The Kuwaiti Souq (السوق الكويتي) is the traditional market of old Ras Al Khaimah City: a cluster of more than 200 small adjoining shops on Kuwait Street selling gold, fabrics, abayas, kandoras, perfumes, carpets and household goods at bargain-friendly prices. It is one of the last working old-style markets in the Northern Emirates, popular with RAK locals, residents from other emirates and visitors from Oman. This is the WOW-RAK 2026 guide to what to buy, when to visit, and how to navigate the souq.
Kuwaiti Souq Ras Al Khaimah
Traditional market with 200-plus shops selling gold, fabrics, abayas, kandoras, perfumes, carpets and household goods. The last working old souq in central RAK.
Arabic name: السوق الكويتي
Also known as: Kuwait Souq, Kuwaiti Market, Kuwait Street market, Old Souq RAK
Area: Sidroh, old Ras Al Khaimah City, near the old corniche
Hours: Open daily, two sessions. Morning 8:00am to noon, evening 4:00pm to 11:00pm. Individual shops keep their own hours and close for the midday prayer and heat
Payment: Carry cash. Many of the traditional sellers do not take cards
Best for: Gold, abayas and kandoras, fabrics, perfumes, traditional accessories
Map: Open in Maps
A short history of the Kuwaiti Souq
The market dates back to the 1970s, founded shortly after the formation of the United Arab Emirates. It takes its name from the Kuwaiti Hospital, a healthcare facility built in central RAK by the Government of Kuwait as part of regional Arab cooperation in the early years of the federation. The hospital sat in the middle of what became the market area, and the surrounding shops took its name. The hospital is gone but the name stuck. Today the souq sits in Sidroh in old RAK City, a short drive from the corniche and from the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah.
For the wider context on RAK’s heritage, including the National Museum, Dhayah Fort, Al Jazirah Al Hamra Ghost Town and Shimal, see our Cultural Heritage and History of Ras Al Khaimah pillar.
What to buy at the Kuwaiti Souq
Gold and jewellery
The gold corner of the Kuwaiti Souq is the closest you will get to a proper Gulf gold souk experience without driving to Dubai or Sharjah. Pieces include the traditional Emirati wedding sets, lighter daily-wear chains, kids’ bracelets, and gold coins. Prices follow the live international gold rate plus a making charge, so always check today’s per-gram rate on your phone before negotiating. Rates have eased through 2026 after the early-year spike, with 22-carat gold trading around AED 487 a gram in early June 2026 versus a peak near AED 615 in late January, so timing genuinely matters on bigger pieces.
Al Romaizan, Ras Al Khaimah Gold Souk
One of the established jewellery names with a branch right on Al Kuwait Street, part of a Gulf chain. Useful as an anchor point if you are comparing the smaller independent gold shops around it.
Address: Gold Souk, Al Kuwait Street, Ras Al Khaimah
Hours: Daily 10:00am to midnight, Friday from 3:00pm
Abayas, kandoras and traditional clothing
The fabric and clothing shops carry abayas, kandoras (Emirati men’s white robe), the traditional Emirati women’s makhaweer, plus children’s traditional clothing. Both ready-to-wear and made-to-measure are available. Tailoring usually takes a few days to a week depending on the shop’s workload. Eid season is busy, plan ahead.
Perfumes and oud
Multiple perfume shops in the souq sell Arabic attars, oud oil, bakhoor incense and the familiar Western fragrance bottles at souk prices. Smell before you buy. The genuine oud and attar shops will pour samples for free and explain the blend.
Fabrics, carpets and household
The fabric shops cover everything from dress materials to upholstery weights. Carpet shops range from machine-made affordable runners to higher-end Persian and Turkish hand-knotted pieces. The household goods shops are useful for kitchen items, prayer mats and small homewares.
WOW-RAK Expert Tip: The right opening line for bargaining in the Kuwaiti Souq is to ask “ahsan si’r?” (best price) after the first quote. A 20 to 30 percent discount on the opening price is the usual landing zone for fabrics and household items. Gold is rate-driven so the negotiation is on the making charge, not the gold value itself. Always pay attention to whether the shopkeeper offers Arabic tea or coffee, accepting it is part of the rhythm and usually means a slightly better deal at the end.
