Customers still flock to the old Abu Dhabi Souq despite the overpowering stench from the burnt part of the marketplace and the sizzling heat inside the narrow alleys.
Burnt concrete and ash have given way to insects and a foul smell pervades the dirty alleys of the souq that had been the hallmark of the capital for more than 30 years before the municipality decided to wipe it out last year.
But neither the destroyed flank nor the sprawling bazaar have been touched by the municipality's bulldozers although demolition of the souq was scheduled for early this year. "Demolition of the souq was supposed to begin at the end of April or May, but the municipality has postponed the operation," said Zaky Abdul Rahman Zaky, branch manager of the Arab Engineering Bureau, a consulting firm that has been awarded the new souq project.
"Hopefully, the operation will begin after one or two months ? it is up to the Abu Dhabi Municipality and my guess is that it is conducting further studies on the project to build a bigger market to replace the old souq. I don't see any problem from the postponement as both the shop owners and customers are benefiting."
More than 80 shops were destroyed in a massive fire in February last year, prompting authorities to hasten plans to replace the old souq following recurrent accidents.
The bazaar, which was built in the late 1960s, had been the commercial hub of the city before malls and other modern markets were built.
Still, it has remained one of the capital's most popular shopping areas given its cheap products, despite the lack of air conditioning and other convenient facilities.
Situated between Hamdan and Khalifa streets in the heart of the city, the old, shaggy marketplace is in stark contrast to the surrounding towers that overlook the waters of the Gulf.
Although the new souq will be constructed where the current souq sits, it will remain in contrast to the towers because it will boast oriental designs.
Zaky said the new market will be air conditioned and equipped with the latest facilities but will be modelled after ancient Islamic souqs in Cairo, Damascus and other ancient Arab cities.
He cited the famous Al Hamidiyya bazaar in Damascus, which dates back more than 1,000 years, as one souq that will inspire the builders of the new one here.
"The old souq in Abu Dhabi is history and what we will do is to rebuild or reconstruct history ? I know it will be equipped with modern services, but it will be similar to those ancient bazaars in Damascus and Cairo as it has Islamic and Arabian structural designs that contain arcades, old lanterns, alleys and traditional shop lines."
Defending its decision to replace the old souq with a new but traditional one, the municipality said it would give "a human and cultural touch to the city."
"We are trying to create a balance in this aggressive modernity and construction drive that engulfs the capital ? at least this will preserve part of its culture and prompt the residents to interact with it," the municipality said.
Owners of the more than 700 shops in the souq have been given time to move out while some of them have already moved to shops in the nearby vegetable market, temporarily rented out for them by the municipality.
"The project will be completed within 18 months and all original tenants will be allowed to return to their shops in the new market," Zaky said.
"It will have underground parking ? it will also contain all kinds of services that may be required for such a development, such as mosques, restaurants, banks, public toilets, entertainment centres, tunnels, green areas and other facilities."
Boasting Islamic themes, the architecture of the new souq will be evident in the arcades, lanterns, architecture and ornaments as well as the general shape because Islamic architecture focuses on horizontal construction while modern buildings are mostly tall vertical structures.The contrast, however, should not be viewed as a bad omen because it will have aesthetic benefits.
"Identical views are monotonous and boring," Zaky said.
BLUEPRINT
Modelled on ancient Islamic souqs
The new Abu Dhabi souq will have modern facilities, mosques, restaurants, banks, public toilets, entertainment centres, tunnels, green areas, air conditioning and underground car parking.
It will have features from the ancient Islamic souqs in Cairo, Damascus and other Arab cities. It will have old lanterns, arcades alleys and traditional shop lines.
The project will be completed in 18 months.
Gulf News
