Modern Replica Souqs
Souqs are the popular and traditional way to shop in the Middle East. Essentially a souk is a market that sells anything from herbs and apothacary items to shoes and clothing and everything in between. Barthering and hackling for prices is commonplace in a souk and if you do not heckel you will not be taken seriously as a shopper.
However due to the growing expat population and the ever changing landscape of the cities in the Gulf people are not accustomed to shopping outside, especially in the blazing summer sun and the cool airconditioned shopping centers that have popped up over the years. hence the souks have moved inside and have become less dusty.
Modern replica souks are indoor modernised versions of the traditional souk. They are usually found in shopping centers and have their own seperate space that is decorated in a certain Arabic fashion. There is a combination of authentic artefacts as well as reproductions of aricles, various kitch items and jewelerry as well as trinkets for the home and things that can be found in shopping malls such as sunglasses, perfumes and various knick knacks. Bargening is still rife, even among the replica souk vendors so do not be afraid to knock a few riyals of an item that you fancy.
The Sabco Centre mall and the Capital Commercial Centre, both in Muscat, have their own modern versions of the traditional souk.