Opening hours and the midday closure
- Morning session: roughly 8:00am to noon
- Midday closure: approximately noon to 4:00pm. Most shops shut for lunch, the Dhuhr prayer and the heat of the day
- Evening session: roughly 4:00pm to 11:00pm. The busier of the two, especially after sunset
- Friday: morning is quietest. Most shops reopen by mid-afternoon after Friday prayers
- Ramadan: hours shift later in the evening, the souq often runs past midnight
- Eid: the souq is at its busiest in the run-up to Eid, then quiet on the Eid morning itself
These are the typical market rhythms rather than fixed times. The souq is a cluster of independent shops, so a few will open a little earlier or close a little later than their neighbours.
Best time to visit
The evening session is the better visit for atmosphere and for the most shops being open. October to April is the comfortable outdoor season. Summer evenings still work because most of the souq is covered, but the walk between sections can be hot. If you are buying for Eid, aim for two to three weeks before the holiday to give tailors time. If you are buying gold for a wedding, allow time to compare across three or four gold shops before committing.
How to navigate the souq
- Bring cash: many of the traditional shops do not take cards, and cash also gives you a small bargaining advantage. A few of the larger gold shops do take cards
- Tax: the UAE 5 percent VAT applies on purchases above the threshold. Tourists can claim VAT refunds at the airport
- Parking: on-street and small lots around the souq perimeter. Busy in the evening, allow extra time
- Dress code: modest dress is the norm in old RAK. Cover shoulders and knees
- Language: Arabic, English, Hindi and Urdu are commonly spoken across the shops
- Photography: ask before photographing inside shops or the shopkeepers
The other gold cluster: Al Mairid Souq
If you are gold hunting in RAK it is worth knowing the Kuwaiti Souq is not the only option. Over near the waterfront, the Al Mairid Souq holds the Al Mairid Gold Souk, a separate gathering of gold shops alongside the old fish market and a mix of clothing and electronics stores. Locals often compare prices across both before committing, so build in a little time if you want to do the same.
Combining a souq visit with old town RAK
The Kuwaiti Souq sits in the historic core of RAK. A natural half-day heritage loop pairs the souq with the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah at Al Hisn Fort (10 minutes away) and a traditional Emirati cafe stop for karak chai.
Frequently asked questions
The Kuwaiti Souq is in Sidroh in old Ras Al Khaimah City, on Kuwait Street near the old corniche, a short drive from the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah at Al Hisn Fort.
The souq runs two sessions daily. Morning from about 8:00am to noon and evening from about 4:00pm to 11:00pm. Most shops close for the midday heat and the Dhuhr prayer break. Friday morning is quieter, with shops reopening after Friday prayers. Individual shops keep their own hours.
The market takes its name from the Kuwaiti Hospital, a healthcare facility built in central RAK by the Government of Kuwait in the 1970s as part of early federation-era Arab cooperation. The hospital sat in the middle of what became the market area, and the surrounding shops adopted the name.
Gold and jewellery, abayas, kandoras, traditional Emirati clothing, fabrics, perfumes and oud, bakhoor incense, carpets, kitchen equipment and household goods. Made-to-measure clothing is available with a few days to a week turnaround.
Bring cash. Many of the traditional sellers do not take cards, and cash also helps with bargaining. Some of the larger gold shops do accept cards.
Yes. Bargaining is the norm for fabrics, household goods, perfumes and carpets. Gold is rate-driven so the negotiation is on the making charge rather than the gold value. Asking “ahsan si’r” (best price) is the usual opener.
The evening session from 4:00pm onwards has the best atmosphere and the most shops open. October to April is the most comfortable outdoor season. For Eid clothing, visit two to three weeks before the holiday to allow time for tailoring.
The Kuwaiti Souq has a gold corner with multiple jewellery shops, and is one of two main gold clusters in RAK alongside the Al Mairid Gold Souk near the waterfront. The selection is smaller than the Dubai Gold Souk but the experience is more traditional and less tourist-focused.
