to this ancient and traditional art of Kuwait.

Where to Buy: Malls and Local Markets

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2. Perfumes

Arabian perfumes or, as it is called Attar, is the most popular thing you can find in almost every shop in Kuwait. The traditionally made scent not just smells good but carries a legacy along in every Gulf nation. It can be added to the list of souvenirs you possibly want to bring back home for your family or friends as the best gift.

Look out for traditional perfumes that are made originally in Kuwait as there are many places that will be selling a wide range of perfumes. Abdul Samad al Quraishi and the Fragrance Kitchen are some of the best-known Kuwaiti brands that produce authentic perfumes.

Where to Buy: Any Traditional Souq in Kuwait

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3. Metalwork

Still confused what to buy during Kuwait shopping? Well Kuwait offers the most beautiful and intricate piece of metalwork as souvenirs to buy for your family, friends, and relatives. From teapots to trays, cups, and colorful lamps, the markets here display every attractive and interesting metal art that makes a perfect gift from this cultural land. Inspired by the Arabic art and carvings, you can buy these from any of the local shops in the city. Even these metallic decors are so popular that malls and galleries are also displaying these interesting gift items to attract the visitor.

Where to Buy: Souqs In Kuwait

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4. The Wooden Shields

It was during the war times when shields were used by the people to fight enemies and protect themselves from any foreign attack. Since then, these wooden shields are popular as a heritage. Today, miniature shields are crafted with wood and sold as a souvenir in many market places. These can be used as decoration, wall hangings and a prop to enhance the house interiors. You can also find various patterns and colors to have option for buying the best while shopping in Kuwait. Being light in shape with different shapes as circular or triangular, you can easily find a perfect to take back home.

Where to Buy: Souq Al Mubarakeya

5. Other Gifts To Buy

Whether you are looking for acrylic boxes or trinkets, wall hangings, jewelry, or metal ornaments, Kuwait offers every souvenir you need to take back home. You can find paper boxes or tote bags that are decorated with embroidery and other artworks. These bags are available in various patterns and colors to complement your style.

Where to Buy: Malls and Local Markets

6. Tote Bags

Now here's a thing, a tote bag may seem to be an unusual thing to buy when visiting any country but it is something you should definitely look to buy in Kuwait. These bags range from multiple types. There are bags with printed graphics while one can also find bags with unique designs and colors. Interestingly, tote bags can be purchased from any shopping place in the country. Today, travelers plan on taking tote bags as souvenirs back home. Just about every souk and souvenir in the country has a number of tote bags available for shoppers. Simply visit any street market and you'll find many choices of tote bags to shop from. So, if you're looking to buy something on your shopping day out in Kuwait, try shopping for tote bags as souvenirs.

Where To Buy - Kuwaiti Souq, Friday Flea Market, Souq Al-Watiya  

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7. Food

Ask a foodie what he/she would like to shop for and the answer would be food. Not just Kuwait, but the whole of the Middle East is widely popular as far as food is concerned and one of the many things that travelers love to buy when they are in Kuwait is food. There are Kuwaiti sweets, dried fruits, nuts, and dates that are available all around the country and travelers can shop for them. Not just any mall in the country but most street markets have shops selling the best of dried fruits for the visitors. So, if you're in Kuwait and want to buy something, why not opt to shop for food items that are highly popular in the country?

Where To Buy - Souq Al-Watiya

Shoppers out there can now plan a holiday and get some exceptional experience of Kuwait Shopping. From the top international brands to the best local craft accessories, there are Souq and markets you can explore to get the most memorable gift from the Kuwait holidays. Take back the art and a glimpse of culture with the antiques that are sold in every traditional market. Do carry some additional bags to bring back the most valuable memory. Welcoming travelers from every corner of the world, flights to Kuwait are operating from almost every country, making it one of the best places to visit.  

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