Souq Okaz
Souq Okaz was one of the three great markets of pre-Islamic Arabia, along with Souq Majanna and Souq Dhu Al Majaz. Its beginnings go back to 501 CE. The Arabs came to it for 20 days from the start of Dhu Al Qadah to sell goods and recite poems, until the 20th of the month. They then moved on to Souq Majanna to spend the last ten days of Dhu Al Qadah, then to Souq Dhu Al Majaz to spend the first eight days of Dhu Al Hijjah, and then set out for Hajj. The first inhabitants of Souq Okaz were the tribes of Adwan and Hawazin. After a pause of 1,300 years, Saudi Arabia revived Souq Okaz in 1428 AH during the reign of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as a tourist landmark of the Kingdom on the same site as the historic market. It is visited by many tourists from around the world and is also a historical gathering place for artists, writers, poets and all those interested in the history of the ancient Arabs. The souq offers cultural value through seminars and poetry and literary evenings, and organises a number of literary competitions and events across the Arab world, covering classical and colloquial poetry, short stories, drawing, handicrafts and photography. It has also revived the Diwan of the Arabs, from the finest poetry and the Mu'allaqat, in imitation of the poets of the Mu'allaqat. The Ministry of Tourism supervises Souq Okaz, after the Makkah Emirate supervised it for ten years.
حمّل تطبيق دليل السعودية