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Dubai's Al Bastakiya announces participating vendors at weekly 'heritage' market
Source: BI-ME , Author: BI-ME staff
Posted: Mon December 15, 2008 12:00 am
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UAE. Al Bastakiya, the heritage district that is currently being revived by Dubai Event Management Corporation (DEMC) as a modern cultural platform for creativity and the arts, today announced the line-up of participating vendors at the weekly street market – Souq Al Bastakiya – that is set to commence on Saturday 20 December.

Reiterating DEMC’s commitment to contribute to the UAE’s cultural agenda through developing local talent, the Souq Al Bastakiya has successfully attracted a significant number of local vendors.

The weekly market, open from 10.00am until sunset, will merchandise brands and products that will connect the community with the heritage and soul of Dubai.

Entertaining workshops and events co-organized with the Jam Jar Gallery and the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding will additionally serve to attract avid visitors to Dubai’s oldest area.

Mustafa Al Hashimi, Project Director, Al Bastakiya, said: “The significant participation of a variety of vendors is very crucial to the initiative that will add another exciting dimension to Dubai’s retail and entertainment offerings.

“We are particularly proud of the number of UAE national entrepreneurs who have expressed keenness to market their products under the ‘Made in Dubai’ label. Their presence in the weekly bazaar further testifies the strong growth achieved by an entirely new generation of emerging local businesses, while positioning Al Bastakiya as a launch pad for local talent.”

Offering a spectrum of fashion designs, locally made accessories, antiques as well as arts and craft products, Souq Al Bastakiya will showcase fashion vendors such as Seven Minutes, Chocolate and Pickles, Macrame Designs, Burqa Heritage Line, Ink, Jute Couture, Cristina Franco, and Kobra Al Qaseer.

Under the lifestyle category, the weekly Saturday Souq will feature Al Mutanabbi Bookshop, Frenzy Gifts, Al Rahma Handicrafts, Baby Bling, Chuk Palu Rug, Kahn Saboon, Queen Bee, Fay Lawson and Khalil Fazal Antiques. Vendors offering accessories will include, Naqsh, Duwan by Fatima Al Qassimi, and the Sansaya Boutique.

Families visiting Souk Al Bastakiya can also look forward to an eclectic choice of cuisine from various food outlets. Visitors will also experience the region’s richness through a traditional henna and coffee reading stand, while the arts and crafts corner will beckon with the aesthetic creations of Agasi, Helen Antoniades and the Jam Jar gallery.

The Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs, the Dubai Autism Center, WWF, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will comprise the humanitarian segment of the Saturday street market.

Al Hashimi added: “We anticipate the Souq Al Bastakiya to become a weekly rendezvous for families in the UAE, giving them an alternative of an outdoor shopping and entertainment destination. This is only the beginning of our endeavour to reshape the Al Bastakiya quarter into a key centre for the celebration of global arts and culture.”

Musical programmes organised by Dubai Lime, as well as a 30-minute performance by Dubai Drums featuring more than 30 drummers, will be a regular fixture every Saturday, inviting visitors to try their hand at playing the instrument.

The Arabic inspired Souq Café, open every Friday and Saturday from 10.00am to 11.00pm, will be managed by ‘Labneh wa Zaatar’ and offer a unique ambience as well as an enticing selection of Arabic food.

A dedicated kids’ area will include a play house featuring fun activities to enhance the entertainment quotient of the venue.

Amongst the services that Souq Al Bastakiya will offer is free valet parking every Saturday from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Designed to serve as a new cradle for Dubai's rich heritage, Al Bastakiya is set to emerge as a cultural centre, featuring a specialised arts and cultural centre to host events, festivals and activities. Al Bastakiya will include galleries and traditional markets, reflecting the Emirate’s contemporary outlook while also striving to define it as a dynamic cultural destination.

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