The labyrinthine Souq Waqif preserving Qatar’s history, culture

Doha, Qatar – With Doha’s dramatic skyline in the background, Souq Waqif, located in the heart of the capital’s old downtown, is a vibrant, labyrinthine market which allows visitors to step back in time to a traditional Arab marketplace.

Hamalis (porters) roam through the narrow, winding alleys with their wheelbarrows, some carrying shoppers’ purchases, others looking for customers.

The elderly enjoy a game of dama (backgammon) in the Majlis al Dama. For the younger generation, there…