Souk Okaz’s antiquity ‘will be preserved’

Prince Sultan bin Salman, chair of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquity (SCTA), said Souk Okaz has developed rapidly into a cultural phenomenon since its restoration six years ago.
The prince commended the cultural contributions and economic development of the souk. “The souk is a hub for dignified and commendable dissemination of culture and civilization. We strive to design delightful events for visitors,” the prince said, and promised a new phase in the development of the souk for next year.
“It should be viewed as a product of human development in the entire history of the Kingdom apart from its role as a heritage and cultural landmark,” he added.
The prince expressed his pride at the organizer’s hard work in planning and executing such an event.
“The SCTA has received the area of the souk as an archaeological location. Now we are preparing an investment plan to avoid overcrowding and to preserve its antiquity and natural environment, and at the same time provide for essential development programs,” the prince said.
He added that Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal ordered a street to be built parallel to the Okaz thoroughfare and preserve Souk Okaz as a historic sanctuary and a window to the future.
Prince Khaled said: “I suggested to the prince that we name the new thoroughfare “Future Street” on which we would see scientific and developmental achievements in the Kingdom under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Vice Custodian Prince Salman.”
Prince Khaled opened the festival on Wednesday. The souk is the modern-day version of an ancient annual Arabian festival, which provided a venue for cultural and literary competitions for all Arab tribes from Yemen to the borders of Iraq.
The literary and poetic events served as a point of linguistic unity and purity since the works presented at the souk were in classical Arabic that could be understood by the people of the entire Arab world at that time.
The souk also served as an economic hub for the ancient Arabian Peninsula serving traders and buyers from distant lands.