The central souq was Abu Dhabi’s heart of retail back in the 1970s, where retailers were predominantly street sellers. The situation was much the same in Dubai, which had been a trading hub since 1894. But there have been changes since the UAE was founded 42 years ago.
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Yasser Elsheshtawy, an associate professor of architecture at UAE University, noted on the Alrroya website that the old souq ‘was popular with city residents’. Courtesy Al Ittihad -
The old souq was frequented even by tourists who thought of its spaces and walkways as a representation of an authentic Arabian souq. Courtesy Al Ittihad -
Abu Dhabi’s The Souq: Central Market is part of a larger development. Ravindranath K / The National -
The Souq: Central Market, opened in 2010 and is a modern development that purports to be a historic souq. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National -
The Souq: Central Market has space for 250 units over three floors. Delores Johnson / The National -
The atrium on the ground floor of The Souq: Central Market. Delores Johnson / The National -
The Galleria, a new luxury mall on Al Maryah Island, opened this year. Silvia Razgova / The National -
Marina Mall was one of the first malls to open in Abu Dhabi. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National -
Shoppers at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National -
The Mall of the Emirates in Dubai is one of the world’s most profitable shopping centres. Sarah Dea / The National
In pictures: The evolution of retail in the UAE
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